Simplifying Integration of Custom Controllers in Exergames

TL;DR

This paper introduces a library that simplifies integrating affordable Arduino-based custom controllers into Unity3D exergames, potentially increasing accessibility and popularity of exergames for physical rehabilitation.

Contribution

The paper presents a flexible, easy-to-use library for integrating low-cost Arduino controllers into Unity3D exergames, addressing hardware programming barriers for game developers.

Findings

Library enables quick integration of Arduino controllers in Unity3D

Facilitates development of affordable exergames for rehabilitation

Increases accessibility for game developers with limited embedded programming experience

Abstract

Despite of the established evidence in favor of exergames for physical rehabilitation their use is limited in Pakistan. In our user study with game developers (N=62), majority (67.7%) of the participants believed that exergames' popularity will increase if cheap alternatives of body tracking devices are available. Perhaps, custom controllers can be used as an affordable alternate input source in exergames but the lack of hardware programming knowledge and shortage of experience in the embedded programming attribute to the little involvement of game developers (11.3% of the participants) in the area of exergames. This paper presents a library for the integration of Arduino based (open-source and low-cost) tailored controllers to be used as input source in Unity3D (most preferred game development engine by 88.7% participants) based exergames. The interface to the library proposes a flexible and easy structure for programming and serve as a template application for a range of exergames.