Positive Technology Journal

LabforCulture is "a tool for everyone in arts and culture who creates, collaborates, shares and produces across borders in Europe"

This website can help artists to find out how to get funding for their project, initiative or organisation.  Artists can learn about mobility schemes, support from foundations, corporate sponsorship, alternative sources of funding and philanthropy

A new mechanical arm trainer to intensify the upper limb rehabilitation of severely affected patients after stroke: design, concept and first case series.

Eura Medicophys. 2007 Sep 10;

Authors: Hesse S, Schmidt H, Werner C, Rybski C, Puzich U, Bardeleben A

Description and case series on a new mechanical arm trainer with three degrees of freedom (DoF), the REHA-SLIDE (RS), for stroke rehabilitation are presented. Similar to a rolling pin, it consists of two handles at either side of a connecting rod, the handles are bilaterally moved forward and backward, sideways, and rotated, the base plate is inclinable. A computer mouse attached to the rod enables playing games offering computer-biofeedback. Two patients, 6 and 5 weeks after a first-time supratentorial stroke, suffering from a flaccid non-functional upper extremity have been studied. Interventions performed were additional 30 min of RS-training every workday for 6 weeks; one session included 400 repetitions evenly distributed between the forward backward movement and drawing a circle clock- and counter clockwise. Afterwards the patients could play games. Upper extremity portion of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment Score (FM, 0-66), and muscle strength by a Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score (0-45), the FM assessment was blinded. In the 2 patients, the FM (0-66) improved from 7 to 37, and from 17 to 43, their initial (terminal) MRC sum scores were 6 (36) and 13 (31). With the REHA-Slide (RS), severely affected patients practiced a bilateral 3 DoF movement. No conclusions can be drawn so far and a controlled clinical study must be the next step.

the new version of Google Earth includes a hidden Flight Simulator

Ubikwitus has posted today a list of tips to make your flying better:

have a look to these gorgeous pictures taken around the world by photographer Toby C.

there is also a blog

Via SharpBrains 

MindFit is a software-based assessment and training program for 14 cognitive skills important for healthy aging. The software is recommended for people over 50 who want a novel and varied mental workout. The program has 21 exercises that train 14 cognitive skills.

MindFit was recently launched by Susan Greenfield, one of Britain's best-known neuroscientists

Link to BBC report

Via Medgadget 

Bill Scott has developed a technique that allows to transform brain waves into computer generated graphics. His website has several images created by this tool.

From Bill Scott's site:

Via Textually.org

Trusted Reviews reveals some new details about the PlayStation branded Sony Ericsson mobile phone

   

 

MORANGE is a mobile application software that works on J2ME MIDP2.0 phones. It provides a number of features, including push email, mobile social network, remote desktop access, push RSS, instant messaging, and even remote camera access from mobile - users can instantly view IP/WIFI cameras or Webcams, directly from their mobile device

It supports any Internet protocol (IP)-based wireless data networks, such as GPRS, CDMA, 3G and WIFI (802.11) and the upcoming WiMAX.

check it out

Science has an interesting article by William Sims Bainbridge on the role that virtual worlds can play in the social sciences

Online virtual worlds, electronic environments where people can work and interact in a somewhat realistic manner, have great potential as sites for research in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences, as well as in human-centered computer science. This article uses Second Life and World of Warcraft as two very different examples of current virtual worlds that foreshadow future developments, introducing a number of research methodologies that scientists are now exploring, including formal experimentation, observational ethnography, and quantitative analysis of economic markets or social networks.

Via NewScientist.com

US company Ambient has unveiled a motorized wheelchair that moves when the operator thinks of particular words. The wheelchair works by intercepting signals sent from their brain to their voice box, even when no sound is actually produced.

The wheelchair was developed in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. It could help people with spinal injuries, or neurological problems like cerebral palsy or motor neuron disease, operate computers and other equipment despite serious problems with muscle control.

Changes in heart rate variability during concentration meditation.

Int J Cardiol. 2007 Aug 29;

Authors: Phongsuphap S, Pongsupap Y, Chandanamattha P, Lursinsap C

This study aims at investigating changes in heart rate variability (HRV) measured during meditation. The statistical and spectral measures of HRV from the RR intervals were analyzed. Results indicate that meditation may have different effects on health depending on frequency of the resonant peak that each meditator can achieve. The possible effects may concern resetting baroreflex sensitivity, increasing the parasympathetic tone, and improving efficiency of gas exchange in the lung.

Via InfoAesthetics

from the project website:

The affective diary assembles sensor data, captured from the user and uploaded via their mobile phone, to form an ambiguous, abstract colourful body shape. With a range of other materials from the mobile phone, such as text and MMS messages, photographs, etc., these shapes are made available to the user. Combining these materials, the diary is designed to invite reflection and to allow the user to piece together their own stories.

The treatment of phantom limb pain using immersive virtual reality: Three case studies.

Disabil Rehabil. 2007 Sep 30;29(18):1465-9

Authors: Murray CD, Pettifer S, Howard T, Patchick EL, Caillette F, Kulkarni J, Bamford C

Purpose. This paper describes the design and implementation of a case study based investigation using immersive virtual reality as a treatment for phantom limb pain. Method. Three participants who experienced phantom limb pain (two with an upper-limb amputation, and one with a lower-limb amputation) took part in between 2 and 5 immersive virtual reality (IVR) sessions over a 3-week period. The movements of participants' anatomical limbs were transposed into the movements of a virtual limb, presented in the phenomenal space of their phantom limb. Results. Preliminary qualitative findings are reported here to assess proof of principle for this IVR equipment. All participants reported the transferal of sensations into the muscles and joints of the phantom limb, and all participants reported a decrease in phantom pain during at least one of the sessions. Conclusion. The authors suggest the need for further research using control trials.

Brain-computer interface: a reciprocal self-regulated neuromodulation.

Acta Neurochir Suppl. 2007;97(Pt 2):555-9

Authors: Angelakis E, Hatzis A, Panourias IG, Sakas DE

Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a system that records brain activity and process it through a computer, allowing the individual whose activity is recorded to monitor this activity at the same time. Applications of BCIs include assistive modules for severely paralyzed patients to help them control external devices or to communicate, as well as brain biofeedback to self regulate brain activity for treating epilepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions, or to enhance cognitive performance in healthy individuals. The vast majority of BCIs utilizes non-invasive scalp recorded electroencephalographic (EEG) signals, but other techniques like invasive intracortical EEG, or near-infrared spectroscopy measuring brain blood oxygenation are tried experimentally.

Relationship between visual and motor imagery.

Percept Mot Skills. 2007 Jun;104(3 Pt 1):823-43

Authors: McAvinue LP, Robertson IH

The relationship between visual and motor imagery was investigated by administering a battery of visual and motor imagery measures to a sample of 101 men (n=49) and women (n=52), who ranged in age from 18 to 59 (M=34.5, SD= 12.6). A principal components analysis applied to the correlation matrix indicated four underlying components, which explained 62.9% of the variance. The components were named Implicit Visual Imagery Ability, Self-report of Visual and Motor Imagery, Implicit Motor Imagery Ability, and Explicit Motor Imagery Ability. These results suggested a dissociation between visual and motor imagery although visual and motor imagery were associated as self-reports and there were correlations among particular measures.

Effects of level of meditation experience on attentional focus: is the efficiency of executive or orientation networks improved?

J Altern Complement Med. 2007 Jul-Aug;13(6):651-8

Authors: Chan D, Woollacott M

The present investigation examined the contributions of specific attentional networks to long-term trait effects of meditation. It was hypothesized that meditation could improve the efficiency of executive processing (inhibits prepotent/incorrect responses) or orientational processing (orients to specific objects in the attentional field). Participants (50 meditators and 10 controls) were given the Stroop (measures executive attention) and Global-Local Letters (measures orientational attention) tasks. Results showed that meditation experience was associated with reduced interference on the Stroop task (p < 0.03), in contrast with a lack of effect on interference in the Global-Local Letters task. This suggests that meditation produces long-term increases in the efficiency of the executive attentional network (anterior cingulate/prefrontal cortex) but no effect on the orientation network (parietal systems). The amount of time participants spent meditating each day, rather than the total number of hours of meditative practice over their lifetime, was negatively correlated with interference on the Stroop task (r = -0.31, p < 0.005).

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for generalized anxiety disorder.

J Anxiety Disord. 2007 Jul 22;

Authors: Evans S, Ferrando S, Findler M, Stowell C, Smart C, Haglin D