Title: Detecting and modelling child's play behaviour using sensor-embedded climbing playground equipment

Authors: Hisakazu Ouchi; Yoshifumi Nishida; Ilwoong Kim; Mikiko Inoue; Yoichi Motomura; Hiroshi Mizoguchi

Addresses: Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda-shi, Chiba 278-8510, Japan; Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Digital Human Research Center, AIST, 2-3-26 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan ' Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Digital Human Research Center, AIST, 2-3-26 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan ' Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Digital Human Research Center, AIST, 2-3-26 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan ' Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Digital Human Research Center, AIST, 2-3-26 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan ' Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Digital Human Research Center, AIST, 2-3-26 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan ' Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda-shi, Chiba 278-8510, Japan; Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Digital Human Research Center, AIST, 2-3-26 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan

Abstract: Many injuries during childhood are related to the use of playground equipment. Until recently, scientific data of how children actually use playground equipment were scarce. To design age-appropriate and safer playground equipment, it is essential that scientific data on children's interaction with this equipment be accumulated. We developed a rock-climbing wall equipped with force sensors to record the physical behaviour of children while on the wall, thus allowing measurement of these behaviours in a more natural environment. Around 50 force sensors installed in the developed rock-climbing wall are able to collect a large amount of data while children are playing with the equipment. The behaviour data of 623 children were recorded in the present study. Herein, we report on a child behaviour prediction model created from the collected data.

Keywords: embedded sensor networks; full-body interaction; child behaviour modelling; playground equipment; technology; child safety; rock climbing wall; force sensors; physical behaviour.

DOI: 10.1504/IJART.2012.046275

International Journal of Arts and Technology, 2012 Vol.5 No.2/3/4, pp.221 - 243

Published online: 27 Nov 2014 *

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