CyberSeniors

In the near future, older adults will become increasingly cyborgian, their lives supported by technology in increasingly inventive ways. We can already see this happening with a variety of enhancements, whether it be artificial hips, hearing aids, wearable robots, “smart” medical devices, or other types of augmentations. These innovations will not only enhance physical qualities but also broaden cognitive, social, and mobility capabilities, ultimately supporting older adults to realize their values, lifestyle aspirations, and community contributions.

At present, however, the design of these devices remains focused primarily on functionality and the development of new technological artifacts. Enter CyberSeniors, a speculative futures collaborative tabletop storytelling game in which players imagine themselves as cyborgian senior superheroes, working together as a team to help save the future. In the process, players can invent their own enhancements, and then, armed with a unique combination of wisdom and superpowers, they can take on the problems they think are most important to secure the future of their children, grandchildren, and beyond.

This project takes a novel approach to co-design in a number of dimensions. As a general rule, the voices and needs of seniors have been largely left out of the conversation about technology and games. Furthermore, older adult characters are frequently absent from science-fiction scenarios, let alone superhero narratives. This game uniquely casts older adults as superheroes and uses the narrative game format to engage them in conversations and ideation on the future of augmentation with age.