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Talks and Poster Presentations (without Proceedings-Entry):

S. Häuplik-Meusburger, M. Aguzzi, R. Peldszus:
"PLAY AS STRATEGIC TOOL - Dual Purpose Play System as Psychosocial Countermeasure and Skill Maintenance Tool for Long Duration Spaceflight";
Poster: IAC 2008 - International Astronautical Congress 2008, Glasgow (invited); 09-29-2008 - 10-03-2008.



English abstract:
Extended spaceflight puts strain on the human entity - physically, psychologically and socially. Subjected to high workloads or prolonged monotony within a confined environment, for instance during transfer phases of exploratory missions, the risk of personal withdrawal from the group and the decrement of alertness levels are amongst the undesirable effects. In order to ensure mission success, especially with respect to exploratory missions that will be increasingly complex and demanding, it is essential to maintain skills related to cognitive and behavioral performance. As countermeasure to related stressors, astronauts have traditionally drawn on leisure activities imported from earth or improvised in situ.

Not only in the space context, play acts as catalyst for personal and interpersonal tension, stimulant of creativity, and exercise of fine motor skills. This paper presents a concept for a sociable strategy game specifically designed for use in microgravity that encourages tactile, interactive, complex and competitive play. Aside from play value, the activity can help maintain and enhance manual dexterity, mental alertness and social interaction amongst crew.

Following a review of games being played during missions, the paper presents the concept of the game and its benefits. It outlines design considerations of a ready-to-use prototype and points out future possibilities of development.

Keywords:
Play . Human Behaviour and Performance . Habitability . Psychosocial Countermeasures . Skill Maintenance . Long Duration Space Flight

Created from the Publication Database of the Vienna University of Technology.