New Approaches to Exciting Exergame-Experiences for People with Motor Function Impairments

Area of Science:

• * Rehabilitation Technology
• * Human-Computer Interaction
• * Game Design

Background:

• * Exergames offer potential for physical rehabilitation but require adaptation for individuals with severe physical impairments.
• * Enhancing player immersion and involvement is crucial for sustained engagement in therapeutic gaming.
• * Current exergames may not adequately accommodate the diverse movement capabilities of children and adolescents with disabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To develop and evaluate novel approaches for exergames tailored to the needs of children and adolescents with severe physical impairments.
• * To increase motivation and adherence to physical exercises through engaging gameplay.
• * To create inclusive gaming experiences that bridge the gap between players with and without physical disabilities.

Main Methods:

• * Implementation of a gaming environment utilizing the Kinect sensor and Blender Game Engine.
• * Development of middleware for efficient data transmission from the sensor to the game.
• * Design of novel in-game mechanisms to differentiate exercise-specific gestures from game control movements.
• * Introduction of a movement amplification technique to accommodate weaker movements.

Main Results:

• * Four mini-games were developed and tested with 11 volunteers with various disabilities, including wheelchair users.
• * Performance comparison between participants with disabilities and a healthy control group yielded generally positive and motivating outcomes.
• * The feasibility of the proposed methods for enhancing exergame participation was demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• * The developed methods show promise in making exergames more accessible and enjoyable for individuals with physical impairments.
• * Amplifying weak movements is a key contribution to enabling similar gaming experiences for diverse user groups.
• * Further development is needed to refine functionalities, but the work addresses a significant demand for inclusive rehabilitation technologies.