Adventurous Dreaming Highflying Dragon is a full body-driven, game prototype for children ages 6–8 with a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The current prototype incorporates research evidence showing that physical activity can help improve ADHD-related symptoms. Physical activity is integrated with cognitively challenging tasks that may improve brain activity by encouraging goal planning and dedication. The current prototype is includes three mini-games, each of which teaches skills with real-life use potential. Players role-play as a young dragon in the story and virtual world as they repeat virtual tasks several times to gain mastery over real-life skills. Each activity is focused on a specific strength/weakness reported in children with ADHD, with game mechanics targeting ADHD diagnosis categories: specific hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. This demonstration is based on the findings published in Hashemian, Y., & Gotsis, M. 2013, November. In Proceedings of the 4th Conference on Wireless Health (p. 12). ACM. http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2534101

This research demonstration consists of an integrated hardware and software platform developed for rapid prototyping of virtual reality-based games for upper body exercise and rehabilitation. The exercise protocol has been adopted from an evidence-based shoulder exercise program for individuals with spinal cord injury. The hardware consists of a custom metal rig that holds a standard wheelchair, six Gametraks attached to elastic exercise bands, a Microsoft Kinect, a laptop and a large screen. A total of 21 prototypes were built using drivers for Kinect, MaxMSP and Unity Pro 3 in order to evaluate game ideas based on deconstruction of the exercise protocol. Future directions include validation of our heuristic design and evaluation model and the development of an exercise suite of point-of-care VR games.

In this paper, we describe the design of a preliminary prototype and pilot results of the SMART-Games suite, a video game intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). The prototype, consisting of a stuffed animal game controller with an on-screen video game, emphasizes empathy and related social skills. The proposed design aims to accommodate users across the autism spectrum through adaptive modules focused on core deficits: sensory and motor skills, imitation and turn-taking, joint attention and theory of mind. Response from the preliminary pilot suggests that the application appeals to the target audience and further development is underway.