PRAXIS: Exergaming Pod for Dyspraxic Children

Abstract

The project aims on designing a gaming/exercise pod for the children suffering from Dyspraxia, a Sensory Based Motor Disorder which limits one's ability to exhibit typical motor actions. Children suffering from dyspraxia have problem in performing fine and gross motor skills, organizing and planning to perform activities and communicating confidently. One of the many reasons for these lacking abilities is their weak core muscles that create hindrance whether they perform as simple a task as walking or a difficult one as taking part in sports. Cases of dyspraxia are handled by psychotherapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists, in a setting comprising of different tools and exercises to correct their muscle tone and help them generate a continuous connection with the exercises taught and their daily routine tasks so they might be able to apply them later every day. The problem can never be cured but therapy enhances the gross motor skills so they might be able to apply some of the learning to their daily life activities. The extensive, expensive and never ending appointments and visits to a therapist are always a challenge to the child and family. Parents are duty bound to visit an occupational therapist so their child might get better with co-ordination, balance and learn their existence in space. The project seeks to look into existing case studies and present at the end, with a pod that can be kept at home and school so the learning might be more effective in a comfortable and friendly environment than a therapy room and creates opportunities to explore various possibilities of learning as well.