Leap Motion-Enhanced Augmented Reality Video Games to Encourage Intergenerational Engagement and Wrist Exercise

Abstract

For years, the health industry has been urging people to live a healthy life either by exercising or eating healthily. Furthermore, often, retired seniors would like to play with their family but there is not much common interest. In addition, one of the acute health problems at the workplace is carpal tunnel syndrome. Hence, inspired by Kinect and Wii, this project aims to: a) encourage more intergenerational family-senior engagement and b) encourage exercise at the workplace whenever they need a break. A video game gives a sense of achievement and progress is visible. Thus, we have developed Leap-Motion-enhanced games such as rolling ball, trivia, and maze video games of different levels to cater to different abilities. We also hope that these games would add to the activities in retirement homes/villages. The theme and objects in the games can be easily changed. Thus, the system can be easily personalized for different socio-cognitive-affective engagement. Feedback from the Leap Motion-enhanced developer community is positive and constructive with areas for improvement.