The Quest for the Perfect ExerGame

I had the opportunity yesterday to view the MFA Interactive Media Thesis Exhibition at the University of Southern California. There were a wide range of interactive installations including a wall mural designed by Marc Tuters that responded to subtle movements in the viewer seated in front of it, making the mural respond to the observer’s contemplation.

What really gave me a glimpse of the “Perfect” ExerGame was an immersive interactive bank heist simulation. The designer and “Performance Director” Scott Gillies not only briefed my partner and I on our “misssion” but also dynamically adjusted the difficulty of the various obstacles we had to overcome. For example there were motion sensors that permitted movement for a short period before the players had to be completely still until the next cycle or else the alarm would go off. The “Performance Director” was able to dynamically alter parameters such as the length time movement was possible and the degree of stillness required to not trigger the alarm, so that the game adapted to the physical ability of the players. Kind of neat don’t you think?