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S&M4463 Technical paper https://doi.org/10.18494/SAM6142 Published: May 22, 2026 Integration of Quick Response Code Scanning into a Hearing Health Board Game: Development, Promotion, and Satisfaction Evaluation [PDF] Jen-Yi Chao, Chia-Shen Liu, Mike Chao, and Yu-Syuan Zeng (Received December 19, 2025; Accepted April 6, 2026) Keywords: hearing healthy, digital board game, design-based research, QR code
With the increasing prevalence of Computer, Communication, and Consumer electronic devices product use and its impact on hearing, as well as the growing importance of sustainability concepts, in this study, we developed a digital board game grounded in universal design principles, entitled Sound Forest Adventure, for hearing health education. Suitable for ages 7 and above, the game integrates QR-code-based interactive mechanisms and is intentionally designed to be accessible and usable by individuals across different age groups. Through interactive gameplay, it aims to promote hearing protection and support physical and mental well-being by enhancing hand–eye coordination, while simultaneously conveying knowledge related to hearing health. In alignment with United Nations/UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development, updatable and expandable digital content was used to replace traditional physical cards, thereby reducing resource waste caused by card loss and repeated printing. This board game was developed using the Design-based Research methodology. Through iterative processes of analysis, design, testing, and evaluation, three game modes with varying levels of complexity were created. In this study, we conducted gameplay testing with two groups: one group used traditional paper cards, whereas the other used QR-code-based cards. The gameplay and rules were identical for both groups; the only difference lay in the event cards—one group used paper-based cards and the other used digital cards. The digital card group was provided with a tablet and a QR code event card. Participants scanned the QR code using the tablet to access the Sound Forest Adventure digital event card webpage. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was administered to assess satisfaction with the board game. A total of 18 participants took part in the study, divided into two groups of nine. The paper card group achieved a mean score of 4.33, whereas the digital card group achieved a mean score of 4.83. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed a Z value of −2.739 and a p value of 0.006, indicating a statistically significant difference between the two groups. These results suggest that participants were more satisfied with the digital card format than with traditional paper cards. Open-ended questionnaire responses also provided positive feedback regarding the digital cards. Finally, we recommend that future designs integrate additional technological features, increase game difficulty, and allow for offline use to avoid dependence on internet connectivity.
Corresponding author: Chia-Shen Liu![]() ![]() This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Cite this article Jen-Yi Chao, Chia-Shen Liu, Mike Chao, and Yu-Syuan Zeng, Integration of Quick Response Code Scanning into a Hearing Health Board Game: Development, Promotion, and Satisfaction Evaluation, Sens. Mater., Vol. 38, No. 5, 2026, p. 2693-2704. |