Palpable technology helps rehabilitate children with different abilities

A new technology from the European research project PalCom makes rehabilitation more effective and enjoyable for children with motor or cognitive impairments. The prototype, developed in collaboration with an Italian hospital, is a set of interactive tiles used during swimming pool therapy.

One of the outcomes of the European research project PalCom is a new technology for rehabilitation children with Down's syndrome, autism or other kinds of physical and cognitive impairment. The prototype is called 'Active Surfaces' and consists of interactive tiles designed for event games during swimming pool therapy.

Therapists configure the tiles in specific patterns that the children will have to reconstruct during the game in the water. The children then have to discover the correct combination, for example how to put in sequence different images from the smallest to the biggest.

Therapists can configure the waterproof tiles on-the-fly. The prototype is easy and fun to use – for both therapists and children. The tiles can be configured in many different ways and offer a stimulating and exciting environment for therapy, says Professor Patrizia Marti from the University of Siena. She is one of the researchers behind the new technology.

The prototype is developed and tested in close cooperation with the rehabilitation unit of the Le Scotte hospital in Siena. The scenario is a swimming-pool, because the water allows the children to move more effortlessly. Many of them have problems with their balance, some cannot walk, and others have difficulties in social relations or in maintaining the focus of attention. Active Surfaces creates a stimulating environment where they can play and have fun.

The new technology is the fruit of international cooperation within the research project PalCom. The purpose of PalCom is to develop a new approach to pervasive computing; 'palpable computing'.

The Active Surfaces prototype is a textbook example of palpable technology: It is straightforward to use and easy to modify in accordance with the changing needs of users, says Professor Patrizia Marti.

The prototype will be presented at the Fifth Symposium on Human-Computer Interaction – CHItaly – on the 29th of June 2007, in Padua (http://www.ist-palcom.org/activities/chitaly-2007/).

About the PalCom project
PalCom (IST 002057) is a four-year integrated project that is funded by the European Union. Over 100 researchers and professional developers take part in PalCom. They come from universities and IT companies all over Europe. Read more about PalCom at the project's web page: http://www.ist-palcom.org

Most Popular Now

Philips Foundation 2024 Annual Report: E…

Marking its tenth anniversary, Philips Foundation released its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting a year in which the Philips Foundation helped provide access to quality healthcare for 46.5 million people around...

New AI Transforms Radiology with Speed, …

A first-of-its-kind generative AI system, developed in-house at Northwestern Medicine, is revolutionizing radiology - boosting productivity, identifying life-threatening conditions in milliseconds and offering a breakthrough solution to the global radiologist...

Scientists Argue for More FDA Oversight …

An agile, transparent, and ethics-driven oversight system is needed for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to balance innovation with patient safety when it comes to artificial intelligence-driven medical...

New Research Finds Specific Learning Str…

If data used to train artificial intelligence models for medical applications, such as hospitals across the Greater Toronto Area, differs from the real-world data, it could lead to patient harm...

Giving Doctors an AI-Powered Head Start …

Detection of melanoma and a range of other skin diseases will be faster and more accurate with a new artificial intelligence (AI) powered tool that analyses multiple imaging types simultaneously...

AI Agents for Oncology

Clinical decision-making in oncology is challenging and requires the analysis of various data types - from medical imaging and genetic information to patient records and treatment guidelines. To effectively support...

Patients say "Yes..ish" to the…

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to be integrated in healthcare, a new multinational study involving Aarhus University sheds light on how dental patients really feel about its growing role in...

Brains vs. Bytes: Study Compares Diagnos…

A University of Maine study compared how well artificial intelligence (AI) models and human clinicians handled complex or sensitive medical cases. The study published in the Journal of Health Organization...

'AI Scientist' Suggests Combin…

An 'AI scientist', working in collaboration with human scientists, has found that combinations of cheap and safe drugs - used to treat conditions such as high cholesterol and alcohol dependence...

Start-ups in the Spotlight at MEDICA 202…

17 - 20 November 2025, Düsseldorf, Germany. MEDICA, the leading international trade fair and platform for healthcare innovations, will once again confirm its position as the world's number one hotspot for...