Microsoft Kinect Balance Game
My Leeds dissertation explored ways to reduce elderly hospital visits caused by falls. While many approaches use assistive robotics or exoskeletons to reactively support stability, I wanted to explore a preventive solution. Research suggested that training core stability muscles significantly lowers fall risk, which inspired the design of a balance-focused game.
Using Unreal Engine 4 and the Xbox Kinect, I developed multiple mini-games aimed at improving balance and core strength. To validate the Kinect’s motion capture capabilities, I compared its tracking against a Vicon motion capture system, revealing that the Kinect struggled to accurately capture motion in certain planes. This highlighted the limitations of consumer-grade sensors for precise rehabilitation applications.
💡 Key Takeaways
- Designed interactive balance training exercises in UE4 using Kinect input.
- Learned to integrate motion capture data for validation and analysis.
- Gained insight into sensor limitations and system design for rehabilitation applications.