Investigating the User Experience of Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Solution for Biomechatronics Laboratory and Home Environment

Virtual reality (VR) technology is a promising tool in physical rehabilitation. Research indicates that VR-supported rehabilitation is beneficial for task-specific training, multi-sensory feedback, diversified rehabilitation tasks, and patient motivation. Our first goal was to create a biomechatronics laboratory with a VR setup for increasing immersion and a motion platform to provide realistic feedback to patients. The second goal was to investigate possibilities to replicate features of the biomechatronics laboratory in a home-based training system using commercially available components. The laboratory comprises of a motion platform with 6-degrees-of-freedom (Rexroth eMotion), fitted with a load cell integrated treadmill, and an Oculus Quest virtual reality headset. The load cells provide input for data collection, as well as VR motion control. The home-based rehabilitation system consists of a Nintendo Wii Balance Board and an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. User studies in the laboratory and home environment used direct observation techniques and self-reported attitudinal research methods to assess the solution’s usability and user experience. The findings indicate that the proposed VR solution is feasible. Participants using the home-based system experienced more cybersickness and imbalance compared to those using the biomechatronics laboratory solution. Future studies will look at a setup that is safe for first patient studies, and exercises to improve diagnosis of patients and progress during rehabilitation.

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Development of Virtual Reality-based Gait Training System Simulating Personal Home Environment

10.1109/embc46164.2021.9631077 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yuya Nagashima ◽

Daigo Ito ◽

Ryo Ogura ◽

Takanori Tominaga ◽

Yumie Ono

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Home Environment ◽

Gait Training ◽

Training System

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Freehand Gesture and Tactile Interaction for Shape Design

Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineering ◽

10.1115/1.4033230 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Monica Bordegoni ◽

Mario Covarrubias ◽

Giandomenico Caruso ◽

Umberto Cugini

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Degrees Of Freedom ◽

3D Model ◽

Shape Design ◽

Leap Motion ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Head Mounted Display ◽

Tactile Interaction ◽

Metallic Strip ◽

6 Degrees Of Freedom

This paper presents a novel system that allows product designers to design, experience, and modify new shapes of objects, starting from existing ones. The system allows designers to acquire and reconstruct the 3D model of a real object and to visualize and physically interact with this model. In addition, the system allows designer to modify the shape through physical manipulation of the 3D model and to eventually print it using a 3D printing technology. The system is developed by integrating state-of-the-art technologies in the sectors of reverse engineering, virtual reality, and haptic technology. The 3D model of an object is reconstructed by scanning its shape by means of a 3D scanning device. Then, the 3D model is imported into the virtual reality environment, which is used to render the 3D model of the object through an immersive head mounted display (HMD). The user can physically interact with the 3D model by using the desktop haptic strip for shape design (DHSSD), a 6 degrees of freedom servo-actuated developable metallic strip, which reproduces cross-sectional curves of 3D virtual objects. The DHSSD device is controlled by means of hand gestures recognized by a leap motion sensor.

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A simulator for both manual and powered wheelchairs in immersive virtual reality CAVE

Virtual Reality ◽

10.1007/s10055-021-00547-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

C. Genova ◽

E. Biffi ◽

S. Arlati ◽

D. F. Redaelli ◽

A. Prini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Cognitive Abilities ◽

Degrees Of Freedom ◽

Force Feedback ◽

Systematic Bias ◽

Immersive Virtual Reality ◽

Motion Platform ◽

Training Tool ◽

Wheel Rotation ◽

Median Error

AbstractA large number of people in the world need to use a wheelchair because of different disabilities. Driving a wheelchair requires complex physical and cognitive abilities which need to be trained. Virtual training helps users acquire driving skills in a safe environment. The aim of this paper is to describe and technically validate simulation models for both manual (MW) and powered wheelchairs (PW) based on immersive virtual reality CAVE (VR). As VR system, the Gait Real-time Analysis Interactive Lab (GRAIL) was used, a CAVE equipped with a motion platform with two degrees of freedom and an optoelectronic motion capture system. A real wheelchair was positioned onto the motion platform with rear wheels free to turn in MW modality, and a commercial joystick was installed on an armrest to simulate the PW modality. Passive markers were used to track the wheel rotation, the joystick and the user hand motion. Custom D-flow applications were developed to manage virtual scene response to user actions. Overground tests, based on single wheel rotation, were performed to verify the simulation model reliability. Quantitative results demonstrated that the MW simulator kinematics was consistent with a real wheelchair overground in the absence of wheel slip and inertia (median error for MW 0.40 °, no systematic bias p = 0.943, high correlation rho > 0.999, p < 0.01). The proposed solution is flexible and adaptable to different wheelchairs, joysticks and optoelectronic systems. The main limitation is the absence of force feedback. Nevertheless, it is a reliable prototype that can be used to validate new virtual scenarios as well as for wheelchair training. The next steps include the system validation with real end users and assessment of the simulator effectiveness as a training tool.

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The Introduction of a Novel Virtual Reality Training System for Gynecology Learning and Its User Experience Research

IEEE Access ◽

10.1109/access.2019.2905143 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 43637-43653 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Chen-Wei Chang ◽

Shih-Ching Yeh ◽

Mengtong Li ◽

Eason Yao

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

User Experience ◽

Training System ◽

Virtual Reality Training ◽

Virtual Reality Training System

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Tuning fractional PID controllers for a Steward platform based on frequency domain and artificial intelligence methods

Open Physics ◽

10.2478/s11534-013-0225-1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Cosmin Copot ◽

Yu Zhong ◽

Clara Ionescu ◽

Robin Keyser

Keyword(s):

Frequency Domain ◽

Fractional Order ◽

Degrees Of Freedom ◽

Pid Controllers ◽

Mechatronic System ◽

Motion Platform ◽

Visual Sensor ◽

Steward Platform ◽

6 Degrees Of Freedom ◽

Parameter Values

AbstractIn this paper, two methods to tune a fractional-order PI λ D μ controller for a mechatronic system are presented. The first method is based on a genetic algorithm to obtain the parameter values for the fractionalorder PI λ D μ controller by global optimization. The second method used to design the fractional-order PI λ D μ controller relies on an auto-tuning approach by meeting some specifications in the frequency domain. The real-time experiments are conducted using a Steward platform which consists of a table tilted by six servo-motors with a ball on the top of the table. The considered system is a 6 degrees of freedom (d.o.f.) motion platform. The feedback on the position of the ball is obtained from images acquired by a visual sensor mounted above the platform. The fractional-order controllers were implemented and the performances of the steward platform are analyzed.

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INTERACTIVE MOTION PLATFORMS AND VIRTUAL REALITY FOR VEHICLE SIMULATORS

Acta Polytechnica CTU Proceedings ◽

10.14311/app.2017.12.0108 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 108

Author(s):

Evžen Thöndel

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Human Body ◽

Degrees Of Freedom ◽

Direct Interaction ◽

Control Methods ◽

Motion Platform ◽

Two Degrees Of Freedom ◽

Fast Growing ◽

And Control ◽

Second Use

Interactive motion platforms are intended for vehicle simulators, where the direct interaction of the human body is used for controlling the simulated vehicle (e.g. bicycle, motorbike or other sports vehicles). The second use of interactive motion platforms is for entertainment purposes or fitness. The development of interactive motion platforms reacts to recent calls in the simulation industry to provide a device, which further enhances the virtual reality experience, especially with connection to the new and very fast growing business in virtual reality glasses. The paper looks at the design and control of an interactive motion platform with two degrees of freedom to be used in virtual reality applications. The paper provides the description of the control methods and new problems related to the virtual reality sickness are discussed here.

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6DIVE: 6 Degrees-of-Freedom Immersive Video Editor

Frontiers in Virtual Reality ◽

10.3389/frvir.2021.676895 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Ruairi Griffin ◽

Tobias Langlotz ◽

Stefanie Zollmann

Keyword(s):

User Experience ◽

Degrees Of Freedom ◽

User Study ◽

User Preference ◽

Video Editing ◽

Significant Difference ◽

6 Degrees Of Freedom ◽

Initial Results ◽

Experience Questionnaire

Editing 6DoF videos using standard video editing tools is challenging, especially for non-expert users. There is a large gap between the 2D interface used for traditional video editing and the immersive VR environment used for replay. In this paper, we present 6DIVE, a 6 degrees-of-freedom (DoF) immersive video editor. 6DIVE allows users to edit these 6DoF videos directly in an immersive VR environment. In this work, we explored options for a timeline representation as well as UI placement suitable for immersive video editing. We used our prototypical implementation of an immersive video editor to conduct a user study to analyze the feasibility and usability of immersive 6DoF editing. We compared 6DIVE to a desktop-based implementation of a VR video editor. Our initial results suggest that 6DIVE allows even non-expert users to perform basic editing operations on videos in VR. While we did not find any statistically significant differences for the workload between the VR and the desktop interface, we found a statistically significant difference in user preference, with a preference for the VR interface. We also found higher ratings for the user experience metrics in VR captured by the user experience questionnaire.

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