What is it about?
This preliminary study investigates a novel rehabilitative VR experience, Project Butterfly(PBF), that synergizes VR Mirror Visual Feedback Therapy with soft robotic exoskeletal support. Nine users of ranging ability explore an immersive gamified physio-therapy experience by following and protecting a virtual butterfly, completed with an actuated robotic wearable that motivates and assists the user to perform rehabilitative physical movement. Specifically, the goals of this study are to evaluate the feasibility, ease-of-use, and comfort of the pro-posed system. The study concludes with a set of design considerations for future immersive physio-rehab robotic-assisted games.
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Why is it important?
Immersive Virtual Reality paired with soft robotics may be synergized to create personalized assistive therapy experiences. Virtual worlds hold power to stimulate the user with newly instigated low-cost, high-performance commercial Virtual Reality (VR) devices to enable engaging and accurate physical therapy. Soft robotic wearables are a versatile tool in such stimulation.
Perspectives
This work demonstrated a baseline feasibility, ease of use, and comfort created by synergizing an immersive physio-therapy VR game with an actuated soft robotic exosuit had promising results in the potential future of a more accessible, affordable, and personalized physical rehabilitation. Subsequently, there are more butterflies to follow on the path ahead.
Aviv Elor
University of California, Santa Cruz
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Project Butterfly: Synergizing Immersive Virtual Reality with Actuated Soft Exosuit for Upper-Extremity Rehabilitation, March 2019, Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE),
DOI: 10.1109/vr.2019.8798014.
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