Rehab goes mobile: $4.5M center to focus on how video game, apps, may help teens with disabilities From: University of Michigan Health U-M research center to develop technology-based approaches to improve health of teens and young adults with physical, cognitive and neurodevelopmental disabilities A $4.5 million federal grant will allow University of Michigan researchers to study how technology - including apps for smart phones and tablets, cloud devices and a U-M-developed video game - may help young adults with spinal cord dysfunction and neurodevelopmental disabilities improve health and become more independent. Researchers will explore how technology already familiar to younger groups, such as mobile devices and video games, can be used to implement innovative types of support, reminders and motivation for young adults with spina bifida, cerebral palsy and other disabilities. These new tools will leverage research in artificial intelligence and cognitive science to help adolescents and young adults develop skills ranging from self-administration of medication and emptying bladders through a catheter to managing stressful social situations and being motivated to pursue personal life goals. Read the entire article at: http://www.uofmhealth.org/news/archive/201311/rehab-goes-mobile-45m-center-focus-how-video-game-apps-may Links: With $4.5 million grant, researchers look at video-game therapies http://www.michigandaily.com/article/45-million-grant-fund-video-game-research Center to study how technology may help youths with disabilities http://record.umich.edu/articles/45m-center-study-how-video-game-apps-may-help-youths-disabilities SCI-Hard Games for Health http://www.slideshare.net/EricMaslowski/scihard-lessons-learned-for-mobile-game-development Related: Rehab gets robotic help (2007) http://www.michigandaily.com/content/rehab-gets-robotic-help