Titulo Estágio
Combining smart insoles and rhythm to promote the health of people with Parkinson’s disease through games
Áreas de especialidade
Sistemas de Informação
Engenharia de Software
Local do Estágio
DEI-FCTUC
Enquadramento
This work is situated at the intersection of the following areas: Human-Computer Interaction, Soft Electronics, e-Health, Serious games/Exergames, Rehabilitation. If you’re interested and/or skilled in one of these areas, this is the project for you!
In this project the student will leverage the potential of two smart insoles (see 1. below) to design and develop an app/game. This app/game will aim at promoting health. Health is here understood in a broad sense and possible apps can range from a dance/sports game to a set of physical rehabilitation exercises, or a simple walking/balance monitoring tool. The specific area of application will be defined according to the student’s individual interest, together with her/him.
1. A smart insole consists of a thin pressure film, with 160 pressure sensors embedded in it, which can be inserted into a shoe, in order to measure the pressure map of the foot. The pressure maps of the foot are sent to a computer via Bluetooth. More at https://www.qgait.com/
Objetivo
The goal of this dissertation is to explore the potential of the smart insoles to promote health and to design and develop an app/game to a specific domain of application.
Plano de Trabalhos - Semestre 1
Phase 1: Literature review and state of the art
Phase 2: Exploration and experimentation with the insoles, their possible uses and health-related application domain
Phase 3: Conceptualisation and design of a prototype/proof-of-concept (e.g. simple games)
Phase 4: Development of a fully-fledged project proposal
Plano de Trabalhos - Semestre 2
Phase 5: Iterative development and testing of an app/game for health
Phase 6: Validation of the app/game for health with end users.
Phase 7: Dissertation write-up
Condições
At the start of your dissertation, the student will be provided with a pair of smart insoles. The insoles can be placed in the shoe and send the amount of pressure and centre of pressure of each foot to a computer via Bluetooth. More at https://www.qgait.com/
The project may have support of a medical doctor.
This project includes a significant programming. Good proficiency in programming (C, C#) is a MUST. Previous experience in development of Android/Windows/iOS apps is also a plus.
Observações
This work will be co-supervised with professor Mahmoud Tavakoli, from the Institute of Systems and Robotics (Instituto de Sistemas e Robótica – DEEC).
Students are encouraged to send an email to Dr Paula Alexandra Silva (paulasilva@dei.uc.pt) and Dr Mahmoud Tavakoli (Mahmoud@isr.uc.pt) before applying for the project. Feel free to include your CV and state your skills in any of the following fields: Human-Computer Interaction Design, App/Games Development (e.g. Unity), Electronics, Programming, E-Health.
Orientador
Paula Alexandra Silva
paulasilva@dei.uc.pt 📩