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Accelerating rehab through virtual reality gaming

Male wheelchair user trying VR lenses. He is next to a woman that smiles to him while holding a pen.

The EU-funded H2020 PRIME-VR2 3-year project aims to develop a state-of-art digital environment for VR rehabilitation at home and in-clinic through a virtual gaming space that will provide effective therapy and friendly competition. It will be a significant innovation for people with a neuromotor disability such as stroke and cerebral palsy; and sports injuries.

The research consortium includes 14 institutions in England, Scotland, Cyprus, Malta, Italy, The Netherlands, Finland, Hungary, Belgium and Ireland.

The PRIME-VR2 team is multi-disciplinary. It includes expertise in virtual reality, additive manufacturing, 3D geometrical form generation, user experience design, user-centred design, electronics design, systems integration and rehabilitation.

The VRHAB-IT platform being developed will focus on supporting the development of functional motor skills in the upper body; with arm, hand and finger movements. The VR environment will be customised with adaptive controllers which will be co-created with users according to their ability and condition. Living Labs to test the technology with users will be taking place in London, Malta and Cyprus.

The results from PRIME-VR2 will be a great step forward for European interactive technology in improving physical health and performance.

PRIME-VR2 project is funded by the European Commission as part of Horizon 2020. The project aims to develop a state-of-art digital environment for VR rehabilitation at home through a virtual gaming space that will provide proper stimulation and friendly competition.

Partners:

University of Pisa, University College London, University Of Strathclyde, University of Malta, University of Oulu, Loud1design, Kerubiel, Flying Squirrel Games, Capitola Digital, Crowdhelix, Inlecom Innovation, Global Disability Innovation Hub, Saint James Hospital and Nicomed Rehabilitation Centre.

Find out more at: http://prime-vr2.eu/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/primevr2

‘GDI Hub is excited to be a part of the EU-funded PRIME VR2 project, bringing together innovations in rehabilitation, virtual reality, manufacturing, gaming and design for the benefit of people with disabilities and sports injuries. Working with our European partners, we are leading the engagement with disabled people and rehabilitation patients to ensure that the technology we create is useful, usable and engaging.’

Dr. Tim Adlam, Associate Profesor, Global Disability Innovation Hub.