Carrot & Stick: Electrical Muscle Stimulation output generated through incentivized/de-incentivized exergames

Exertion based video games have sought to encourage physical activity. In this paper we explore whether haptic intervention by the exertion game can encourage physical performance. Our system asks users to perform a series of repetitive strenuous tasks comparable to everyday exercise in a gym. Using Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS), we introduce two further conditions to the exercise. ‘Carrot’ condition applies EMS to enhance muscle contraction in compliance with the exercise motion, in our case exaggerating bicep contraction during a bicep flex. ‘Stick’ condition applies EMS to counteract muscle contraction in opposition to the exercise motion, in our case activating triceps contraction during a bicep flex. Our aim was to explore whether physical exertion in a virtual environment could be increased through these techniques, either by explicitly supporting or further challenging the movement with EMS. This paper discusses the design, implementation and results of this project.