Hands-Free Haptic Navigation Devices for Actual Walking.

In this survey, we give an overview of hands-free haptic devices specifically designed for navigation guidance while walking. We present and discuss the devices by body part, namely devices for the arm, foot and leg, back, belly and shoulders, waist and finally the head. Although the majority of the experimental tests were successful in terms of reaching the target while being guided by the device, the experimental requirements were wide-ranging.

Brain-computer interface robotics for hand rehabilitation after stroke: a systematic review.

Background: Hand rehabilitation is core to helping stroke survivors regain activities of daily living. Recent studies have suggested that the use of electroencephalography-based brain-computer interfaces (BCI) can promote this process. Here, we report the first systematic examination of the literature on the use of BCI-robot systems for the rehabilitation of fine motor skills associated with hand movement and profile these systems from a technical and clinical perspective.

Representing Numerosity Through Vibration Patterns.

It can be useful to display information about numerosity haptically. For instance, to display the time of day or distances when visual or auditory feedback is not possible or desirable. Here, we investigated the possibility of displaying numerosity information by means of a sequence of vibration pulses.

Hitting the Target: Mathematical Attainment in Children Is Related to Interceptive-Timing Ability.

Interceptive timing is a fundamental ability underpinning numerous actions (e.g., ball catching), but its development and relationship with other cognitive functions remain poorly understood.

Predicting the duration of reach-to-grasp movements to objects with asymmetric contact surfaces.

The duration of reach-to-grasp movements is influenced by the size of the contact surfaces, such that grasping objects with smaller contact surface areas takes longer. But what is the influence of asymmetric contact surfaces? In Experiment 1a, participants reached-to-lift wooden blocks off a table top, with the contact locations for the thumb and index finger varying in surface size. The time taken to lift the block was driven primarily by the thumb contact surface, which showed a larger effect size for the dependent variable of movement duration than the index finger's contact surface.

The relationship between a child's postural stability and manual dexterity.

The neural systems responsible for postural control are separate from the neural substrates that underpin control of the hand. Nonetheless, postural control and eye-hand coordination are linked functionally. For example, a stable platform is required for precise manual control tasks (e.

Grasping the changes seen in older adults when reaching for objects of varied texture.

Old age is associated with reduced mobility of the hand. To investigate age related decline when reaching-to-lift an object we used sophisticated kinematic apparatus to record reaches carried out by healthy older and younger participants. Three objects of different widths were placed at three different distances, with objects having either a high or low friction surface (i.

Predicting the effect of surface texture on the qualitative form of prehension.

Reach-to-grasp movements change quantitatively in a lawful (i.e. predictable) manner with changes in object properties.

The engagement of children with disabilities in health-related technology design processes: identifying methodology.

Purpose: This review aims to identify research methodology that is suitable for involving children with disabilities in the design of healthcare technology, such as assistive technology and rehabilitation equipment.

Method: A review of the literature included the identification of methodology that is available from domains outside of healthcare and suggested a selection of available methods.

Results: The need to involve end users within the design of healthcare technology was highlighted, with particular attention to the need for greater levels of participation from children with disabilities within all healthcare research.