Towards personalized immersive virtual reality neurorehabilitation: a human-centered design
Abstract Background Head-mounted displays can be used to offer personalized immersive virtual reality (IVR) training for patients who have suffered an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) by tailoring the complexity of visual and auditory stimuli to the patient’s cognitive capabilities. However, it is still...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-024-01489-5 |
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| author | Salvatore Luca Cucinella Joost C. F. de Winter Erik Grauwmeijer Marc Evers Laura Marchal-Crespo |
| author_facet | Salvatore Luca Cucinella Joost C. F. de Winter Erik Grauwmeijer Marc Evers Laura Marchal-Crespo |
| author_sort | Salvatore Luca Cucinella |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Head-mounted displays can be used to offer personalized immersive virtual reality (IVR) training for patients who have suffered an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) by tailoring the complexity of visual and auditory stimuli to the patient’s cognitive capabilities. However, it is still an open question how these virtual environments should be designed. Methods We used a human-centered design approach to help define the characteristics of suitable virtual training environments for ABI patients. We conducted (i) observations, (ii) interviews with eleven neurorehabilitation experts, and (iii) an online questionnaire with 24 neurorehabilitation experts to examine how therapists modify current training environments to promote patients’ recovery in conventional sensorimotor neurorehabilitation settings. Finally, (iv) we involved eight neurorehabilitation experts in a participatory design workshop to co-create examples of IVR training environments. Results Five phases of the recovery process (Screening, Planning, Training, Reflecting, and Discharging) and six key themes describing the characteristics of suitable (physical) training environments (Specific, Meaningful, Versatile, Educational, Safe, and Supportive) were identified. The experts agreed that modulating the number of elements (e.g., objects, people) or distractions (e.g., background noise) in the physical training environment enables therapists to provide their patients with suitable conditions to execute functional tasks. Additionally, the experts highlighted the importance of developing IVR training environments that are meaningful and realistic. Conclusions Through consultations with neurorehabilitation experts, we gained insights into how therapists adjust physical training environments to promote the execution of functional sensorimotor tasks in patients with diverse cognitive capabilities. Their recommendations on how to modulate and make IVR environments meaningful may contribute to increased motivation and skill transfer. Future studies on IVR-based neurorehabilitation should involve patients themselves. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1f7876425ea2447988fc2b40e4aa7ed5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1743-0003 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj-art-1f7876425ea2447988fc2b40e4aa7ed52025-01-26T12:18:36ZengBMCJournal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation1743-00032025-01-0122112410.1186/s12984-024-01489-5Towards personalized immersive virtual reality neurorehabilitation: a human-centered designSalvatore Luca Cucinella0Joost C. F. de Winter1Erik Grauwmeijer2Marc Evers3Laura Marchal-Crespo4Dept. of Cognitive Robotics, TU DelftDept. of Cognitive Robotics, TU DelftDept. of Rehabilitation Medicine, Erasmus MCDept. of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rijndam Rehabilitation CentreDept. of Cognitive Robotics, TU DelftAbstract Background Head-mounted displays can be used to offer personalized immersive virtual reality (IVR) training for patients who have suffered an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) by tailoring the complexity of visual and auditory stimuli to the patient’s cognitive capabilities. However, it is still an open question how these virtual environments should be designed. Methods We used a human-centered design approach to help define the characteristics of suitable virtual training environments for ABI patients. We conducted (i) observations, (ii) interviews with eleven neurorehabilitation experts, and (iii) an online questionnaire with 24 neurorehabilitation experts to examine how therapists modify current training environments to promote patients’ recovery in conventional sensorimotor neurorehabilitation settings. Finally, (iv) we involved eight neurorehabilitation experts in a participatory design workshop to co-create examples of IVR training environments. Results Five phases of the recovery process (Screening, Planning, Training, Reflecting, and Discharging) and six key themes describing the characteristics of suitable (physical) training environments (Specific, Meaningful, Versatile, Educational, Safe, and Supportive) were identified. The experts agreed that modulating the number of elements (e.g., objects, people) or distractions (e.g., background noise) in the physical training environment enables therapists to provide their patients with suitable conditions to execute functional tasks. Additionally, the experts highlighted the importance of developing IVR training environments that are meaningful and realistic. Conclusions Through consultations with neurorehabilitation experts, we gained insights into how therapists adjust physical training environments to promote the execution of functional sensorimotor tasks in patients with diverse cognitive capabilities. Their recommendations on how to modulate and make IVR environments meaningful may contribute to increased motivation and skill transfer. Future studies on IVR-based neurorehabilitation should involve patients themselves.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-024-01489-5Acquired brain injuryStrokeVirtual realityHead-mounted displaysNeurorehabilitationHuman-centered design |
| spellingShingle | Salvatore Luca Cucinella Joost C. F. de Winter Erik Grauwmeijer Marc Evers Laura Marchal-Crespo Towards personalized immersive virtual reality neurorehabilitation: a human-centered design Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation Acquired brain injury Stroke Virtual reality Head-mounted displays Neurorehabilitation Human-centered design |
| title | Towards personalized immersive virtual reality neurorehabilitation: a human-centered design |
| title_full | Towards personalized immersive virtual reality neurorehabilitation: a human-centered design |
| title_fullStr | Towards personalized immersive virtual reality neurorehabilitation: a human-centered design |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards personalized immersive virtual reality neurorehabilitation: a human-centered design |
| title_short | Towards personalized immersive virtual reality neurorehabilitation: a human-centered design |
| title_sort | towards personalized immersive virtual reality neurorehabilitation a human centered design |
| topic | Acquired brain injury Stroke Virtual reality Head-mounted displays Neurorehabilitation Human-centered design |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-024-01489-5 |
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