Gamifying the Eating Experience: An Interactive Companion for Children's Nutrition Education and Behavior

摘要

We present an interactive companion for children's nutrition education that capitalizes on digital technology to promote mental and physical stimulation by adding game-like elements to the eating experience. Our device allows children to manage portion sizes easily and promotes the practice of healthy eating habits by interacting with "Cibo," a healthy kid metaphor that encourages children to learn how different food groups benefit the body. Different parts of the device provide active feedback as the child eats his/her meal. The combination of physical and digital interaction gamifies the eating experience and redefines "playing at the dinner table" into a positive event that nourishes children physically, cognitively, and emotionally.