REHACARE Newsletter
Using robotic pets in memory care
08/08/2022
The University of Utah has developed a protocol for using robotic animals with older adults with dementia. Research has already held several sessions with people with cognitive impairment and found that the robotic animals do have an effect. With the introduction of Ageless Innovation's Joy For All Companion pets in 2015, widespread use of robotic pets as therapy "animals" seemed within reach.
Breath-driven concept set to transform access to hand prosthetics
08/08/2022
Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a new prosthetic hand powered and controlled by the user's breathing. The new air-powered hand provides a lightweight, low-maintenance and easy-to-use body-powered prosthetic option particularly well suited for children and those in low and middle-income countries.
Early Alzheimer's detection up to 17 years in advance
01/08/2022
A team of researchers has developed an immuno-infrared sensor that can detect signs of Alzheimer's disease in the blood up to 17 years before the first clinical symptoms appear. The aim of the simple blood test is to determine the risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia later, even before the toxic plaques can form in the brain.
QUICKIE and ZIPPIE are Mobility Product Award 2022 Winners
01/08/2022
The QUICKIE Nitrum Hybrid & Actice Rigid lightweight wheelchair and ZIPPIE Q300 M Mini have won Mobility Product Awards 2022. The Mobility Product Award program honors outstanding product and technology developments by manufacturers of complex rehab technology and mobility/accessibility products.
Messe Düsseldorf, Constanze Tillmann
July 2022: Exoskeletons for prevention and therapy
28/07/2022
Exoskeletons are constantly evolving and are increasingly finding their way into prevention and therapy. In this month's Topic of the Month, we look at how they help protect people from physical harm at work and how they can be used in therapy!
Ottobock
Preventing work-related injuries: exoskeletons curb repetitive stress injuries
28/07/2022
Lifting boxes above head height, repositioning a bedridden patient, or assembling heavy components in production - many work-related activities go along with monotonous postures or repetitive lifting. Exoskeletons can reduce strain and prevent long-term musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses.
Ekso Bionics Europe GmbH
Exoskeletons in rehabilitation
28/07/2022
A stroke or an accident are life-changing events since many survivors experience limitations of mobility. Not all patients regain full mobility with subsequent rehabilitation. Some physical restrictions may persist, making adaptive equipment and assistive technologies necessary. Exoskeleton use in rehabilitation shows promise for better treatment results.
ETH Zurich develops wearable exomuscle
27/07/2022
A wearable exomuscle made of textile has been developed at ETH Zurich to give people with limited mobility more strength and endurance in the upper body. The first prototype was tested in a promising study. Now the product will be further tested and improved in order to successfully bring it to the market.
Messe Düsseldorf, Constanze Tillmann
June 2022: Daily living aids for people with disabilities
13/07/2022
Reaching for a bottle and opening it when you're thirsty or quickly making a sandwich when you're hungry. What many people take for granted can be a problem for people with disabilities. In these situations, analog or digital daily living aids can be used to maintain independence. Read more about this in the Topic of the Month!
Tover
Tover's new music game gets people with dementia moving
13/07/2022
When today's elderly people were young, they listened to the hits from the fifties and sixties. That is why Tover is now launching their newest game "Music Hits". Marije, game developer at Tover, says: "Music is a very powerful tool for elderly people with dementia."
Messe Düsseldorf / ctillmann
Digital assistive technologies: Modern tools to make life more accessible
13/07/2022
People with disabilities often rely on assistance in different ways. Whether it's speech computers, screen readers, i.e. software that vocalizes on-screen texts, or special power wheelchairs – what all assistance has in common here is that it works thanks to digital components.
University of Helsinki
A smart jumpsuit tracks infants' motor development
11/07/2022
New wearable technology creates new possibilities for assessing the neurological development of young children. Early motor assessment is essential for supporting the early detection of neurodevelopmental problems and their therapeutic interventions.
Ottobock
Ottobock presents NeuroMobility solutions at REHACARE 2022
11/07/2022
The integrated treatment approach: This year, Ottobock comes to the fair with new, holistic approaches and technologies. Freedom of movement, quality of life and independence are the focus.
University of Houston
Next-gen stroke rehab: Robot at home
04/07/2022
Exoskeleton controlled by brain, developed at University of Houston, now in clinical trials.
Kessler Foundation/Jody Banks
Multiple Sclerosis: Virtual reality may effectively support traditional rehabilitation
04/07/2022
By increasing sensory input and promoting multisensory processing, virtual reality may increase the effectiveness of traditional cognitive rehabilitation and exercise training in individuals with MS, according to Kessler Foundation researchers.
PARAVAN GmbH
The PARAVAN PR 30 gets an update
29/06/2022
There is a new model of the PARAVAN wheelchair all-rounder, the PARAVAN PR 30/II, which is equipped with numerous additional medical functions. In addition, the PARAVAN PR 30/II can be individually adapted to the respective symptoms.
Ornamin
Small things that have big benefits: daily living aids help make everyday life easier
27/06/2022
Opening a jar or getting on a bike to ride to the store: small things that many of us around the world do every day and tend to take for granted. But these activities are not a matter of course for everyone. Daily living aids can make a big difference to people with disabilities in making their lives easier.
Messe Düsseldorf, Constanze Tillmann
Daily living aids for people with disabilities
27/06/2022
Reaching for a bottle and opening it when you're thirsty or quickly making a sandwich when you're hungry. What many people take for granted can be a problem for people with disabilities. In these situations, analog or digital daily living aids can be used to maintain independence. Read more about this in the Topic of the Month!
Timo Hermann | Gesellschaftsbilder.de
May 2022: Leisure, sports and travel
27/05/2022
For most people, the thought of water is associated with relaxation. A day at or on the sea, boating, swimming or water sports. But what of this is possible if you are in a wheelchair, for example? We can reveal a few things. Read more in our Topic of the Month!
Ribcap
Ribcap: A weighted blanket to increase sleep and inclusion
25/05/2022
A good night sleep contributes to a healthy life and a good mood. That is why equipment supporting and improving sleep quality is on the rise. Ribcap now developed a high-quality weighted blanket to increase not only sleep quality but also inclusion. The company targets an underrecognized group: people with different conditions that decrease their sleep quality.
davidpereiras
Auxiliary means industry: sustainable production, work and life
30/04/2022
The term "sustainability" has been on everyone's lips for some years now. Supermarkets advertise sustainable products, exchange platforms emphasize the sustainability of second-hand clothing, and disposable diapers are frowned upon by many young parents because of the mountains of trash they generate. But what is the actual situation in the medical and auxiliary means industry?
envato/twenty20photos
April 2022: A new generation and sustainability
28/04/2022
Sustainability is not a luxury that companies can take up for the sake of a better image. It is necessary to implement sustainable goals quickly in order to put a stop to climate change. But what can be done in the assistive technology industry, which often relies on plastic and disposable products? And are startups ahead of established companies here? Read more in the Topic of the Month.
twinsterphoto
Start-ups in the auxiliary aids industry
28/04/2022
Anyone visiting REHACARE on site will notice numerous small stands in addition to the larger stands of many established companies. Here you can often find new start-ups that want to expand the assistive technology sector with a fresh idea.
Dot Incorporation
People with vision impairments: The Dot Pad bridges the information gap
21/04/2022
The new Dot Pad is not only smaller and lighter, but also much cheaper than conventional tactile displays – making them more affordable and accessible for people with vision impairments. Dot Inc makes the online world of images more accessible and aims to improve other areas as well. In our interview the Senior Manager Mergel Takam talks about the advantages and technology behind the Dot Pad.
PantherMedia / Youzhny
March 2022: Adaptive fashion and care textiles
24/03/2022
When it comes to fashion, tastes differ, but actually everyone attaches importance to clothing that fits well and comfortably! But to find clothes that fit is sometimes not so easy.
AMF-Bruns Forschungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG
Research and development: crash tests ensure safe design standards
17/03/2022
When it comes to mobility, safety requirements take top priority. To drive research and development in this specific area, the company newly founded a research and development company, which operates separately from the successful car conversion entity. Its competence center for mobile safety opened its doors in 2021 in Apen, Germany.
PantherMedia / BrunoWeltmann
February 2022: Living – accessible and smart
28/02/2022
How does accessible living work? What do you have to pay attention to? These are important questions that young people (should) ask themselves, for example, if they are planning to build a single-family home. Read more about this in the Topic of the Month February.
PantherMedia/bitpics
Accessible bathrooms: fostering and maintaining greater autonomy and independence
28/02/2022
For most people, the bathroom is their happy place and sanctuary – which is why it is important to remove any barriers for safety, ease, and comfort. Unfortunately, this is not always a given when it comes to people with disabilities. Unless you live in a new building, you may have to remodel bathrooms and toilet rooms to accommodate your special needs.
Benoit Systemes
Mobile, more mobile, Mobili Kit: For more mobility into the narrowest corner
22/02/2022
When mobility declines, the step up to a wheelchair can be very costly, both emotionally and organizationally. Benoit Systemes has found a solution here: With the Mobili Kit, you can still make a U-turn in even the smallest hallway – and in your own favorite chair. Tanya Veraksa told us about the advantages of the Mobili Kit and the story behind Benoit Systemes.
PantherMedia/belahoche
January 2022: Product development in the assistive technology industry
24/01/2022
What does it take to develop a really good auxiliary mean? First-hand feedback – from those who use it regularly! Through those experiences, a company benefits from the knowledge of its customers and can incorporate it into the development of its products. Read more in our Topic of the Month.
PantherMedia/belahoche
Product development in the assistive technology industry
24/01/2022
What does it take to develop a really good auxiliary mean? First-hand feedback – from those who use it regularly! Through those experiences, a company benefits from the knowledge of its customers and can incorporate it into the development of its products.
Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA
New product development takes an interdisciplinary and multifaceted approach
24/01/2022
Business stagnation is never a good thing. It’s the reason assistive technology manufacturers continuously come up with innovative equipment and improve on their existing products. REHACARE.com shows the influence users have on the assistive technology industry and explains the research and development processes in manufacturing companies.
PantherMedia/vitaliy_sokol
The future of prosthetics is here thanks to Artificial Intelligence and bionic feedback
31/08/2021
There are many exciting advances in the field of prosthetics. REHACARE.com asked prosthetic manufacturers and experts about the latest medical and technical research in laboratories and discovered how prostheses quite literally learn from the user.
PantherMedia/chagpg
Development, testing, improvements: making automobility more inclusive and safer
24/01/2021
Many of the latest trends and developments in the assistive technology realm have started and evolved through the automotive industry. Hardly any other sector features research and development departments as big and state-of-the-art as this segment. Whether it’s an in-house test center or a visionary campus – people are hard at work to shape the future of automobility.
Andi Weiland | Gesellschaftsbilder.de
Why inclusion is more important than ever amid the coronavirus crisis
25/06/2020
How are families of children with disabilities coping during the coronavirus crisis? A recent online survey asked this question, prompting over 1,600 participants to respond in just two weeks. What do the survey results reveal about the current state of society in terms of social participation and inclusion? We asked Dorothea Kugelmeier and Dr. Raimund Schmolze-Krahn, who launched the study.
Zahout-Heil
SmAccLab: Smart auxiliary means for everyone
28/05/2019
Accessible and realistic – that’s how auxiliary aids should be in the eyes of Professor Carsten Zahout. Students at the Smart Accessibility Laboratory (SmAccLab) are working on technical solutions that fulfill these requirements and lead to increased participation for people with disabilities. REHACARE.com found out how product engineering and inclusion join forces.
ichó systems - icho-systems.de
"ichó brings people with and without dementia together and provides a way to share stories, experiences, and impressions."
22/04/2018
Like the golden sphere in the fairy tale of the Frog King, ichó (Greek for echo) is meant to bring back lost motor skills and cognitive functions to people with dementia. The project of four former graduates of the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences aims to offer individual support through a person’s favorite music or fairy tale.
HelpCamps
HelpCamps: "Making assistive technology faster, more affordable and personalized"
23/11/2017
In accordance with the slogan "Nothing about us without us", the HelpCamps project aims at developing and implementing concepts and ideas together. To make this a reality, people with disabilities, companies from the assistive technology, care and assistance sectors, as well as stakeholders in the so-called maker movement and researchers, are brought together to network during various events.
MPI-INF/MMeyer
Will software automatically describe movie plots in the near future?
18/07/2016
In order to understand the plot of a movie an audio version is very helpful for visually impaired people. Authors watch the whole movies and describe what happens in each scene. But wouldn’t it be possible for a computer software to do this kind of work? Researchers work on developing a program which automatically generates movie descriptions and reads them out.