Component-Based Approach for Prototyping of Tai Chi-Based Physical Therapy Game and Its Performance Evaluations

Abstract

This article treats a component-based approach for the prototyping of Tai Chi-based physical therapy games. The research group of the authors has already proposed a component-based three-dimensional (3D) software development system called IntelligentBox . One of the application fields of IntelligentBox is the development of 3D games. In this article, the authors validate the availability of IntelligentBox for the prototype development of Tai Chi-based physical therapy games that require several functionalities, for example, body action input, sound play, movie play, and so on. For them, IntelligentBox has already supported a video-based motion input, a motion capture system input, a data-glove input, and so on. Also, physical therapy games need fine-tuning, according to each of the rehabilitants, because their physical disability levels differ. Therefore, therapists have to frequently change many parameters such as a body action speed, difficulty levels of body actions, and so on. For this point, the component-based approach is significant. To validate this, the authors have been developing physical therapy games using IntelligentBox and they have just developed a practical Tai Chi-based dance game as one of the physical therapy games. In this article, the authors explain how easily such a game can be developed using IntelligentBox . The authors also explain new functionalities of several components of IntelligentBox extended for this development. In addition, this article shows the results of the performance evaluations to indicate that the developed game practically can be used as a physical therapy game. The authors also propose another framework enables network collaboration of the developed “Tai Chi” game.

Implementation and Assessment of an Intelligent Motor Tele-Rehabilitation Platform

“…The patient's movements are compared with pre-recorded movements of a coach and further evaluated by using a fuzzy logic algorithm [13]. Additionally, a component-based application framework is proposed by [14] for the development of 3D games by combining already existing 3D visual components. The preliminary results indicate that the prototypes can be used as serious game for physical therapy.…”

“…'20' stands for spine shoulder. Equations (12)- (14) are used to calculate the lateral torso compensation angle (θ ltc ).…”

“…'20' stands for spine shoulder. Equations (12)- (14) are used to calculate the lateral torso compensation angle (θltc). For slow flexion of hip and knee, we identified two working angles ( Figure 5, picture on the left) and two typical compensation angles ( Figure 5, two pictures on the right).…”

“…There are two working angles for the forward-sideway-backward sequence, which are the working and leg compensation angles of the hip abduction ( Figure 7). Again, the frontal and lateral compensation movements of the trunk described in hip abduction are considered for this exercise (Equations (9)- (14)). For hip extension, the working angle is the same as the compensation angle of hip abduction, and the compensation angle is equal to the working angle of hip abduction ( Figure 6).…”

“…For hip extension, the working angle is the same as the compensation angle of hip abduction, and the compensation angle is equal to the working angle of hip abduction ( Figure 6). The same frontal and lateral compensation movements of the trunk as described in hip abduction are also calculated for this exercise (Equations (9)- (14)).…”