VR games for lying patients

This thesis focuses on the design of a virtual reality (VR) application that is suitable for entertainment and gentle exercise for lying patients. It aims to first explore the possible target user groups, and based on the analysis, to design suitable game experiences, their controls, and mechanics for the selected target group. Subsequently, a prototype of the proposed application will be implemented. Further, according to the UCD methodology, the prototype has to be tested, appropriate changes suggested and implemented and this process iterated several times. The resulting application and the included game experiences should be suitable for elderly people, people with spinal cord injuries, or otherwise ill (and therefore bedbound) patients. Throughout the design and implementation process great emphasis is placed on the limitations of the target group. Many of these limitations are physical, such as reduced sensitivity in the hands and fingers, weak hand grip and overall weakened arm, or inability to turn the head and body due to the lying position, etc. The users must be able to control the application comfortably regardless of these limitations. The resulting app allows the player to perform upright redirection so they see themselves as if standing and supports gesture detection instead of VR controllers. An associated mobile device application allows the assistant to help the VR player with navigation in the menus, upright redirection, setting custom gestures, and more. Three games can be played in the application - Tangram puzzle, Shooting Gallery, and an Endless Runner game. They are designed to appeal to a wide spectrum of users with different kinds of physical limitations. The application was tested twice throughout its development and changed according to the results of these testing sessions, then tested for the last time to verify it fulfills the given requirements. According to the final testing the application is usable and entertains the users. In the future, some minor changes could be made according to the final testing of the application. The app could also be expanded to include other gaming experiences, and more Tangram and Shooting Gallery levels could be added. A tutorial could be created that would help both mobile device and VR users understand the controls and goals of the games and the whole application in detail.