Virtual reality environments for psycho-neuro-physiological assessment and rehabilitation.

Virtual Reality Environments for Psychoneurophysiological Assessment and Rehabilitation-is an European Community funded project (Telematics for health-HC 1053 http:/(/)www.etho.be/ht_projects/vrepar/) whose aim is: to develop a PC based virtual reality system (PC-VRS) for the medical market that can be marketed at a price which is accessible to its possible end-users (hospitals, universities and research centres) and which would have the modular, connectability and interoperability characteristics that the existing systems lack; to develop three hardware/software modules for the application of the PC VRS in psychoneurophysiological assessment and rehabilitation. The chosen development areas are eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia and obesity), movement disorders (Parkinson's disease and torsion dystonia) and stroke disorders (unilateral neglect and hemiparesis). This paper presents the rationale of the different approaches and the methodology used.

[Robotics serving the elderly and the handicapped]. / La robotica in ausilio dell'anziano e del disabile.

Recent data collected by the Japanese government confirm that our society is destined to become a high elderly dominated society. Forecasts show that by 2010 approximately 21% of the population in countries such as France, USA and Japan will be over 65 years old. It is therefore becoming increasingly urgent to solve the problem of integration for the elderly and disable within the socioeconomic structure. The authors tackle the question of how service robots may be applied to resolve this problem. This paper presents a rapid overview of the most recent applications of robotics to the field of services for the elderly and disabled, paying particular attention to research carried out at the Laboratory of Robotics, Department of Mechanics of Milan Politecnico by Prof. S. Rovetta.