THE SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN 

GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 

Under the provisions of the regulations for the degree 

MASTER OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

on

Monday, April 25th 2022

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

in the 203 Classroom D.M. Smith or

via  https://bluejeans.com/141411762/8101

Kelly Choe Fischer

will present a thesis defense entitled,

“Impact of Tangible Augmented Reality on Electromyography Output”

Advisor:

Dr. Young Mi Choi – School of Industrial Design

Committee:

Prof. Leila Aflatoony– School of Industrial Design

Prof. Timothy Purdy – School of Industrial Design

Faculty and students are invited to attend this presentation.

Abstract

            The utilization of augmented reality for guiding user motions and the incorporation of sensors as an assessment tool are areas of growing interest. Potential for future application exists in the viability to produce real-time interpretations and haptic feedback of electromyography (EMG) signals for prostheses and robotics. Previous technological limitations with augmented reality have been overcome to produce systems of greater human-computer interaction and flexibility. While it is not a new avenue to consider multi-sensory influence on muscular stress and activation, altering sensory input and the impacts of augmented reality on the body is relatively untouched.

            This study proposes incorporating EMG sensors with tangible augmented reality (TAR) during a series of low stress motion-based tasks to determine the impact on muscular activation. Specifically, 3 tasks were completed by the users while equipped with an EMG armband and their subsequent signal output recorded for those tasks in real-life and then with the TAR system. The TAR system incorporates a digital visual interaction with representative physical interactions of the tasks to best mimic the real-life tasks. Two types of signal classification features were analyzed to determine what influence the TAR system had on EMG output. The changes in integrated EMG and waveform length for the tasks after implementing the TAR system appear to reflect an increase in EMG and potentially muscular activation from the participants.