The introduction of myo-electrically controlled hand prostheses with multiple grips has accelerated the development of lower arm prostheses in the last few years.
The handling options of users are greatly extended by these, because of the greater number of movement patterns that can be executed.
This technical innovation however, only adds value for the user if he or she can control the hand well. Controlling a multi-articulating hand prosthesis requires a level of control over the myo-signal that is not specifically trained with the existing training methods.
This project is aimed at the development of a Serious Game (i.e. a computer game) that is controlled by the myo-signal. The Serious Game is being developed to train the specific qualities that are important in controlling a multi-articulating hand prosthesis using the myo-signal. A Serious Game was selected because of the large number of repeats that are possible, because a Serious Game provides the opportunity for extra feedback, and because of the expectation that patients will be better motivated in a Serious Game training than in conventional training.
Aim of this project:
The development of a Serious Game that enables lower-arm amputees to learn to control the myo-signal to such an extend that the multi-articulating myo-electrically controlled hand prosthesis can be used with skill.
Specific goals:
-Establishing if and how a Serious Game can be so designed that it produces training effects of the proportional control of the myo-signal that are at least equal to conventional pre-prosthesis training.
-Establishing if and how a Serious Game can be so designed that it produces training effects of the control of a myo-electrically controlled hand prosthesis in ADL tasks, at least equal to conventional pre-prosthesis training.
-Establishing what additional feedback within the game works best for learning proportional control.
-In the Serious Game it will be possible to monitor the progress of the users.
-The game will be so designed that healthy participants can also play the game using a joystick. The game will also be playable online. The advantage of an online version of the Serious Game is that patients can easily practise at home.