Training system for pincer movement for children with fine motor disabilities

• Grant number: 15/17379-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2016
• End date: May 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Terigi Augusto Scardovelli
• Grantee: Terigi Augusto Scardovelli
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Acadêmica. Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes (UMC). Campus da Sede Mogi das Cruzes. Mogi das Cruzes , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Silvia Regina Matos da Silva Boschi

Abstract

For children with disabilities, participation in the activities of everyday life, ensures that the brain and the body remain stimulated and active. However the exercises that comprise the rehabilitation of the fine motor skills are repetitive and dull. During the therapy sessions are missing devices that motivate these children. So in this project will be adapted a peripheral developed in the doctorate as well as a Leap Motion, to control a 3D game. The aim is to motivate children with fine motor impairment, to perform the exercises the pincer movement. The peripheral adapted and Leap Motion will be used to control a 3D game, because they can detect the movements of the user's hand without requiring the use of other sensors or markers. It will also be tested Oculus Rift, which increases the user's immersion in the virtual environment. The 3D game will consist of 12 stages and will be developed with Blender 3D and Unity PRO tools. Blender 3D software will be used to model the characters and the environment. The Unity Pro software will be used to perform all user interaction with the game. It will be tested the accessibility and usability of the system. We will select 60 volunteers with no motor impairment (group A) and 10 volunteers with fine motor disabilities of the upper limbs (group B) to evaluate the accessibility and usability. This project will provide to physiotherapists and occupational therapists a tool to help children with fine motor disabilities to train pincer movement through playful features, as well as alternatives to pincer movement training for various types of motor limitations. (AU)