Effect of aging, mixed reality and dual task prioritization on texting while walking

Texting while walking (TeWW) has become a common dual task which leads to a reduction in gait and texting performance and may result in injury. A possible solution for the distraction caused by mobile phones usage during gait is to merge the real and virtual world in the form of a mixed (augmented) reality solution. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of using a mixed reality display on a mobile phone by young and older adults. Thirty young (27.8±4.4 years) and 20 older (68.9±3.9 years) people participated in the study. Participants performed single and dual-task walking and texting tasks with and without a mixed reality (MR) display (back camera's view behind text). Single and dual task walking was performed in a quiet, indoors corridor, and in a busy outdoors walkway. Dual task costs (DTCs) were calculated for gait and texting variables. Task prioritization and usability of the MR display were evaluated with visual analog scales. Gait characteristics were obtained from 6DOF sensors and texting performance was extracted from the mobile phone. Results showed that the MR display had no effect on DTCs of gait or texting in either age-group. However, the older adults who found MR to be less helpful had larger gait DTCs. Among those who prioritized gait, older adults had higher texting accuracy DTCs compared to younger adults. In contrast, among those who prioritized texting, older adults had higher gait speed DTCs. Within the texting-priority group, the MR display appeared to be associated with larger gait DTCs. Other solutions for safer texting while walking should be examined in future studies.