Intelligent rehabilitation devices and user interfaces

Abstract

The paper presents a brief overview of the projects integrating the development of ICTs with the rehabilitation system for people with risk of fall that are solved under the Ambient Assistive Technology (AAL) programme. The paper includes description of our concept of the diagnostic and rehabilitation system with preventative features to decrease the risks of fall and its consequences in elderly. It integrates functions of two systems developed within the two research projects MonAMI (6FP) and SMILING (7FP) where we participated. The main goal is to ensure higher safety for seniors who are in risk of falls and are living alone. The first module of the integrated rehabilitation system is aimed to identification of falls and emergency communication system for the households of elderly living alone. The platform for that is system developed under the 6FP - MonAMI. The second module of the diagnostic and rehabilitation system plays a preventive role as a home rehabilitation device used for regular training of gait during daily activities. The device is based on an innovation of the motorized mechatronic shoe TUKE developed under the 7FP project SMILING. Users train their walk ability during performance of everyday tasks while solving unexpected perturbations simulating influence of external environment by surmounting the uncertainty when stepping on. The complex system is undertaking the challenge to come in market where we see an absence of preventive, diagnostic-rehabilitation centers aimed on people (elderly) with risk of fall. The end users will be rehabilitation clinics, geriatric centers, social services and condition centers, but preferably individual users, mostly seniors.