{"id":13038,"date":"2024-03-28T13:21:40","date_gmt":"2024-03-28T13:21:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8d.nl\/projecten\/heroes\/"},"modified":"2025-07-10T09:17:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T09:17:07","slug":"heroes","status":"publish","type":"projecten","link":"https:\/\/8d.nl\/en\/projecten\/heroes\/","title":{"rendered":"HEROES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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HEROES<\/h1>\n\n\n

PhD research starring gaming<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Can playfully imitating movements in a video game help people train their balance? In particular during recovery after a stroke? Together with researchers from the University of Twente and RadboudUMC, we set out to answer that question. In co-creation we developed<\/strong><\/a> a prototype with which academics, healthcare professionals and patients conduct research together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The power of gaming in your research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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\n Knowledge exchange between different disciplines <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n Working together toward an applied product <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n Data collection through the development process and playtesting <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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\n Want to know more about doctoral research with games? <\/h5>\n

\n Call 058 843 57 57<\/a>\n <\/h4>\n \n

\n Johan will be happy to tell you more about the process! <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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PhD research with serious gaming<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Good balance is vital for stable walking and preventing falls, especially for people who have had a stroke. That one step in the recovery process can make all the difference. Unfortunately, there aren’t many opportunities to train your balance at home yet. Let alone in a fun and motivating way. This is what PhD researcher Aurora Ruiz Rodr\u00edguez, together with colleagues at the University of Twente and Radboud University Nijmegen, wanted to change. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Game development is, at its core, a research process. Before anything is programmed, countless questions must be answered. This requires consultation between various specialists, the target audience and us as designers. This process always yields valuable and practically applicable insights – and, in the case of HEROES, an appealing game prototype that Lotte Hagedoorn, PhD researcher at RadboudUMC, was able to use to conduct follow-up research with patients.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n \n \n<\/div>\n

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\"\"Approach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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HEROES development involved not only researchers, but also physical therapists and eHealth experts. After all, the movements in the game must be responsible and effective. In addition, together we mapped out practical frameworks and requirements. A game intended to be played (independently) at home logically uses different hardware and sensors<\/strong> <\/a>than a game in a medical exercise lab. We provided technical advice appropriate to the frameworks and developed creative gameplay that matches the exercise advice of physical therapists. We also advised on collecting research data in an ethical and purposeful way. In the HEROES game, a captain stands on a raft. The captain is occasionally thrown off balance – for example, by a bird that must be dodged – and then takes a step to avoid falling. The player of the game must take the same step as best he can. The game can be played with a laptop and a KINECT, a small sensor that is easy to deploy in the home situation. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Our team was introduced to state-of-the-art technology for balance training! <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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