Utilizing Digital Game Environments For Training Prosthetic Use

When the children receive their prosthetic, many of them still need to learn or, in many cases, relearn elements such as grabbing, squeezing and other range of movement with their newly fitted prosthetic. In this case, electromyogram or EMG sensors control the arms. The EMG is worn on an existing muscle and detects muscle movement as input. The EMG data feeds into the prosthetic device to stimulate movement in the hand. New users of this device are often confused over how to control the motion at first. Limibitless solutions, the creators of this device, approached the team at the University of Central Florida’s School of Visual Art & Design, about the possibility of developing videogames to train the use of the prosthetic prior to children receiving them, in hopes of reducing the time it takes to become proficient with the device