Gamification of Breath Training for Wind Players

This paper presents the gamification of the Abdominal- Thoracic-Expansion-Measurement prototype wear-able device (ATEMP) and the subsequent study. The ATEMP is a newly developed wearable device for musicians that measures breathing-induced abdominal and ribcage expansion and contraction in real-time. Flute Hero video game was developed as a side-scroller game that uses the ATEMP as player input, and provides real-time biofeedback. The Flute Hero video game study (pretest, post-test, control group study design), gathered metrics from 41 flutists and analyzed whether playing Flute Hero improves breathing technique more so than not playing Flute Hero. All participants performed the pretest and post-test, but only the treatment group played Flute Hero for three weeks between the pretest and post-test. Response to the gaming was positive, participants were keen to play the game and remained engaged throughout the duration of the study. Participants commented that they felt playing Flute Hero positively impacted their breathing technique and sound production. The metrics showed significant improvement in the breath period of the treatment group, but did not show significant improvement in abdominal or thoracic expansion. Further research with changes to the experimental methodology, including longer treatment run time, might garner better results.