A virtual robotic assistant and expert system to provide development and rehabilitation exercises for gross motor skills in children with disabilities

Abstract

According to the World Health organization (WHO), the children that present disabilities have more opportunities to reach a better development and quality life in the future if they receive an early therapeutic intervention. The gross and fine motor skills are strongly related to several cognitive development mainstays of children. In this line, we present a tool aimed at providing a set of interactive rehabilitation exercises delivered to children with disabilities through the support of a virtual robotic assistant. Our proposal relies on several activities described in the Gross Motor Function Measure and has been evaluated with the support of a team of experts in the special education area.