Hacked Kinect Controller Treats Distressing Parkinson's Symptoms From: Medical Design Technology - 04/30/2015 Scientists at Brunel University London have developed a system for Parkinson’s sufferers to counter two of the most common and distressing symptoms of the degenerative disease. Many patients are afflicted by freezing of gait (FOG) where suddenly, in mid-stride, the muscles freeze and they are left unable to move forward or they simply fall over. Previous research shows that giving visual clues such as projecting lines ahead on the floor “unfreezes” the muscles but current equipment has to be worn. But Dr. Konstantinos Banitsas and PhD candidate Amin Amini Maghsoud Bigy have turned Microsoft’s Kinect computer games controller into a system that can be installed into a patient’s own home. Linked to a ceiling mounted laser, the Kinect can not only project prompt lines when the software detects a FOG incident but if a patient falls, the system not only detects that but also automatically triggers a video conferencing call. Read the entire article at: http://www.mdtmag.com/news/2015/04/hacked-kinect-controller-treats-distressing-parkinsons-symptoms http://www.brunel.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/news-items/ne_419734 Link: Konstantinos Banitsas http://www.brunel.ac.uk/people/konstantinos-banitsas