Chapter 32 - A design procedure for the development of VR platforms for the rehabilitation of patients after stroke

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) opens new frontiers in the rehabilitation field. Low-cost head mounted displays and motion capture systems are available and easily integrated in consumer technologies, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets. The main limit of VR is related to its acceptance because the technologies are usually considered too complex for patients' daily rehabilitation. Furthermore, available VR hardware solutions are usually designed for generic categories of users and there is a considerable margin to specific pathologies or patients. This chapter presents the development of VR platforms for both cognitive and motor skills rehabilitation starting from physicians' requirements and usability issues. Three VR applications are described: a platform for cognitive rehabilitation of patients with severe memory loss, an application to test the level of extra-personal neglect, and a web platform for hand motor skill rehabilitation.