Title: The use of Matti: a tangible user interface in physical rehabilitation to motivate children and older adults

Authors: Johanna Renny Octavia; Jorn Ockerman; Jamil Joundi; Arno Penders; Lynn Bar-On; Jelle Saldien

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung, Indonesia; Research group for Media, Innovation, and Communication Technologies, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium ' Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium ' Research Group for Media, Innovation, and Communication Technologies, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium ' Creative Therapy, Derbystraat 361, Ghent, Belgium ' Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium ' Research group for Media, Innovation, and Communication Technologies, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Faculty of Design Sciences, Department Product Development, University of Antwerp, Paardenmarkt 94, Antwerp, Belgium

Abstract: Highly motivated patients who enjoy their physical rehabilitation tend to attain better therapeutic outcomes. However, given the prolonged repetitive nature of postural control rehabilitation in older adults and children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), motivation levels might drop quickly. Exergames and digital therapy tools could offer practical answers to this issue and allow therapists to provide patients objective outcome measurements. To incorporate digital innovation in clinical and rehabilitation practices, this study discusses Matti, an interactive system created as a customisable tangible user interface (TUI). Its usability in pediatric and geriatric physiotherapy contexts is explored and evaluated through user evaluation. The Matti device was found to be usable and enjoyable for exergaming rehabilitation. However, additional study on measuring capabilities is needed to enable the accurate and reliable objective outcome measurements through this TUI. Future research should analyse how this TUI and gamified postural control assessment affects patients' motivation and therapeutic outcomes.

Keywords: children; exergames; older adults; rehabilitation; tangible user interface; TUI.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2023.135483

International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2023 Vol.10 No.4, pp.399 - 416

Received: 13 Jan 2023
Accepted: 08 Aug 2023
Published online: 14 Dec 2023 *

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