Usability Comparison Between Leap Motion Controller and MediaPipe in Serious Games.

BACKGROUND

Serious games (SGs) with hand-tracking solutions are increasingly adopted in neurological rehabilitation. The Leap Motion Controller (LMC) is widely used in clinical and research contexts, while software-based systems, such as MediaPipe (MP), are emerging.

OBJECTIVES

This study compared the usability of MP- and LMC-based SGs.

METHODS

Seven SGs were developed to evaluate Grasp and Pinch gestures and tested with fifty healthy volunteers. Usability was assessed with the System Usability Scale (SUS) after each device, and an ad-hoc comparative questionnaire (LMC, MP, Neutral) collected preferences on several aspects.

RESULTS

Both systems achieved excellent SUS scores (MP: 88/100; LMC: 90/100), with no statistical difference in usability. The comparative questionnaire showed a stronger preference for LMC (63%) versus MP (17%), with 20% neutral.

CONCLUSION

Although both solutions demonstrated high usability, LMC was more frequently preferred in direct comparison. The SUS results of MP encourage further investigation, including large-scale tests with neurological patients.