Beyond technology: How XR quality features shape user experience and physical activity determinants in exergaming.

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Promoting physical activity (PA) is crucial in healthcare, but inactivity persists.
• Exergames (EGs) are a playful approach to increase PA, utilizing technologies from screens to Extended Reality (XR).
• XR environments vary in experiential qualities, potentially affecting PA determinants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review how different XR environments influence user experience (UX) and individual-level PA determinants in exergames.
• To identify research gaps concerning XR's impact on PA.

Main Methods:

• A mini-review of eleven studies comparing at least two exergaming environments (PC/screen, AR, VR).
• Outcomes assessed included user experience and/or individual-level PA determinants.
• Studies compared AR, VR (head-mounted displays [HMDs], CAVE), and computer-based setups.

Main Results:

• Augmented Reality (AR) showed fewer adverse effects than Virtual Reality (VR).
• VR, especially with headset technology, enhanced movement, neurophysiological responses, and UX (presence).
• Compared to computer-based setups, VR improved performance, immersion, and motivation.

Conclusions:

• XR's experiential qualities, not just hardware, shape UX and influence PA determinants.
• Research is limited to young, healthy populations, indicating a need for studies in clinical and older groups.
• Future research should systematically explore XR's experiential features to understand their full impact on PA determinants in EGs.