Document Type

Technical Report

Department

Computer Science and Engineering

Publication Date

2012

Filename

WUCSE-2012-83.pdf

Technical Report Number

WUCSE-2012-83

Abstract

Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders that impair body movement, muscle coordination, hearing, vision, and cognitive function. Symptoms vary but can include muscle weakness, muscle and joint tightness, abnormal or unsteady gait, seizures, learning disabilities, speech problems, as well as hearing or vision problems [1]. Although cerebral palsy cannot be cured, treatments such as physical and occupational therapy can greatly help affected children develop motor skills needed to increase mobility and foster independence [2]. Computer based therapy games have shown promise in helping stroke survivors recover from stroke [3]. Initially, stroke therapy games developed in Looking Glass utilized Nintendo Wii remotes (informally known as Wiimotes) to sense user’s movements. Challenges unfolded with stroke patients who were unable to grasp Wiimotes, thereby limiting and inhibiting game development and the user experience [3]. In this paper, I describe my efforts to integrate the Microsoft Kinect with Looking Glass and build therapy games that utilize the Kinect to track user movements. I detail the Kinect integration and discuss its advantages of seated skeletal tracking with no hand held devices required by the user.

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Permanent URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.7936/K7WD3XS2

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