Frustrating Interaction Design of AS IF, an Embodied Interaction Game for Perspective Taking Towards Physical Limitations.

In this extended abstract, we discuss the interaction design of AS IF, a serious game that employs embodied interaction in order to facilitate perspective taking. The goal of this game is to offer non-patients an insight into what it may feel like to function with a body that is, at times, disabled or limited because of Chronic Pain. The interactor controls an avatar by means of skeletal tracking. In this way, the avatar mimics the interactor’s movements and gestures in the virtual environment where they complete a series of tasks. The tasks require the interactor to reach out in physical space with their hands to have the avatar touch objects in the virtual space. During the game, we introduce range of motion limitations to the avatar, effectively making it more difficult to complete the motor tasks in the game environment. Through this “disabling” feature, the interactor’s actions are deliberately mapped incorrectly to the avatar; the aim is to give the interactor a glimpse into what it may be like to live with constraints—a frustrating experience.