Development of the Kinect Virtual
Art Program to Physically Engage
Children with Severe Impairments
Laura Diment
Student ID - 2071287
Supervisors:
- David Hobbs – Flinders
University, Adelaide
- Tom Chau - PRISM Lab,
Toronto
04/04/2012
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Outline
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Background
Hypothesis
Art Therapy
Kinect - Comparing Virtual Art to Textiles
Design - Kinect Virtual Art Program (KVAP)
Honours Plan
Current Challenges
Data Analysis
Summary
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Background
• 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
1Langtree,
I & L (2011), Disability News, Information and Resources, Disabled World, http://www.disabled-world.com/
M A. (2011), The Importance of Art in a Child's Development, http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/maryann-kohlimportance-of-art/379002442/
3Kinect Paint (2011), http://channel9.msdn.com/coding4fun/projects/Kinect-Paint
4Helene Elass Center (2009), Mitii – Move It To Improve It, www.mitii.dk/
2Kohl,
Hypothesis
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.
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.
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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
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 • Multiple cameras and an
impairments
infrared laser projector collect depth, movement
and colour information.
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
Current Challenges
• 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
Design
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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
Data Analysis
Used to analyse levels of
engagement, enjoyment and
fatigue.
Summary
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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
Thank you. Any questions?
Acknowledgements:
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Supervisors (Mr. David Hobbs – Flinders University, Dr. Tom
Chau – PRISM Lab, Toronto)
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