The proposed research involves the development of assistive technology that is based upon a force-feedback joystick. The Barron Associates Joystick Appliance (BAJA) is targeted at individuals with neuromuscular problems in their arms and/or hands and will compensate for many deficiencies in the operator's own movement capabilities, including lack of strength, coordination, range of motion limitations, and physiologic noise (e.g., tremors). The BAJA's corrective action can provide tactile and proprioceptive stimuli that many users find to be more satisfying and effective than indirect solutions that are based exclusively on software. Unlike other human-computer interface devices, the BAJA can adapt quickly and robustly to a wide variety of different disabilities, including manifestations of spasticity, dystonia, and rigidity, as well as spinal cord injury and muscular weakness. Adaptability is particularly important because no single solution works well for all types of disabilities. Adapting the BAJA for an individual user, as well as quantifocation of the performance improvement realized with its use, is achieved through a novel method that captures the information processing capacity of the human motor system.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase II (R44)
Project #
5R44HD055027-03
Application #
7651359
Study Section
Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Sciences Study Section (MRS)
Program Officer
Shinowara, Nancy
Project Start
2007-07-01
Project End
2011-06-30
Budget Start
2009-07-01
Budget End
2011-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$354,715
Indirect Cost
Name
Barron Associates, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
120839477
City
Charlottesville
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
22901