Interactive Slide

Interactive Slide
The Interactive Slide (UPF Patent) is an Exertion Interface (or Exergame Platform) to foster play and physical activity on a physical playground structure coexisting with virtual videogames in a Mixed Reality context.

The Interactive Slide (UPF Patent) is an Exertion Interface (or Exergame Platform) to foster play and physical activity on a physical playground structure coexisting with virtual videogames in a Mixed Reality context.

Balloon Game from FBIL - CMTECH - UPF on Vimeo.

The structure is composed of a large inflatable slide (8x8m) that is augmented with interactive technology. The current configuration has a sliding surface 4 meters wide and 3 meters long (12x9 feet), which acts also as an image projection screen. A computer vision system detects the movements, actions and attitudes of children to allow them to play with an interactive experience on the sliding surface of the slide.

View of the Interactive Slide

Myriad games and educational experiences may be designed and developed for the surface of the slide without having to change the underlying infrastructure.

Playground

This project studies the Mixed Reality platform as a fun and playful novel playground structure. Hence, understanding its playground potential is one of the branches of this research.

This project is more than a fun generating experience. It is an ongoing research project within the field of interactive communication for children with special needs. Specifically, the Interactive Slide addresses important issues concerning children in Europe, namely those related to children obessity and lack of socialisation. The Interactive Slide wishes to become a tool to encourage children to do more physical exercise while socialising with other children. This project also contributes to international efforts in this area within the notion of Interactive Playgrounds.

The project had a funded part called CRAFTI: http://crafti.upf.edu/index.html

 

Principal researchers

Narcís Parés

Researchers

Pascal Landry

For the aspects related to physical activity, exertion and health, we have collaborated with two groups from the National Institute of Physical Education and Sport of Catalonia (INEFC) in the city of Lleida and linked to the University of Lleida:

  • Prof. Rosa Rodríguez - Research group in Motor Action (GIAM)
  • Prof. Enric Ormo - Research group in Motor Action (GIAM)
  • Prof. Marta Castanyer - Research and Innovation group in Designs (GRID)
  • Prof. Oleguer Camerino - Research and Innovation group in Designs (GRID)

 

For the design of the physical inflatable slide we have collaborated with the company of inflatable structures Tecnodimensión S.L. https://www.tecnodimension.com/

This project was funded by:

  • the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation of with project number: TIN2010-18268 MICYN
  • the company of inflatable structures Tecnodimensión S.L. https://www.tecnodimension.com/