Virtual environment sensorimotor hand dexterity training system

Katherine G. August, Mathini Sellathurai, Daniel Bleichenbacher, Ahmad Skairek, Gerard Fluet, Alma Merians, Sergei Adamovich

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Virtual Environments (VE) can be used to structure, organize, and control sensorimotor experiences (stimuli and feedback), activities, instructions (explicit or implicit), dialogues including those embodied by Virtual Avatar Teachers for observation and imitation of others or by Personal Proxy, provide haptics and kinematic support, enable intensive repetitions and practice, and interactions with real or virtual objects in ways unachievable through conventional means. The Virtual Environment Sign Language Instruction System (VESLI), designed to provide sensorimotor hand dexterity training and performance measurement features, incorporates virtual reality exercises mapped to specific impairments underlying dysfunction of the hand and organized in levels of difficulty. One goal of the VESLI design is to provide hand dexterity training even when the patient is unable to move adequately enough to participate in traditional therapies. Ten control subjects practiced hand dexterity exercises with the VESLI system using a learning and memory protocol. When studying with natural hands, pictures helped in learning the gestures, and text definitions helped in recall. Meanwhile with virtual hands avatars, the picture descriptions resulted in better performance. Sensorimotor experience in VE might be capable of providing safe and appropriate task-based sensory stimulation and feedback to extend available and early therapies to those in need.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 7th IASTED International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, BioMED 2010
Pages118-125
Number of pages8
StatePublished - 2010
Event7th IASTED International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, BioMED 2010 - Innsbruck, Austria
Duration: Feb 17 2010Feb 19 2010

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 7th IASTED International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, BioMED 2010
Volume2

Other

Other7th IASTED International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, BioMED 2010
Country/TerritoryAustria
CityInnsbruck
Period2/17/102/19/10

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Medicine (miscellaneous)

Keywords

  • Biomechanics
  • Patient monitoring
  • Rehabilitation
  • Virtual reality

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