Stillness design attributes in non-formal rehabilitation

Non-invasive sensor technology is used as an interface to a computer system to collect physical movement data that controls elements of a virtual environment. The environment is used for rehabilitation training i.e. physiological learning, for people with profound disabilities, and often no verbal competence. Movement of the human body is sourced as feed-forward kinetic data and empowered to control multimedia feedback content, e.g. audio, visual, or robotic feedback. It is delivered to be as a direct and immediate feedback so as to optimise user-awareness and association. The feedback is selectable as either figurative or abstract in form and can be art or game based. Inherent to the programming design of the data collection is the creation of stillness zones which generate nul data. The stillness zones have been found significant for participant augmented communication. The uses of these stillness zones for this targeted community have been subject to limited exposure. This paper describes how these zones are used in rehabilitation training. Findings are presented from the established SoundScapes body of research that has existed for two decades.

[1]  Phil Ellis,et al.  The Music of Sound: a new approach for children with severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties , 1997, British Journal of Music Education.

[2]  P. Ellis Layered Analysis: A Video-based Qualitative Research Tool to Support the Development of a New Approach for Children with Special Needs. , 1996 .

[3]  Antonio Camurri,et al.  Application of multimedia techniques in the physical rehabilitation of Parkinson's patients , 2003, Comput. Animat. Virtual Worlds.

[4]  Peter Anderberg,et al.  Design side by side , 2006 .

[5]  H. Gadamer,et al.  Truth and Method , 1960 .

[6]  Jeremy Hayward,et al.  The Republic: Plato , 2007 .

[7]  M. Csíkszentmihályi Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience , 1990 .

[8]  Phil Ellis Improving Quality of Life and Well-Being for Children and the Elderly through Vibroacoustic Sound Therapy , 2004, ICCHP.

[9]  P. Ellis,et al.  Living Sound: human interaction and children with autism , 2002 .

[10]  E. Petersson Non-formal Learning through Ludic Engagement within Interactive Environments , 2006 .

[11]  Tim Swingler "That Was Me!": Applications of the Soundbeam MIDI Controller as a Key to Creative Communication, Learning, Independence and Joy. , 1998 .

[12]  A. Göncü,et al.  Children's Engagement in the World: Sociocultural Perspectives , 1999 .

[13]  A. D. Manning,et al.  Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art , 1993 .

[14]  M. Budd The Acquaintance Principle , 2003 .

[15]  Tony Brooks Interaction with shapes and sounds as a therapy for special needs and rehabilitation , 2002 .