PFI:AIR - TT: SIG-Blocks: Tangible Game Technology for Cognitive Assessment and Rehabilitation of People with Traumatic Brain Injuries

该PFI：AIR技术翻译项目的重点是翻译集成传感器和无线通信技术，以满足轻度创伤性脑损伤（TBI）退伍军人的认知评估和康复需求。 新型的传感器集成几何（SIG）块技术能够完全自主和远程管理认知评估和培训计划，这将降低成本并扩大康复机会的可及性。提高可衡量数据的质量和数量以及这种基于技术的方法的动态性质也将导致改善康复结果。该项目将产生一个功能齐全的硬件平台（SIG-Blocks）原型和用户友好的游戏软件，用于个性化的认知评估和培训。SIG-Blocks技术具有以下独特功能：评估和训练游戏的全自动和远程（在线）管理，动态和个性化的游戏项目，以及提高可测量数据的质量和数量。 这些功能将潜在地提高评估的准确性和康复的临床效果。此外，与该市场空间中现有的认知评估和培训工具相比，降低的成本和可能的家庭培训将扩大TBI患者的康复机会。 该项目解决了以下技术差距，因为它从研究发现转化为商业应用：1）缺乏可用于TBI患者的认知评估和康复的平台技术，通过开发新的SIG模块和基于当前原型的评估/训练游戏; 2）通过将视觉、声音和触觉反馈机制嵌入到技术中，当前技术中缺乏乐趣和吸引人的特征; 3）需要改进的用户界面（UI），以使最终用户能够通过设计图形增强的有形UI来定制测试项目或训练游戏; 4）需要家庭培训，以通过开发在线程序来扩大对服务的可访问性并降低成本; 5）需要个性化评估/康复，以通过开发能够实现测试/训练程序个性化的软件工具包来最大化健康结果;以及6）缺乏通过与克利夫兰退伍军人医疗中心合作使用SIG块对TBI患者测试游戏来证明这种基于技术的方法的功效的临床证据。 此外，参与该项目的本科生和研究生将通过与一个高度跨学科的团队合作，获得独特的学习和培训经验，以调查在工程教育中经常被忽视的技术翻译的有效策略。教育活动还将包括将该项目与独特的基于项目的课程相结合，这些课程侧重于通过多学科视角推进发明的影响。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating integrated sensors and wireless communication technology to fill the need for cognitive assessment and rehabilitation of veterans with mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The novel Sensor Integrated Geometric (SIG)-Blocks technology enables fully autonomous and remote administration of the cognitive assessment and training programs that will reduce the cost and broaden accessibility to rehabilitation opportunities. Improved quality and quantity of measurable data and the dynamic nature of this technology-based approach will also lead to improved rehabilitation outcomes. This project will result in a prototype of a fully functioning hardware platform (SIG-Blocks) and user-friendly game software for personalized cognitive assessment and training. The SIG-Blocks technology has the following unique features: fully automated and remote (online) administration of the assessment and training games, dynamic and personalized game items, and improved quality and quantity of measureable data. These features will potentially improve the accuracy of assessment and clinical effectiveness of rehabilitation. Further, reduced cost and possible in-home training will broaden rehabilitation opportunities for TBI patients when compared to the existing cognitive assessment and training instruments in this market space. This project addresses the following technology gaps as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application: 1) lack of the platform technology that can be used for both cognitive assessment and rehabilitation of TBI patients by developing the new SIG-Blocks and assessment/training games building on a current prototype; 2) lack of fun and engaging features in the current technology by embedding visual, sound, and tactile feedback mechanism into the technology; 3) need for improved user interface (UI) to enable end-users to customize the test items or training games by designing a graphically augmented tangible UI; 4) need for in-home training to broaden the accessibility to the service and reduce the cost by developing online programs; 5) need for personalized assessment/rehabilitation to maximize health outcomes by developing a software tool kit that enables personalization of test/training programs; and 6) lack of clinical evidence of the efficacy of such technology-based approach by testing the games using SIG-Blocks on TBI patients in collaboration with the Cleveland VA Medical Center. In addition, undergraduate and graduate students involved in this project will receive unique learning and training experiences by working with a highly interdisciplinary team for investigating effective strategies of technology translation that is often overlooked in engineering education. The educational activities will also include integration of this project with unique project-based courses that focus on advancing the impact of invention via multi-disciplinary perspectives.