Augmented Reality Balance Physiotherapy in HOLOBALANCE Project

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to describe hologram-based balance physiotherapist software that was developed in the HOLOBALANCE H2020 project (www.holobalance.eu). Balance disorders due to age-related progressive loss of functioning of sensory information and the inability to control body movements are considered a global epidemic according to the World Health Organization. Currently, there is a total lack of personalized coaching solutions for people with balance disorders to engage in balance and gait physiotherapy and increase physical activity. The hologram-based balance physiotherapist (BPH) is a system of software and devices that provides patients opportunity to receive personalized exercise instructions as well as feedback. There are two versions: the smartphone where the user wears a head-mounted adapter to have a smartphone at a set location on the head of the user and 3D HoloBox where highly efficient holographic foil and high lumen projector are used to create the best possible 3D experience without using any type of device on the patient side for presentations purposes. The sensors are attached to the patient body in both cases. One version of the software is hosted on the smartphone where the user wears the head-mounted adapter to keep a smartphone at a set location on the head. The head-mounted adapter allows the user to see images generated from the smartphone screen as holograms in the space in front of the user. Another version uses 3D HoloBox. It is a hologram box, where highly efficient holographic foil and high lumen projector are used to create best possible 3D experience without using any type of device on the patient side for presentations purposes. The head-mounted adapter is part of the BPH intended to keep smartphone at the appropriate location and provide holographic sensation via built-in optical lenses. The Virtual Coach interface represents the main link with the whole HOLOBALANCE platform by providing feedback in a user-friendly manner, which is initiated by the information from the edge computer or cloud platform. This allows improved user experience, through more realistic avatar, making possible to organize a specially adapted room for the setting. We hope that this 3D augmented reality hologram can contribute for everyday balance physiotherapist program at hospital and home.