Uso de los movimientos de la cabeza para el control y desplazamiento de un juguete en niños con discapacidad tetrapléjica C5-C7

Abstract

This article presents the design and implementation of a playful technology focused on children with tetraplegia C5-C7, developed in order to give this type of people greater autonomy in the realization of activities through the game, thus strengthening their emotional and your social interactions with others. The system consists of a sensor helmet that adjusts to the movements of the child's head and a prototype vehicle that is controlled by it. This device was characterized by tests performed on two children of ages 10 and 13 years with tetraplegia C5-C7 who decided to participate voluntarily and with permission from their parents in playful activities, which consisted of different scenarios in which it was located child in different places in order to evaluate the capacity of their movements and the response of the toy to them. During the development of the activity there were positive changes in the attitude presented by the children, although at the beginning they had problems adapting to the device, besides this it was evidenced that said activity encouraged their cognitive processes since they had to move taking into account certain obstacles which they should avoid to complete in the shortest possible time. At the end of the tests, a small survey was conducted on the children to assess the level of satisfaction and acceptance of the device.