Games for Health

The healthcare industry is one of the most important economic sectors in Germany. However, the future success of this sector depends crucially on the successful development and implementation of digital innovations, as well as on the training of skilled professionals who can drive the digital transformation of the industry.

Digital games and the use of technologies and design approaches derived from games – i.e., gamification – are seen as key enablers of digital transformation in healthcare. Due to their ability to motivate and engage, games and gamification hold great potential to overcome emotional barriers in the adoption of digital health innovations, build trust, and sustainably influence behavior. They are particularly effective in conveying knowledge, for example about therapies or medical procedures, and can reach broad target groups.

Studies show that in sports and health promotion, users of digital solutions already expect such applications to include gamification elements. In diagnosis, therapy, rehabilitation, and care, playful elements are increasingly in demand.

Furthermore, the games industry is valued for its strong innovative capacity and as a source of innovation. Game technologies in the fields of visualization and simulation (e.g., virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, computer graphics, and simulation) offer great potential for the development of new medical technology applications and for the training of professionals in medicine and care.

In our research, we therefore focus on innovative applications of digital games and playful approaches (e.g., gamification) in health promotion, prevention, diagnosis, therapy, rehabilitation, and care. We also investigate how new game technologies such as augmented and virtual reality can be applied in the healthcare sector, and how serious games and simulations can be used to increase efficiency in the education and training of healthcare professionals.

Examples of our research projects: