RESEARCH PROGRAMMES

Occupational Therapy and Increased Reality (TOyRA Project)

On 21 May 2008, the Rafael del Pino Foundation, the Foundation of the National Paraplegics Hospital for Research and Integration (FHNPAIIN) and the Indra Group signed a collaboration agreement to conduct joint research into new technologies to enhance the quality of life of persons with spinal cord injury.

Terapia ocupacional y realidad aumentada (TOyRA)

The intention of the three organisations is to develop successive self-sustainable projects, ensuring their long-term economic viability, so that the results of the efficient market-oriented management of the projects will make it possible to obtain profits that will be re-invested in the development of further projects.

The lines of research envisaged in the agreement are as follows:

  • • Occupational Therapy and Increased Reality (TOyRA);
  • • System for monitoring the care provided to hospital patients;
  • • Universal Culture and Leisure. Virtual Reality Application;
  • • Post-processing of radiological images and virtual environment;
  • • Voice-controlled wheelchair;
  • • Telecare system for persons with spinal injury;
  • • Creation of intelligent accessible clothing for persons with mobility problems.

The first project under way is the TOyRA project, the aim of which is to develop an occupational therapy and increased reality system consisting of a virtual rehabilitation system based on the design of a therapeutic platform that permits the management of many patients by a small number of physiotherapists and at the same time makes it possible to achieve proper automated management of the evolution of each patient.

Occupational therapy is a technique used in patient rehabilitation processes aimed at facilitating their reintegration into daily life by means of devices or games designed to encourage joint mobility, develop muscular strength or increase the precision of their movements. Increased reality is the virtual simulation of real-life situations in order to reinforce patients’ rehabilitation activities.

Applying new technologies to this type of process will result in the increased effectiveness of occupational therapy, either by using the devices or games fitted with sensors or by introducing completely new devices, such as the Nintendo WII or those based on image processing. The TOyRA project will also avoid patients having to travel to the rehabilitation centre, since they will be able to do it remotely, and it will make it possible to build a database to monitor the evolution of their injury.

To summarise, with TOyRA the movements of people with spinal cord injury will not be made with real objects but with items displayed on a computer screen, it will be possible to monitor the progress of patients efficiently, patients will be motivated during their therapy, and health professionals will be supported in their work. The project is expected to finish in December 2009.