Enhancing Tai Chi Training System: Towards Group-Based and Hyper-Realistic Training Experiences.

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Virtual Reality Training Systems
• Sports Science

Background:

• Traditional Tai Chi training lacks immersive feedback and scalable social interaction.
• Existing virtual reality (VR) solutions may not fully replicate the social dynamics of group training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a low-cost, multi-user VR system for enhanced Tai Chi training.
• To compare the effectiveness of VR and mixed reality (MR) against traditional coach guidance (TCG).

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a flexible, multi-device VR system with real-time action guidance.
• Objective assessment of action quality and subjective evaluation of user experience (motion sickness, immersion, social presence).
• Comparative analysis across TCG, VR, and MR immersion levels.

Main Results:

• VR demonstrated the highest training accuracy.
• Mixed reality (MR) provided a superior social experience with comparable accuracy to VR.
• MR offered hyper-realistic guidance and social references, surpassing both TCG and VR in specific aspects.

Conclusions:

• MR effectively balances training accuracy with enhanced social engagement in Tai Chi practice.
• The proposed VR system, particularly in its MR configuration, presents a feasible and effective low-cost alternative for Tai Chi training.