A Balance Training Game Tool for Seniors using Microsoft Kinect and 3D Worlds

Michail Chartomatsidis, Christos Goumopoulos

2019

Abstract

Exercising through gaming (exergaming) based on commercial gaming platforms has been popular over the past years for fitness improving and balance training both for healthy people and for mobility rehabilitation purposes. For the elderly people, exergaming can provide motivation for increasing physical and cognitive activity and as a result improvements on posture balance, physical strength and mental well-being may be expected. However, an issue that arises is whether such gaming systems that are addressed to the general population following a fit-for-all design approach are appropriate for seniors. In this paper we address this issue by developing a new game based on the Microsoft Kinect sensor and creating an engaging three-dimensional world by using a popular 3D game engine. A human centered design approach is followed by involving main stakeholders in the development process for achieving an effective and user-friendly balance training. An evaluation of the proposed game tool with twelve seniors has been performed assessing system usability as well as the balance training efficacy measured by the Berg Balance Scale and the 30 seconds sit-to-stand test. The analysis of the feedback provided by the users and the performance statistics exported by the system indicates a positive acceptance and the potential for promoting health in older adults through balance improvement.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Chartomatsidis M. and Goumopoulos C. (2019). A Balance Training Game Tool for Seniors using Microsoft Kinect and 3D Worlds.In Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health - Volume 1: ICT4AWE, ISBN 978-989-758-368-1, pages 135-145. DOI: 10.5220/0007759001350145

in Bibtex Style

@conference{ict4awe19,
author={Michail Chartomatsidis and Christos Goumopoulos},
title={A Balance Training Game Tool for Seniors using Microsoft Kinect and 3D Worlds},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health - Volume 1: ICT4AWE,},
year={2019},
pages={135-145},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0007759001350145},
isbn={978-989-758-368-1},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health - Volume 1: ICT4AWE,
TI - A Balance Training Game Tool for Seniors using Microsoft Kinect and 3D Worlds
SN - 978-989-758-368-1
AU - Chartomatsidis M.
AU - Goumopoulos C.
PY - 2019
SP - 135
EP - 145
DO - 10.5220/0007759001350145