Comparative Study of AR Versus Image and Video for Exercise Learning

There is inadequate attention to using mobile Augmented Reality (AR) in fitness, despite mobile AR being easy to use, requiring no extra cost, and can be a powerful learning tool. In this work, we present a mobile AR application that can help users learn exercises with a virtual personal trainer. We conduct a user study with 10 participants to investigate the learning quality of the ARFit (i.e., the proposed mobile AR application) in comparison to traditional methods such as Image-based learning and Video-based learning. Our results indicate that participants have a higher learning quality of exercise with mobile AR than (1) Image-based learning among all exercises selected and (2) video-based learning with exercise that requires greater spatial knowledge, with the performance evaluated by a qualified personal trainer. In addition, ARFit has an excellent rating in usability, is deemed to be highly acceptable, and is the preferred exercise learning method by most participants (N=9)