04/04/2012 1

Laura DimentStudent ID - 2071287

Supervisors: -David Hobbs – Flinders

University, Adelaide-Tom Chau - PRISM Lab,

Toronto

Development of the Kinect Virtual Art Program to Physically Engage Children with Severe Impairments

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Outline

• Background • Hypothesis• Art Therapy• Kinect - Comparing Virtual Art to Textiles• Design - Kinect Virtual Art Program (KVAP)• Honours Plan• Current Challenges• Data Analysis• Summary

• Approximately 10% of the world's population have a disability1 •Many children cannot grip or manipulate paint brushes etc.• Art is vital for a child’s development2

• No commercial virtual art programs for children with disabilities

Similar products:• Kinect Paint3 - requires fine motor control•Mitii4 - to increase physical engagement through exercises;

does not encourage creativity

Background

1Langtree, I & L (2011), Disability News, Information and Resources, Disabled World, http://www.disabled-world.com/2Kohl, M A. (2011), The Importance of Art in a Child's Development, http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/maryann-kohl-importance-of-art/379002442/ 3Kinect Paint (2011), http://channel9.msdn.com/coding4fun/projects/Kinect-Paint4Helene Elass Center (2009), Mitii – Move It To Improve It, www.mitii.dk/

The features of the KVAP can provide individuals whose participation in art activities was previously limited with a means of engaging physically and expressing themselves creatively through art.

Hypothesis

Art Therapy

Used to Improve1:• Communication Skills• Problem-Solving Skills• Social Skills• Emotional Skills• Motor Skills• Self-Expression and Creativity

Children with physical or cognitive impairments often cannot participate in traditional art practices.

1 Kohl, M A. (2011),The Importance of Art in a Child's Development, http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/maryann-kohl-importance-of-art/379002442/

Kinect – Comparing Virtual Art to Textiles

• Multiple cameras and an infrared laser projector - collect depth, movement and colour information.

Textile Art Methods:•Sponge with hand strap,•Wheel chair art,•Adapted paint squirter,•Finger painting

Benefits of a Virtual Program:•No mess,•No danger of consuming paint,•Computer can compensate for

impairments

Kinect Virtual Art Program (KVAP)

• The sensor tracks joints on the human body. • Different menus appear at different depths from the sensor.

This enables a variety of effects.• Zoom allows smaller movements to be tracked while keyboard

and mouse controls enable settings to be easily changed.

Honours Plan – Gantt Chart

• Recruitment - Novita Children’s Services (approval pending)

• Number of participants = 15• Age of participants = 3 to 10 years old• Ethics Application (approval pending)

• Programming• Beta to full version of Microsoft SDK

Current Challenges

• Requirements:• Therapist/teacher’s interface - easy to use • Easy for children to manipulate• Versatile• Focus on big reactions rather than accuracy• Obvious cause and effect response

Design

Used to analyse levels of engagement, enjoyment and fatigue.

Data Analysis

• Monitor Toronto trial• Obtain and analyse Toronto pilot study results• Refine program• Reprogram from Beta to full version• Obtain Ethics approval and Novita approval for

Adelaide pilot study

Summary

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Thank you. Any questions?

Acknowledgements:• Supervisors (Mr. David Hobbs – Flinders University, Dr. Tom

Chau – PRISM Lab, Toronto)