What do you plan to use the money for?
We will allocate the funds for two PhD positions, one postdoctoral researcher, and a research assistant. A small portion of the budget will be dedicated to algorithm and hardware development for an eHealth application. Additionally, we are reserving funds for a user program. Furthermore, three organisations, Sint Maartenskliniek, Orikami, and VicarVision, will provide co-financing.
Why is it important to conduct this research at this time?
We believe it is crucial to conduct research on multisensory integration at this time, given the growing need for systems that can detect problems in this area. These issues are linked to balance, spatial orientation, and walking. Such a system would aid in diagnosing, prognosing, and intervening for patients, older adults, and vulnerable groups. The statistics are significant: 5% to 10% of the general population experiences balance disorders, and this figure rises to 40% among individuals over 40. Moreover, more than 25% of people aged 65 and older fall at least once each year. For these reasons, we are developing innovative methods to assess these problems, monitor changes over time or during disease progression, identify risk factors, and determine when individuals may need additional support.
What distinguishes this research from others?
A unique aspect of this research is our involvement of end users from the very beginning. We are implementing a participation program to ensure the technology effectively addresses their needs. Our work focuses on three major challenges:
- Developing resource-efficient algorithms for data analysis within the eHealth application.
- Gaining insights into human and environmental factors to guide the design of this technology.
- Building a database of reference parameter sets tailored for different target groups.
Additionally, distinguishing between multisensory integration problems presents a significant challenge in everyday clinical practice.
