CordiAAL: Enhanced Motivation for Cardiological Ergometer Training through Virtual Groups in Virtual Worlds

Abstract

The project CordiAAL purposes the goal of developing a training system for patients with cardiovascular diseases. The first aim is to reduce the anxiety of overexertion by using a continuous monitoring of vital parameters and the second is to increase the patients' motivation according to a moderate physical activity by the virtual environment of the system. The training can be done alone or in common with several patients in a virtual group, regardless of the patients' location. When grouped together, the performance of the individual patient is aligned, so that patients with different fitness levels are able to work together. The evaluations revealed that the increase in motivation could be achieved by training in the virtual environment in virtual groups.