SomaTech: an exploratory interface for altering movement habits

Qiao Wang, Pavan K. Turaga, Grisha Coleman, Todd Ingalls

Abstract: We propose SomaTech, a Kinect-based system that encourages users to expand understanding and awareness of their everyday movements. The system creates real-time auditory feedback based on the user's whole action, aiming toward re-education of habitual, potentially unsound movement patterns which are often ingrained within the brain. To do this, we draw inspiration from the field of somatics, which has well-studied prophylactic benefits. Our initial evaluation shows promising results that users become more aware of movement choices and are able to improve their efficiency after using the system.