Influencing body awareness through interactive technology in physical training A design-oriented research in equestrian vaulting with an excursion into neuromuscular biofeedback By Linda Hirsch Subject: Human-Computer Interaction Corresponds to: 30 hp Presented: ST 2018 Supervisor: Laia Turmo Vidal Examiner: Jon Back Department of Informatics and Media Abstract Current research is underdeveloped regarding the application and development of interactive technology in instructed physical training. This includes the lack of training tools and methods targeting body awareness. Underdeveloped body awareness leads to a lack of self-confidence and the lack to relate to oneself emotionally, mentally and/or physically, as well as the inability to relate oneself to the external world. Therefore further research in this area is strongly required. Accordingly, this thesis deals with the questions of what types of body awareness can be designed for in a physical training context as well as how to influence the identified types through interactive technology. Reducing the thesis’ scope, the applied research concentrated on the physical training of equestrian vaulting. Therefore, a research through design approach was applied in combination with a selection of embodied interaction methods. In total, two epochés, two bodystorming workshops, two experienced prototyping sessions, one expert interview and one pilot study were conducted by focusing on an explorative, qualitative approach while putting high emphasize on the user involvement. Through the iterative development, the effect of neuromuscular biofeedback on body awareness was tested and discussed on a superficial level as one example of how interactive technology could influence body awareness. Overall, results identified various types of and issues with body awareness that re-occurred throughout different training situations and for which the integration of interactive technology could be beneficial. These results further lead to design implications for and insights about the design of interactive technology aiming at supporting the training of the identified body awareness issues. Sammanfattning Aktuell forskning är underutvecklad när det gäller tillämpning och utveckling av interaktiv teknik vid instruerad fysisk träning. Detta inkluderar bristen på träningsredskap och metoder som inriktar sig på kroppsmedvetenhet. Underutvecklad kroppsmedvetenhet leder till brist på självförtroende och till en brist att förhålla sig emotionellt, mentalt och / eller fysiskt, liksom till en oförmåga att förhålla sig till den yttre världen. Därför krävs ytterligare forskning på detta område. Följaktligen behandlar denna avhandling frågor om vilka typer av kroppsmedvetenhet som kan utformas i en fysisk träningskontext samt hur man påverkar de identifierade typerna genom interaktiv teknik. På grund av begränsning av uppsatsens omfång, koncentrerar den tillämpade forskningen på den fysiska träningen av ryttarevalvning. Därför tillämpades en forskning genom design metod i kombination med ett urval av förkroppsligade interaktionsmetoder. Totalt genomfördes två epokéer, två kroppsstoringsverkstäder, två erfarna prototyper, en expertintervju och en pilotstudie genom att fokusera på ett explorativt, kvalitativt tillvägagångssätt samtidigt som man lagt stor vikt vid användarnas engagemang. Genom den iterativa utvecklingen testades effekten av neuromuskulär biofeedback på kroppsmedvetenhet och diskuterades på en ytlig nivå som ett exempel på hur interaktiv teknik kan påverka kroppens medvetenhet. Sammantaget identifierade resultaten olika typer av problem med kroppsmedvetenhet som upprepades genom olika träningssituationer och för vilka integrationen av interaktiv teknik skulle kunna vara till nytta. Dessa resultat leder vidare till konstruktionsimplikationer och insikter kring utformningen av interaktiv teknik som syftar till att stödja utbildningen av de identifierade kroppsvårdsproblemen. ii Acknowledgement This thesis would not have been possible without all the amazing research enthusiasts as well as supporting friends and family members who encouraged me, gave me new ideas and kept being there for me and my studies the whole time through. Namely, I would like to thank Ulla Fehse, Emilia Mannheller, Christina Klozoris, Sonja Hofauer, Fabian Opitz, Petra Killian, Noreen Groesgen and Schalud Social for their support and contributions that provided many of the thesis’ insights. Further, I would like to thank my supervisor Laia Turmo Vidal who kept up with me even over long- distance and after/ before-working hours. An especial thanks goes to my parents, Barbara and Dietmar Hirsch whose expert knowledge provided many important insights and whose emotional support gave me always new perspectives and encouragement till the finish line. iii Index Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... ii Sammanfattning ...................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgement .................................................................................................................................. iii List of Figures ...................................................................................................................................... viii List of Tables .......................................................................................................................................... ix 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Problem Statement and Research Question ............................................................................. 1 1.2. Objectives ................................................................................................................................ 2 1.3. Development ........................................................................................................................... 2 1.4. Structure .................................................................................................................................. 2 2. Background ..................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1. Embodied Interaction .............................................................................................................. 3 2.2. Interactive Technology in a Physical Training Context .......................................................... 4 2.3. Interactive Technology in The Context of Body Awareness .................................................. 5 2.4. Interactive Technology Considering Neuromuscular Biofeedback ......................................... 7 2.5. Equestrian Vaulting ................................................................................................................. 8 3. Theory ........................................................................................................................................... 10 3.1. Body Awareness .................................................................................................................... 10 3.1.1. Perception ...................................................................................................................... 11 3.1.2. Attention ........................................................................................................................ 12 3.1.3. Joint Attention and Joint Action .................................................................................... 13 3.2. Senses and Motor Processing ................................................................................................ 13 3.2.1. Somatosensation and Proprioceptors ............................................................................. 14 Biofeedback ............................................................................................................................... 14 Electromyography ..................................................................................................................... 15 3.2.2. Vision and Auditory Sense ............................................................................................ 16 4. Methodology & Methods .............................................................................................................. 18 iv 4.1. Methodology Research trough Design .................................................................................. 18 4.2. Introduction Epoché .............................................................................................................. 18 4.3. Introduction Bodystorming ................................................................................................... 19 4.4. Introduction Experienced Prototyping .................................................................................. 20 4.5. Thematic Analysis ................................................................................................................. 21 4.6. Overview Methods ................................................................................................................ 22 4.7. Ethical Considerations ........................................................................................................... 23 5. Epochés ........................................................................................................................................