MedBike: A Cardiac Patient Monitoring System Enhanced through Gamification

TL;DR

The paper addresses advancing pediatric cardiac rehabilitation by gamifying exercise through MedBike's 2D PC game. A client-driven process led to a standalone 2D Unity-based game with three escalating levels and a high-intensity Wormhole segment designed for safe in-home rehabilitation. A usability study with 21 participants showed favorable engagement, acceptable level durations, and strong positive reception of the Wormhole mode, with constructive feedback for future enhancements. The work demonstrates a practical, safety-conscious approach to integrating gaming with remote health monitoring, and outlines concrete plans for customization, more levels, and milestones to sustain patient motivation.

Abstract

The "MedBike" is an innovative project in the field of pediatric cardiac rehabilitation. It is a 2D interactive game created specifically for children under the age of 18 who have cardiac conditions. This game is part of the MedBike system, a novel rehabilitation tool combining physical exercise with the spirit of gaming. The MedBike game provides children with a safe, controlled, and engaging environment in which to exercise and recover. It has three distinct levels of increasing intensity, each with its own set of environments and challenges that are tailored to different stages of rehabilitation. This report dives into the details of the MedBike game, highlighting its unique features and gameplay.

Figures (11)

• Figure 1: Workflow
• Figure 2: Level 1
• Figure 3: Level 2
• Figure 4: Level 3
• Figure 5: Wormhole