scholarly journals A Growing Troubling Triad: Diabetes, Aging, and Falls

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan T. Crews ◽  
Sai V. Yalla ◽  
Adam E. Fleischer ◽  
Stephanie C. Wu
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Gait Training ◽  
Sensorimotor Function ◽  
Training Environment ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Proprioceptive Training ◽  
Reduced Risk

There is a significant and troubling link between diabetes (DM) and falls in the elderly. Individuals with DM are prone to fall for reasons such as decreased sensorimotor function, musculoskeletal/neuromuscular deficits, foot and body pain, pharmacological complications, and specialty (offloading) footwear devices. Additionally, there is some concern that DM patients are prone to have more severe problems with falls than non-DM individuals. Fractures, poorer rehabilitation, and increased number of falls are all concerns. Fortunately, efforts to mitigate falls by DM patients show promise. A number of studies have shown that balance, strength, and gait training may be utilized to successfully reduce fall risk in this population. Furthermore, new technologies such as virtual reality proprioceptive training may be able to provide this reduced risk within a safe training environment.

scholarly journals Virtual Reality Gait Training to Promote Balance and Gait Among Older People: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Geriatrics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Kyeongjin Lee
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Gait Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Functional Reach Test ◽  
Balance Ability ◽  
Standing Test ◽  
The One

Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death in the elderly. This study evaluated the effect of virtual reality gait training (VRGT) with non-motorized treadmill on balance and gait ability of elderly individuals who had experienced a fall. Fifty-six elderly individuals living in local communities participated in this study. Subjects who met the selection criteria were randomly divided into a VRGT group (n = 28) and a control group (n = 28). The VRGT group received VRGT with non-motorized treadmill for 50 min a day for 4 weeks and 5 days a week. The control group received non-motorized treadmill gait training without virtual reality for the same amount of time as the VRGT group. Before and after the training, the one-leg-standing test, Berg Balance Scale, Functional Reach test, and Timed Up and Go test were used to assess balance ability, and the gait analyzer system was used to evaluate the improvement in gait spatiotemporal parameters. In the VRGT group, the balance ability variable showed a significant decrease in the one-leg-standing test and a significant improvement in the Timed Up and Go test. With respect to spatiotemporal gait parameters, velocity and step width decreased significantly in the VRGT group (p < 0.05), and stride length and step length were significantly improved in the VRGT group (p < 0.05). VRGT with non-motorized treadmill has been shown to improve balance and gait ability in the elderly. This study is expected to provide basic data on exercise programs for the elderly to prevent falls.

scholarly journals Gamification and Hazard Communication in Virtual Reality: A Qualitative Study

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 4663
Author(s):  
Janaina Cavalcanti ◽  
Victor Valls ◽  
Manuel Contero ◽  
David Fonseca
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Training Environment ◽  
Hazard Communication ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
Compliance Behavior ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Recorded Data ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Different Levels

An effective warning attracts attention, elicits knowledge, and enables compliance behavior. Game mechanics, which are directly linked to human desires, stand out as training, evaluation, and improvement tools. Immersive virtual reality (VR) facilitates training without risk to participants, evaluates the impact of an incorrect action/decision, and creates a smart training environment. The present study analyzes the user experience in a gamified virtual environment of risks using the HTC Vive head-mounted display. The game was developed in the Unreal game engine and consisted of a walk-through maze composed of evident dangers and different signaling variables while user action data were recorded. To demonstrate which aspects provide better interaction, experience, perception and memory, three different warning configurations (dynamic, static and smart) and two different levels of danger (low and high) were presented. To properly assess the impact of the experience, we conducted a survey about personality and knowledge before and after using the game. We proceeded with the qualitative approach by using questions in a bipolar laddering assessment that was compared with the recorded data during the game. The findings indicate that when users are engaged in VR, they tend to test the consequences of their actions rather than maintaining safety. The results also reveal that textual signal variables are not accessed when users are faced with the stress factor of time. Progress is needed in implementing new technologies for warnings and advance notifications to improve the evaluation of human behavior in virtual environments of high-risk surroundings.

Experience Using Information and Communication Technologies with Elderly People

2011 ◽  
pp. 346-357
Author(s):  
Laura Nieto ◽  
Betania Groba ◽  
Francisco Servia
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Computer Knowledge ◽  
Information And Communication

The elderly show very low rates of access to and use of the new technologies in comparison with their significant weight in the overall population. It is essential to establish alternatives which respond to their needs and promote the access to and use of ICTs among all citizens on equal conditions. This chapter describes an experiment conducted with new technologies in the Red Cross Elderly Day Care Centre in A Coruña, using the In-TIC software and a specific methodology for intervention with elderly individuals. Three different lines of action were followed: initial evaluation of the users participating in the project; intervention by means of digital literacy and therapeutic stimulation sessions with the ICT; and final re-evaluation and data collection. The results obtained provide proof of an improvement in the users’ cognitive abilities, the acquisition of computer knowledge and skills, and the satisfaction of the elderly with regard to new technologies.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Risk Factors of Falls Among the Elderly in Unaizah City, Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. e86-93
Author(s):  
Abdullaziz Alabdullgader ◽  
Unaib Rabbani
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Related Risk

Objectives: Falls and fall-related consequences are a major public health problem in the elderly. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of falls and fall-related risk factors among elderly individuals in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and October 2019 among 280 elderly patients aged >60 years old attending 10 randomly selected primary healthcare centres in Unaizah City, Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using the validated 10-item Missouri Alliance for Home Care (MAHC-10) fall risk assessment tool. Results: A total of 269 participants were included in the study (response rate: 96.1%). The prevalence of falls over the preceding year was 31.6%. Females fell more frequently than males (34.5% versus 28.5%) and most falls occurred indoors (84.7%). Various risk factors were associated with fall risk including being aged >80 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 5.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.66–16.14), polypharmacy (aOR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.01–5.71) and environmental factors (aOR: 2.79, 95% CI: 1.24–6.28). However, more educated participants had a lower risk of falling (aOR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.09–0.77). There was also a significant association with the MAHC-10 fall risk score (P = 0.043). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of falls among the elderly in Unaizah City. Various factors were associated with falls including advanced age, polypharmacy, age-related changes and environmental factors. As the majority of fall events occurred indoors, home safety improvements are recommended. Moreover, additional larger-scale research is necessary regarding fall-related risk factors and fall prevention initiatives among elderly individuals in Saudi Arabia.   KEYWORDS Elderly; Falls; Geriatrics; Public Health; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Saudi Arabia.

Turning data into reality

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Leinster-Evans ◽  
J Newell ◽  
S Luck
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Mixed Reality ◽  
Training System ◽  
Value Proposition ◽  
Immersive Environments ◽  
Training Environment ◽  
Service Support ◽  
Rich Data ◽  
And Training

This paper looks to expand on the INEC 2016 paper ‘The future role of virtual reality within warship support solutions for the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers’ presented by Ross Basketter, Craig Birchmore and Abbi Fisher from BAE Systems in May 2016 and the EAAW VII paper ‘Testing the boundaries of virtual reality within ship support’ presented by John Newell from BAE Systems and Simon Luck from BMT DSL in June 2017. BAE Systems and BMT have developed a 3D walkthrough training system that supports the teams working closely with the QEC Aircraft Carriers in Portsmouth and this work was presented at EAAW VII. Since then this work has been extended to demonstrate the art of the possible on Type 26. This latter piece of work is designed to explore the role of 3D immersive environments in the development and fielding of support and training solutions, across the range of support disciplines. The combined team are looking at how this digital thread leads from design of platforms, both surface and subsurface, through build into in-service support and training. This rich data and ways in which it could be used in the whole lifecycle of the ship, from design and development (used for spatial acceptance, HazID, etc) all the way through to operational support and maintenance (in conjunction with big data coming off from the ship coupled with digital tech docs for maintenance procedures) using constantly developing technologies such as 3D, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality, will be proposed.  The drive towards gamification in the training environment to keep younger recruits interested and shortening course lengths will be explored. The paper develops the options and looks to how this technology can be used and where the value proposition lies. 

A Novel Virtual Reality Technique (Cervigame®) Compared to Conventional Proprioceptive Training to Treat Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3Jun) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Rezaei ◽  
M Razeghi ◽  
S Ebrahimi ◽  
S Kayedi ◽  
A Rezaeian Zadeh
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Visual Analogue Scale ◽  
Neck Pain ◽  
Analogue Scale ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Neck Disability Index ◽  
Repeated Measure ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Proprioceptive Training ◽  
Neck Disability

Background: Despite the potential benefits of virtual reality technology in physical rehabilitation, only a few studies have evaluated the efficacy of this type of treatment in patients with neck pain.Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of virtual reality training (VRT) versus conventional proprioceptive training (CPT) in patients with neck pain.Methods: Forty four participants with nonspecific chronic neck pain were randomly assigned to VRT or CPT in this assessor-blinded clinical trial. A novel videogame called Cervigame® was designed for VRT. It comprises of 50 stages divided into unidirectional and two-directional stages ordered from easy to hard. CPT consisted of eye-follow, gaze stability, eye-head coordination and position and movement sense training. Both groups completed 8 training sessions over 4 weeks. Visual analogue scale score, neck disability index and Y-balance test results were recorded at baseline, immediately after and 5 weeks post-intervention. Mixed repeated measure ANOVA was used to analyze differences between mean values for each variable at an alpha level of 0.05.Results: There were significant improvements in all variables in both groups immediately after and 5 weeks after the intervention. Greater improvements were observed in the visual analogue scale and neck disability index scores in VRT group, and the results for all directions in Y-balance test were similar in both groups. No side effects were reported.Conclusion: Improvements in neck pain and disability were greater in VRT than CPT group. Cervigame® is a potentially practical tool for rehabilitation in patients with neck pain.

scholarly journals Why a Virtual Assistant for Moral Enhancement When We Could have a Socrates?

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Lara
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Personal Autonomy ◽  
Moral Enhancement ◽  
Moral Decisions ◽  
Educational Methodology ◽  
Better Than

AbstractCan Artificial Intelligence (AI) be more effective than human instruction for the moral enhancement of people? The author argues that it only would be if the use of this technology were aimed at increasing the individual's capacity to reflectively decide for themselves, rather than at directly influencing behaviour. To support this, it is shown how a disregard for personal autonomy, in particular, invalidates the main proposals for applying new technologies, both biomedical and AI-based, to moral enhancement. As an alternative to these proposals, this article proposes a virtual assistant that, through dialogue, neutrality and virtual reality technologies, can teach users to make better moral decisions on their own. The author concludes that, as long as certain precautions are taken in its design, such an assistant could do this better than a human instructor adopting the same educational methodology.

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