Activities per year
Project Details
Description
VR@SN is an innovative, interdisciplinary project that validates an existing custom-made virtual reality (VR) prototype in terms of its design and diagnostic capabilities through a series of pilot single case experimental designs (SCEDs) [3] to improve evidence based treatment and health-related quality of life of thousands of patients with unilateral spatial neglect (USN) in Denmark alone. Proper diagnosis and monitoring of USN and its sub-types allows for targeted training in rehabilitation. Regionshospitalet Hammel Neurocenter (RHN) will provide the expertise to validate its diagnostic capabilities and collect patient feedback so the department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology (ADMT) can refine the designed game-based activities in VR. Volunteering patients meeting inclusion criteria at Hammel Neurocenter will participate in the SCEDs.
Following a user-centered design (UCD) approach, our current application, (details available on github ), was conceived through a number of co-design activities with therapists and refined through observations of patient interactions with previous prototype versions and their feedback to it. This project focuses on the validation of diagnostics from data logged by the current prototype through data collections from single case experimental designs (SCED).
The project has two main goals:
Develop, validate, and refine the diagnostic precision of the prototype (e.g., from eye, head, and torso tracking)
implement, and evaluate treatment approaches (e.g. mirror therapy, prismatic shift, half-field eye-patching for individualised neglect rehabilitation based on improved diagnostics
Specifically, our previous tests showed that we could extract relevant diagnostic markers for neglect from simple activities such as looking at pictures in VR. Thus, we can contribute to continuous data collection and evidence based targeted treatments (manuscript under preparation).
We therefore predict that we can diagnose neglect and its subtypes with greater accuracy than current pen and paper techniques and include many scientifically proven sub-tests that are not included in day-to-day practice due to resource limitations or insufficient training/knowledge from personnel. Based on these diagnoses, individually tailored rehabilitation can be provided.
The current prototype supports this plan by allowing to pre-define a set of conditions of the virtually displayed task - Whack-a-mole. This engaging game-like task requires players to hit (whack) appearing targets (mole). The approach can combine therapeutic modalities such as: mirroring patients movements, patching of eyes, adding prism adaptation, and scaling the motor space to the patients’ physical abilities such that even patients who cannot move their hands or arms, or only within a small range can use the application.
Layman's description
sufficiently sensitive to rehabilitation effect and they therefore do not help much that increase patient motivation. We have developed a virtual reality (VR) application together with patients and clinicians in over the last three years. The latest improvements were funded by The health innovation pool in the Central Region (Grant no. 208282401048). The application combines concepts from several paper-based tests and a range of recognized treatment methods, such that the investigation and treatment of neglect is carried out in one and same solution. For patients, the application looks like a (whack-a-mole) game that they in our own studies find entertaining. In this project, we will now evaluate that data from our application supports a more sensitive one and accurate diagnosis of neglect and its subtypes. Below, the solution allows us to fine-tune patients' hand, head, and eye movements during use to clarify subtypes and distinguish these from differential diagnoses. Unlike paper-based tests the application can be adjusted in terms of degree of difficulty and different levels of the patient's physical abilities (eg if they cannot move their arms much).
Short title | VR assessment and treatment of spatial neglect |
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Acronym | VR@SN |
Status | Finished |
Effective start/end date | 01/04/2021 → 30/09/2022 |
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Activities
- 1 Guest lecturers
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Forskning i Fremtidens Digitale Hjælpemidler
Hougaard, B. I. (Lecturer)
24 Sept 2024Activity: Talks and presentations › Guest lecturers
Impacts
Projects
- 2 Finished
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"Whack-a-mole" - Training of hand, arm, and attention in Virtual Reality
Evald, L. (CoPI), Brunner, I. (CoPI), Knoche, H. (CoPI) & Hougaard, B. I. (Project Manager)
01/08/2020 → 31/12/2020
Project: Research
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RehApps: Rehab apps for cognitive disabilities
Knoche, H. (PI) & Hald, K. (Project Manager)
01/09/2014 → 31/08/2020
Project: Research
Research output
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The Guilty Game Designer: Are Games Data Generators or Storytellers?
Hougaard, B. I. & Knoche, H., 14 Oct 2024, p. 1-2. 2 p.Research output: Contribution to conference without publisher/journal › Paper without publisher/journal › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
Virtual Mirror Therapy in a VR pointing task for stroke rehabilitation
Hougaard, B. I., Evald, L., Brunner, I. & Knoche, H., May 2022, European Stroke Journal. SAGE Publications, Vol. 7. p. 546-588Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Conference abstract in proceeding › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile67 Downloads (Pure) -
Virtual Motor Spaces: Exploring how to amplify movements in VR stroke rehabilitation to aid patients with upper limb hemiparesis
Hougaard, B. I., Skovfoged, M. M., Evald, L., Brunner, I. & Knoche, H., 14 Dec 2022, ICVR2022 papers. p. 21-22 2 p.Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Conference abstract in proceeding › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile100 Downloads (Pure)
Press/Media
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Virtual Reality testes til reduktion af opmærksomhedsproblemer – et forskningsspor
Hougaard, B. I., Knoche, H., Evald, L. & Brunner, I.
20/09/2021
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media