PainMouse

Prolonged exposure to violent video games has been linked to increased aggression and desensitization, raising concerns about their psychological impact. While existing anti-addiction systems focus on gameplay duration and identity verification, few address players’ real-time responses to violent content. We introduce PainMouse, a multimodal embodied AI system that detects desensitization to in-game violence and delivers pain-based haptic feedback to promote awareness and self-regulation. Using a dual-path detection framework, the software module combines and compares visual, audio, and behavioral data from the game and the player. When emotional detachment is detected, a custom-built haptic mouse delivers proportional feedback via electrical stimulation or mechanical impact. Drawing from associative learning theories, our system explores whether repeated pairing of violent actions with physical discomfort can reshape player sensitivity. This work offers an AI-powered, embodied, behavior-sensitive intervention mechanism that complements existing digital well-being frameworks.