eSail: a body tracking interactive game for elderly and patients with locomotor system problems

This paper presents a computer game with automatic body detection and tracking based on the computer camera acquisition for arms and legs rehabilitation. However, with the correct application of different functions and game mechanics, this entertainment can be directed for the good of patients with motor problems, or for elderly people. This research is aimed to study the effectiveness and advantages of computer game platforms in comparison with conventional physical exercise. The experiment involved 13 people. The age of patients ranged from 22-32 (including people with locomotor system problems) to 60-70 years. For each of them the study was divided into two stages: in the first one, the subject was offered to perform a series of physical exercises aimed at warming up the upper and lower body parts. In the second stage, which was held the next day, the subjects performed the same set of exercises, but already in the form of a computer game. After each stage, a pre-prepared survey was conducted which characterized the emotional reaction of each of the subjects to the difference in approaches to rehabilitative physical exercises. The difference in the effectiveness of the game over standard exercises was evaluated by the means of the effectiveness of numerical indicators (table of scores) and the analysis of the therapist. The conducted tests show that at the stage of laboratory testing the average time to pass the current build of the game platform is 512.8 seconds (8.7 minutes), excluding the time to realize the task. The total time including all aspects of the test is 762.6 seconds (12.71 minutes). At the stage of tests with the target audience: the average passing time was 1115.9 seconds (18.5 minutes), the total time was 1809 seconds (30.15 minutes). Evaluating the emotional state and level of motivation shows that player is more interested when hear about an interactive game than the usual physical exercises in front of the mirror. According to the obtained data, it can be concluded that an ordinary set of physical exercises for rehabilitation is more effective if presented as a computer game. The patients have a higher involvement in the process, as well as motivation to improve their results.