Successfully Implementing a Clinically-Used Therapy Device in a Home-Therapy Setting

Telerehabilitation has the potential to improve the outcomes of rehabilitation. To expand tele-rehabilitation, the REHA2030 project aimed to integrate medical devices in therapy. To use medical devices in an unsupervised setting within a telerehabilitation system, requirements, processes and control mechanisms need to be defined. In a field trail with four patients and seven therapists, the REHA2030 system with an integrated hand rehabilitation device was evaluated. The aim of including the hand rehabilitation device in combination with a serious game was to increase hand strength and sensor-motor function and to test the feasibility in a home setting. From the four included patients two used the hand rehabilitation device within the field test and trained with it in average 5,8 respectively 5,2 times per week over a period of 10 respectively 5 weeks. The statements of the participants indicate an increase in exercise intensity and frequency and an increase in motivation to practice independently. Easy handling of the system by therapists and patients could also be demonstrated. Further results with more study participants over a longer period of time are needed to validate the results.

Design Requirements for a (Tele-) Rehabilitation Platform: Results from a Participatory Process

BACKGROUND

Teletherapy has the potential to foster therapy efficiency by supporting the whole therapy process.

OBJECTIVES

In the ongoing project REHA2030 a service model and technology platform for telerehabilitation of stroke patients is developed.

METHODS

To provide a user-friendly solution, a human-centered design process was employed throughout the whole project, where stakeholders from different professions were involved.

RESULTS

Aiming at a comprehensive approach that includes the whole therapy process, structural elements from the patient data administration through planning and monitoring of exercises to documentation and reporting and communication possibilities were implemented. Flexibility in the setting and multi-professional usage with one interaction point for the patient - independent of the type of therapy - were crucial outcomes for a high user experience.

CONCLUSION

The platform, consisting of a tablet with an app, integrable therapy devices for the patient and a web-interface for the therapist will be tested and evaluated within the project with 12 participants (patients and therapists) in a real-life setting.

A Customized Smart Home and Interior Design Concept Co-Designed with and for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses increased over the last decades, as reviews show comparing prevalence rates reported from different studies. Due to different effects of the disorder, personal support is required and provided by formal and/or informal caregivers in various activities of daily living. With the help of a customized smart home and interior design concept the aim is to enable people with ASD to live a more independent and self-reliant life. Following a participatory research approach, the end users are involved in the context of use and requirements definition, concept development, and later also in the implementation, and evaluation process. The solution shall assist end users in performing activities of daily living. The outcome of the work at hand is a set of modular functionalities (sensors, actuators, interior design solutions) to be integrated in a living environment specifically designed for people with ASD.

Assistive Solutions in Practice: Experiences from AAL Pilot Regions in Austria

Since 2012 six AAL pilot regions were launched in Austria. The main goal of these pilot regions is to evaluate the impact of AAL technologies in daily use considering the entire value chain. Additionally, go-to market strategies for assistive technologies based on an involvement of all relevant stakeholders are developed. Within this paper an overview of the specific objectives, approaches and the status of all Austrian AAL pilot regions is given. Taking into account the different experiences of the different pilot regions, specific challenges in establishing, implementing and sustaining pilot region projects are discussed and lessons-learned are presented. Results show that a careful planning of all project phases taking into account available resources is crucial for the successful implementation of an AAL pilot region. In particular, this applies to all activities related to the active involvement of end-users.