Project Synopsis
Mirrovate was created to address the limitations of traditional physical therapy methods, particularly Mirror Therapy, in rehabilitation settings. Mirror Therapy, a well-established technique used in the treatment of stroke and phantom limb pain, involves the use of mirrors to create the illusion of movement in the affected limb. While effective, traditional Mirror Therapy methods often lack engagement and accessibility, hindering optimal patient outcomes. Recognizing these challenges, Mirrovate seeks to
leverage XR technologies to enhance Mirror Therapy and create a more engaging and accessible rehabilitation experience.
leverage XR technologies to enhance Mirror Therapy and create a more engaging and accessible rehabilitation experience.
Impact Statement
Mirrovate aims to revolutionize stroke rehabilitation by harnessing the power of immersive virtual reality technology to enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of mirror therapy. Serving as a tool to rehabilitate and empower stroke patients and amputees, our innovative approach combines virtual reality immersion with mirror therapy techniques to facilitate recovery and improve functional outcomes. By providing a user-friendly virtual environment, Mirrovate strives to empower stroke survivors and amputees to regain mobility, improve function, and enhance their overall quality of life. This VR therapy module can be seamlessly integrated into both, physical therapy centers and from the comfort of the patient's home, once they become familiar with the process. Through innovative technology and evidence-based practices, Mirrovate is dedicated to making meaningful and lasting impacts on the lives of individuals affected by stroke and limb loss, enabling them to achieve greater independence and recovery.
Project Goal
The project's primary goal is to enhance rehabilitation outcomes for stroke patients, phantom limb pain patients, and amputees by providing an engaging and accessible therapy experience. Through the utilization of VR Mirror Therapy, users can improve focus, expedite their recovery process, and easily track progress, ultimately empowering them to take charge of their rehabilitation journey.
Key Features
VR Mirror Therapy Module: Designed to engage users and optimize therapy outcomes by leveraging immersive VR environments and interactions.
Accessibility: Users can participate in therapy sessions from any location, enabling convenience and flexibility, including home-based therapy sessions.
Integration and Scalability: One of the key advantages of Mirrovate is its seamless integration with existing healthcare systems and routines. Using the platform can help healthcare providers monitor patient progress remotely and adjust treatment plans as needed. Moreover, Mirrovate's modular design allows for easy scalability and customization, enabling future enhancements and additions to meet evolving patient needs and therapeutic requirements.
User Friendly: Mirrovate offers an easy-to-understand interface with a minimal learning curve, ensuring accessibility for users of all levels of tech proficiency.
Accessibility: Users can participate in therapy sessions from any location, enabling convenience and flexibility, including home-based therapy sessions.
Integration and Scalability: One of the key advantages of Mirrovate is its seamless integration with existing healthcare systems and routines. Using the platform can help healthcare providers monitor patient progress remotely and adjust treatment plans as needed. Moreover, Mirrovate's modular design allows for easy scalability and customization, enabling future enhancements and additions to meet evolving patient needs and therapeutic requirements.
User Friendly: Mirrovate offers an easy-to-understand interface with a minimal learning curve, ensuring accessibility for users of all levels of tech proficiency.
Technological Landscape
Unreal Engine: The project utilizes Unreal Engine 5.3.2. for module development, including IK Rigging, audio and animation triggering, and environment creation.
Metahumans: Patient avatars are created using Metahumans, contributing to a lifelike and immersive therapy experience.
Text-to-Speech: Audio modules are powered by a text-to-speech software, NaturalReader, enhancing user interaction and engagement.
ChatGPT: ChatGPT assists in consolidating research findings and optimizing content and
documentation creation processes.
Metahumans: Patient avatars are created using Metahumans, contributing to a lifelike and immersive therapy experience.
Text-to-Speech: Audio modules are powered by a text-to-speech software, NaturalReader, enhancing user interaction and engagement.
ChatGPT: ChatGPT assists in consolidating research findings and optimizing content and
documentation creation processes.
Roles and Responsibilities
Conceptualization and Research: Initiated the project by conceptualizing the idea and conducting extensive research on XR applications in Mirror Therapy.
Technology Testing: Explored the feasibility of Motion Capture technologies and assessed their suitability for integration into the project.
Development: Led the development of the demo module in Unreal Engine, overseeing aspects such as IK Rigging, animation triggering, and level design.
Planning for Established Systems: Created success matrix templates based on real-world physical therapy practices, ensuring alignment with industry standards and best practices.
Technology Testing: Explored the feasibility of Motion Capture technologies and assessed their suitability for integration into the project.
Development: Led the development of the demo module in Unreal Engine, overseeing aspects such as IK Rigging, animation triggering, and level design.
Planning for Established Systems: Created success matrix templates based on real-world physical therapy practices, ensuring alignment with industry standards and best practices.
Challenges and Solutions
Throughout the project, several challenges were encountered and addressed:
Imposter Syndrome
Overcoming initial doubts and imposter syndrome by diving deeper into research and starting to work on the project and letting things fall into place.
Introduction of a New Perspective
Coming up with a mirror therapy module that shifts the position of the mirror that is used in the traditional practice, and finding a way for the user to be equally, if not more engaged and concentrated during the therapy process was a challenge.
This was overcome by doing an embodiment activity which I workshopped to put myself in
the position of my potential users using what my vision of the application would be.
Imposter Syndrome
Overcoming initial doubts and imposter syndrome by diving deeper into research and starting to work on the project and letting things fall into place.
Introduction of a New Perspective
Coming up with a mirror therapy module that shifts the position of the mirror that is used in the traditional practice, and finding a way for the user to be equally, if not more engaged and concentrated during the therapy process was a challenge.
This was overcome by doing an embodiment activity which I workshopped to put myself in
the position of my potential users using what my vision of the application would be.
Then I mapped out key points of the existing method and of my potential proposed method.
Tool Selection
It was a challenge to identify which tool I could use for my potential solution. I looked into using the Virtual Production Volume with a Rokoko MoCap suit as a way to create the module, but this had many challenges and after reconsideration, I decided to implement my project in Virtual Reality (VR) run on a Meta Quest 2.
It was a challenge to identify which tool I could use for my potential solution. I looked into using the Virtual Production Volume with a Rokoko MoCap suit as a way to create the module, but this had many challenges and after reconsideration, I decided to implement my project in Virtual Reality (VR) run on a Meta Quest 2.
Project Outcomes
Mirrovate is a successfully produced proof of concept demo, allowing stroke rehabilitation patients to perform Mirror Therapy in VR and enhance upper limb range of motion.
This achievement marks a significant step towards empowering patients and improving rehabilitation outcomes through immersive XR technologies.
This achievement marks a significant step towards empowering patients and improving rehabilitation outcomes through immersive XR technologies.