User Experience of a Serious Game for Physical Rehabilitation Using Wearable Motion Capture Technology

Abstract

This paper presents a wearable motion capture (MoCap)-based serious game (SG) for physical rehabilitation and evaluates its user experience. Conventional physical rehabilitation relies on professional trainers, equipment, and facilities, which are time-consuming and expensive for users. It often reduces the users’ motivation to perform exercises. It can be difficult for users to continue their physical rehabilitation through the conventional model. However, recent studies demonstrate that serious games have the potential to improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation training through a more engaged and immersive game design. Most of those studies focus on technology and the development of a specific MoCap sensor-based SG design for users with motor deficiencies, rather than emphasizing the users’ experience impacting the effect of performance in physical rehabilitation. This study developed a prototype of a physical rehabilitation exercise game that considers user experience. This game employs a wearable inertial MoCap sensor enabling users to interact intuitively with the game to promote physical activities for health. We analyze and discuss user satisfaction and game experience through user experience questionnaires. The results suggest that most users were satisfied with the SG-based rehabilitation, and found the game was enjoyable and engaging. Based on the implications, we discuss possible future research to improve user experience of the highly accurate real-time MoCap-based serious game. This can enable users with motor disabilities to undertake physical exercises in a home environment.

Keywords

• Serious games
• motion capture
• physical rehabilitation
• user experience
• usability