## 5 Conclusions  
In conclusion, the study demonstrates that gradual spatial and temporal cues provided by a synchronized walking avatar can significantly influence the gait parameters of elderly participants. The results show that both immediate and carry-over effects can be seen, which suggests potential for gait training applications. In particular, the SI and PD conditions, or potentially their combination, can be used to improve common gait impairment in elderly gait (shorter strides, longer cycle time, and slower speed). Additionally, the PI condition can be potentially useful in shuffling gait to combat the shorter strides and short cycle times. The carry-over effects were reduced by turns following the change. Future research should evaluate the long-term impacts of the system and potential integration with other gait training or rehabilitation systems. The system's effectiveness as a gait guidance and rehabilitation tool should be assessed in future studies by comparing a control group and a treatment group over a defined period of time. Additionally, the effect of performing turns and the avatar on the carry-over effect should be studied further.  
Overall, avatar-based AR gait training offers a promising method for improving quality of life and mobility in the elderly. By leveraging advanced technology to provide personalized and engaging rehabilitation, this approach holds significant potential for widespread application in enhancing the independence and well-being of older adults.  
Conceptualization, D.A.L.M., H.U. and Y.M.; methodology, D.A.L.M. and H.U.; software, D.A.L.M. and H.U.; validation, D.A.L.M., H.U. and Y.M.; formal analysis, D.A.L.M.; investigation, D.A.L.M.; resources, Y.M. and H.U.; data curation, D.A.L.M.; writing--original draft preparation, D.A.L.M.; writing--review and editing, D.A.L.M.; visualization, D.A.L.M.; supervision, Y.M.; project administration, H.U. and Y.M.; funding acquisition, Y.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This work was supported in part by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) CREST, grant numbers [JM]CR21C5, JST COI-NEXT, and JPM]JPF2101, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI, grant number 22K17630, and the JST-Mirai Program grant number JPMJMI24H2, Japan.  
The experiment was conducted with the approval of the Research Ethics Review Committee of the Tokyo Institute of Technology (permit number: 2024073; date of approval: 18 April 2024).  
Informed Consent Statement: Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.  
Data Availability Statement: The data presented in this study are available upon request from the corresponding author due to privacy concerns. This restriction is in place to protect the confidentiality and personal information of the study participants, ensuring that their data are handled responsibly and in accordance with ethical guidelines.  
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the members of Miyake Laboratory for their invaluable feedback during the development of this research and for their assistance in communicating with participants, which was instrumental to the success of this study. Finally, we extend our thanks to the study participants and to our families and friends for their unwavering support throughout this project.