scholarly journals Using augmented reality technology for balance training in the elderly. A feasibility study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Blomqvist ◽  
Stefen Seipel ◽  
Maria Engström

Abstract BackgroundImpaired balance leading to falls is common in the elderly, and there is strong evidence that balance training reduces falls and increases independence. Reduced resources in health care will result in fewer people getting help with rehabilitation training. In this regard, the new technology augmented reality (AR) could be helpful. With AR the elderly can receive help with instructions and get feedback on their progression in balance training. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of using AR-based visual-interactive tools in balance training of the elderly.MethodsSeven elderly participants (66-88 years old) with impaired balance trained under supervision of a physiotherapist twice a week for six weeks using AR-based visual-interactive guidance, which was facilitated through a Microsoft HoloLens holographic display. Afterwards, participants and physiotherapists were interviewed about the new technology and their experience of the training. Also, fear of falling, balance and physical ability were measured before and after training.ResultsMost participants experienced the new technology as positive in terms of increased motivation and feedback. Experiences were mixed regarding the physical and technical aspects of the HoloLens and the design of the HoloLens application. The majority of participants perceived that they were steadier after training; this was also shown in the balance tests. Also, most participants reduced their fear of falling after the training. Participants also described issues that needed to be further improved, for example, the training program was difficult and monotonous. Further, the HoloLens hardware was felt to be heavy, the application's menu was difficult to control with different hand maneuvers, and the calibration took a long time. Suggestions for improvements were described.ConclusionsThe study showed that training with the new technology is, to some extent, feasible for the elderly, but needs further development. Also, the technology seemed to stimulate increased motivation and adherence to training. However, the new technology and training requires further development and testing in a larger context.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Blomqvist ◽  
Stefen Seipel ◽  
Maria Engström

Abstract BackgroundImpaired balance leading to falls is common in the elderly, and there is strong evidence that balance training reduces falls and increases independence. Reduced resources in health care will result in fewer people getting help with rehabilitation training. In this regard, the new technology augmented reality (AR) could be helpful. With AR, the elderly can receive help with instructions and get feedback on their progression in balance training. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of using AR-based visual-interactive tools in balance training of the elderly.MethodsSeven elderly participants (66-88 years old) with impaired balance trained under supervision of a physiotherapist twice a week for six weeks using AR-based visual-interactive guidance, which was facilitated through a Microsoft HoloLens holographic display. Afterwards, participants and physiotherapists were interviewed about the new technology and their experience of the training. Also, fear of falling and balance ability were measured before and after training. ResultsFive participants experienced the new technology as positive in terms of increased motivation and feedback. Experiences were mixed regarding the physical and technical aspects of the HoloLens and the design of the HoloLens application. Participants also described issues that needed to be further improved, for example, the training program was difficult and monotonous. Further, the HoloLens hardware was felt to be heavy, the application's menu was difficult to control with different hand manoeuvres, and the calibration took a long time. Suggestions for improvements were described. Results of the balance tests and self-assessment instruments indicated no improvements in balance performance after AR training.ConclusionsThe study showed that training with the new technology is, to some extent, feasible for the elderly, but needs further development. Also, the technology seemed to stimulate increased motivation, which is a prerequisite for adherence to training. However, the new technology and training requires further development and testing in a larger context.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Blomqvist ◽  
Stefen Seipel ◽  
Maria Engström

Abstract Background: Impaired balance leading to falls is common in the elderly, and there is strong evidence that balance training reduces falls and increases independence. Reduced resources in health care will result in fewer people getting help with rehabilitation training. In this regard, the new technology augmented reality (AR) could be helpful. With AR, the elderly can receive help with instructions and get feedback on their progression in balance training. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of using AR-based visual-interactive tools in balance training of the elderly. Methods: Seven elderly participants (66-88 years old) with impaired balance trained under supervision of a physiotherapist twice a week for six weeks using AR-based visual-interactive guidance, which was facilitated through a Microsoft HoloLens holographic display. Afterwards, participants and physiotherapists were interviewed about the new technology and their experience of the training. Also, fear of falling and balance ability were measured before and after training. Results: Five participants experienced the new technology as positive in terms of increased motivation and feedback. Experiences were mixed regarding the physical and technical aspects of the HoloLens and the design of the HoloLens application. Participants also described issues that needed to be further improved, for example, the training program was difficult and monotonous. Further, the HoloLens hardware was felt to be heavy, the application's menu was difficult to control with different hand manoeuvres, and the calibration took a long time. Suggestions for improvements were described. Results of the balance tests and self-assessment instruments indicated no improvements in balance performance after AR training. Conclusions: The study showed that training with the new technology is, to some extent, feasible for the elderly, but needs further development. Also, the technology seemed to stimulate increased motivation, which is a prerequisite for adherence to training. However, the new technology and training requires further development and testing in a larger context.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Blomqvist ◽  
Stefan Seipel ◽  
Maria Engström

Abstract Background Impaired balance leading to falls is common in the older adults, and there is strong evidence that balance training reduces falls and increases independence. Reduced resources in health care will result in fewer people getting help with rehabilitation training. In this regard, the new technology augmented reality (AR) could be helpful. With AR, the older adults can receive help with instructions and get feedback on their progression in balance training. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of using AR-based visual-interactive tools in balance training of the older adults. Methods Seven older adults (66–88 years old) with impaired balance trained under supervision of a physiotherapist twice a week for six weeks using AR-based visual-interactive guidance, which was facilitated through a Microsoft HoloLens holographic display. Afterwards, participants and physiotherapists were interviewed about the new technology and their experience of the training. Also, fear of falling and balance ability were measured before and after training. Results Five participants experienced the new technology as positive in terms of increased motivation and feedback. Experiences were mixed regarding the physical and technical aspects of the HoloLens and the design of the HoloLens application. Participants also described issues that needed to be further improved, for example, the training program was difficult and monotonous. Further, the HoloLens hardware was felt to be heavy, the application’s menu was difficult to control with different hand manoeuvres, and the calibration took a long time. Suggestions for improvements were described. Results of the balance tests and self-assessment instruments indicated no improvements in balance performance after AR training. Conclusions The study showed that training with the new technology is, to some extent, feasible for the older adults, but needs further development. Also, the technology seemed to stimulate increased motivation, which is a prerequisite for adherence to training. However, the new technology and training requires further development and testing in a larger context.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haneen Ali ◽  
Huiyang Li

Abstract Background and Objectives: The call light system is one of the major communication technologies that links the nursing home staff to the needs of the residents. By providing residents with the ability to request assistance, the system becomes an indispensable resource for patient-focused healthcare. However, there is little known about how the call light systems are being used in nursing homes and how the system contributes to the safety and the quality of care for seniors. Therefore, the aims of this study are to understand the nursing home staff experience while using the call light systems and to uncover the usability issues associated with the implemented systems. Method: A mix of 150 hours of hypothetic-deductive (unstructured) and 90 hours of standard-procedure (structured) observational study were conducted in four different nursing homes. The data collected includes insights into the nursing homes work system and the process of locating and responding to call lights. Results: The data shows that the highest alarm rate is before and after meal times. The nursing staff exceeded the allotted time set by administration 50% of the time. Additionally, the staff canceled 10% of the call lights and did not immediately assist residents due to high workloads. Further, the staff forgot to come back to assist residents over 3% of the time. Usability issues such as broken parts, lack of feedback, lack of prioritization, and low/no discriminability are contributing to the long response time. More than 8% of the time, residents notified the staff about call lights after they waited for a long time, as these residents were left unattended. Conclusion: Nursing homes that are still using old call light systems risk the continuation of usability issues that can affect performance of the staff and contribute to a decline in staff and resident outcomes. While the healthcare industry has been at the forefront of technological advancements and implementation, it is important to recognize the influence of technology in the quality of service delivery for the elderly population in nursing homes and to the nursing homes staff working conditions.


Author(s):  
Jacob D. Benedict ◽  
Jacob D. Guliuzo ◽  
Barbara S. Chaparro

Mixed reality is a new technology that requires users to control a head-mounted device via gestures with their hands. Users of these devices must learn and remember a new way of interacting. It has been shown that creating gestures that resemble movements used to operate touch screens can help with this new transfer. This study investigates how well people learn to use the out-of-the-box gestures for a mixed reality headset, Microsoft HoloLens, after interacting with it for a very short period of time. Performance with the gestures was measured with novices before and after approximately five minutes of practice game play. Participants showed a significant improvement on the gestures to open and position windows and reported them to be easier to do after the short practice. This information could help to create apps or tutorials that help teach these gestures, as well as identifying which gestures are more intuitive to users.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Shane Kachur ◽  
R. Nicholas Carleton ◽  
Gordon Asmundson

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Falls in the elderly can cause injuries that lead to loss of independence. Loss of postural sway, balance, and slower reaction times are strong predictors of falling (Lajoie &amp; Gallagher, 2004). Traditional exercise programs focus on studying and treating these factors (Tideiksaar, 1997); however, fear of falling – another strong predictor of falls – has received relatively little attention in the treatment literature (Maki et al., 1991). There are indications of a direct link between fear of falling, and actual falls (Myers et al., 1996), and a relationship between fear-related avoidance of activities and falling (Delbaere et al., 2004). Taijiquan, an ancient Chinese martial art turned exercise regimen (Wolf et al., 2001), has been shown to be effective ameliorating fear of falling and traditional antecedents of falling (Tsang et al., 2004). Like graded exposure therapies, Taijiquan practitioners slowly and progressively achieve increasingly difficult postures that simulate potentially fearful situations in a calming environment. Relative to other exercise treatments, such as computerized balance training, education, and graded exercise, Taijiquan has produced significant reductions in fear of falling and in actual falls (McGibbon et al., 2005). Herein the available research on Taijiquan and falls is reviewed to advocate for Taijiquan as a form of graded exposure therapy to reduce fear of falling and falls in seniors. Implications and future research directions will be discussed.</span></span></span></p>


2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Sakalauskaitė

Article deals with the topic of travel in new and unexpected way. It analyses new technology, used in creating art or other products, that is called augmented reality and its usage on spatial objects. Author tries to find out how the operating with space in order to produce the experience of travel acts. This task is carried out by analyzing few video examples that are created on Vilnius Cathedral or we might even call it a tradition – each year the projection is being screened on Vilnius Cathedral building that always collects masses of the viewers who are watching it. Even if all projections differ at some point one from another, yet each of them have in common time (in December, before and after Christmas, topic (Christmas) and place (Vilnius Cathedral). So article analyses what this projection does with the building and how its being percept by viewers, by audience. Santrauka Straipsnyje kalbama apie kelionių fenomeną iš naujo rakurso, pasitelkiant naują technologiją, kuri naudojama greta kitų tikslų ir menui kurti bei vadinasi augmentuotoji erdvė, aptariant jos panaudojimą erdviniams objektams. Gilinamasi į tai, kaip šie kūriniai paveikia erdvę, kurdami kelionės pojūtį. Užduotis vykdoma pasitelkiant kelis pavyzdžius, kurie buvo sukurti ant Vilniaus šv. Stanislovo ir šv. Vladislovo arkikatedros bazilikos sienos, ir šiuos projektus jau galime įvardyti kaip tradiciją, kadangi kiekvienais metais projekcija surenka didelį žiūrovų būrį. Nors kiekvienais metais projekcijos šiek tiek skiriasi viena nuo kitos, vis dėlto jas jungia atsikartojantis laikas (tarp šv. Kalėdų ir Naujųjų Metų), tema (šv. Kalėdos) ir vieta (Vilniaus katedros dalis). Reikšminiai žodžiai: augmentuotoji erdvė, šiuolaikinis menas, ritualas, komunikacija, kelionė.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Shuhadah Mohd ◽  
◽  
Hairul Nizam Ismail ◽  

Tourist experiences are shaped by the complexities of the individual visitor’s psychological factors, and it is widely known that tourists anticipate a positive experience from every trip made. Yet, the fact remains that travel is inextricably linked to the issues of geography and awareness and a misinterpretation of the attributes of a destination may lead to unlikely expectations that affect the entire experience. With the dynamic and interactive visualisation features offered by augmented reality (AR) on mobile phones and other smart handheld devices, this technology is viewed as being capable of closing the gap between tourist expectations and reality, thereby improving how tourists engage with their surroundings. Despite the known potential of this relatively new technology, its actual acceptance among the users is still minimal, especially in the Malaysian context. Considering this limitation, this study examined the extent of AR utilisation and its ability to influence the development of a tourists’ travel experience. The ‘Iskandar.my’ mobile AR app was used in this research to evaluate the tourists’ expectations, perception and satisfaction with the utilisation of this software platform to add value to their travel experience. The findings indicated that there was a statistically significant differences in the respondents’ experiences before and after using the AR content on the mobile app. The thrill associated with the use of this advanced technology was the primary factor in their satisfaction with the AR function. However, the lack of variety in the attractions covered, as well as the app’s currently limited offerings, were noted as factors that could affect the ‘Iskandar. my’ apps competitiveness with regard to other travel-related apps. Therefore, this researcher recommends that the developer of the app improve the design and service dimensions of the app to meet users’ travel needs.


Author(s):  
Y. Feng ◽  
X. Y. Cai ◽  
R. J. Kelley ◽  
D. C. Larbalestier

The issue of strong flux pinning is crucial to the further development of high critical current density Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O (BSCCO) superconductors in conductor-like applications, yet the pinning mechanisms are still much debated. Anomalous peaks in the M-H (magnetization vs. magnetic field) loops are commonly observed in Bi2Sr2CaCu2Oy (Bi-2212) single crystals. Oxygen vacancies may be effective flux pinning centers in BSCCO, as has been found in YBCO. However, it has also been proposed that basal-plane dislocation networks also act as effective pinning centers. Yang et al. proposed that the characteristic scale of the basal-plane dislocation networksmay strongly depend on oxygen content and the anomalous peak in the M-H loop at ˜20-30K may be due tothe flux pinning of decoupled two-dimensional pancake vortices by the dislocation networks. In light of this, we have performed an insitu observation on the dislocation networks precisely at the same region before and after annealing in air, vacuumand oxygen, in order to verify whether the dislocation networks change with varying oxygen content Inall cases, we have not found any noticeable changes in dislocation structure, regardless of the drastic changes in Tc and the anomalous magnetization. Therefore, it does not appear that the anomalous peak in the M-H loops is controlled by the basal-plane dislocation networks.


Author(s):  
Niken Setyaningrum ◽  
Andri Setyorini ◽  
Fachruddin Tri Fitrianta

ABSTRACTBackground: Hypertension is one of the most common diseases, because this disease is suffered byboth men and women, as well as adults and young people. Treatment of hypertension does not onlyrely on medications from the doctor or regulate diet alone, but it is also important to make our bodyalways relaxed. Laughter can help to control blood pressure by reducing endocrine stress andcreating a relaxed condition to deal with relaxation.Objective: The general objective of the study was to determine the effect of laughter therapy ondecreasing elderly blood pressure in UPT Panti Wredha Budhi Dharma Yogyakarta.Methods: The design used in this study is a pre-experimental design study with one group pre-posttestresearch design where there is no control group (comparison). The population in this study wereelderly aged over> 60 years at 55 UPT Panti Wredha Budhi Dharma Yogyakarta. The method oftaking in this study uses total sampling. The sample in this study were 55 elderly. Data analysis wasused to determine the difference in blood pressure before and after laughing therapy with a ratio datascale that was using Pairs T-TestResult: There is an effect of laughing therapy on blood pressure in the elderly at UPT Panti WredhaBudhi Dharma Yogyakarta marked with a significant value of 0.000 (P <0.05)


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document