An engaging vision-based Exergame for exercise and rehabilitation

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The Helium 6 baton is a revolutionary new stand-alone, portable, adjustable, and simple to use fitness and rehabilitation device that mimics the motion of paddling a kayak. It was developed by Spincore Inc. and designed with the intention of being a tool for both able-bodied people and those living with pain, and mobility issues due to arthritis, injury, or infirmity. Despite the benefits afforded by the Spincore Inc. Helium 6 exercise system, as with any exercise program, motivation quickly decreases after continued use particularly when considering repetitive training activities typically inherent in rehabilitation-based exercise programs. Exergaming couples video games and exercise whereby playing a video game becomes a form of physical activity. Exergames take advantage of the engaging, interactive, and fun inherent in video games to promote physical activity, training, and rehabilitation, ultimately resulting in enhanced health outcomes. Coupling the Helium 6 baton with an exergame will motivate users to continue their exercise/rehabilitation regimen and will ultimately promote (and increase) the use of the Helium 6 baton exercise system. However, development of an exergame is not a trivial matter requiring expertise in gaming and computer vision both of which are beyond the scope of Spincore Inc. Through a partnership between Spincore Inc. and a serious gaming expert from UOIT, this work to see the development of a novel, interactive, and engaging vision-based exergame whose core game-play mechanic and primary interaction techniques include the Helium 6 baton. The exergame will rely on stereo camera-based sensing, and will employ novel methods that map the physical motion of the Helium 6 baton to sound/musical rhythm. The exergame will also be used to explore the customization of the game's music/sounds, and levels of audio-graphical fidelity (realism) to increase engagement and immersion. The innovative technologies developed here will form the basis of an "exergaming framework" allowing Spincore Inc. to incorporate exergaming into a variety future products. Finally, this work has the potential to promote the exergaming industry in Canada, an industry which is poised to grow globally.