STROKE patients could be helped in their rehabilitation by a new glove and Nintendo Wii technology.

Experts at Nottingham Trent University have created a glove with built-in sensors which can recognise the 3D position of the patient's hand, along with the grab, release and rolling movements they make.

The prototype, developed by the university's Interactive Systems Research Group (ISRG), was presented at the national Interactive Technologies and Games Conference held in the city this week.

Strokes are the largest single cause of long-term disability worldwide, with more than half of surviving victims failing to regain the use of impaired upper limbs.

The expense and location of rehabilitation centres can be a problem.

It is believed the glove project, in collaboration with the Queen's Medical Centre's stroke rehabilitation team, could provide a cheap, home-based solution.

Penny Standen, professor of health psychology and learning disabilities at the university, said: "After a stroke, a lot of people have problems with their arms, which can stop them looking after themselves and getting back to work.

"And when people get discharged from hospital, it can be very difficult for them to get access to physiotherapy.

"We wanted to come up with a low-cost method that people could use quite easily in their own home."

The conference, held at the university's Nottingham Conference Centre, focused on issues with education, health and disability. It featured a range of presentations.

Academics from the university's ISRG, School of Social Sciences, and School of Science and Technology were joined by research teams from across the UK.

Barbara Zambrini, from London Metropolitan University, presented findings from a project that uses Nintendo Wii technology to help train blind cricketers.

And Jacqui Lewis, from Greenhat Interactive Ltd, discussed the use of mobile and game-based technologies for people with intellectual disabilities.

Professor David Brown, from the ISRG, said: "I'm extremely proud that Nottingham Trent University is able to host this conference for what is such an important topic.

"This conference will bring together a wide range of research projects that have been developed to find solutions for people facing challenges in education and from poor health and disability."

For more information visit www.itag-ehd.com

How the Wii system works

PHYSICAL exercises for stroke rehabilitation often require patients to make repeated movements.

But

scientists in the ISRG have developed a method by which these movements

can be tracked and used as controls for input into video game-style

rehabilitation programmes.

Using the Nintendo Wii remote

(Wiimote) – which is too bulky for use by most stroke patients – the

team has developed a system of mounting two Wiimotes to the side of a

computer monitor, which can track the movements of infra-red light

emitting diodes attached to the finger tips of a patient.

The

system is able to recognise the 3D position of the patient's hand, along

with grab, release and rolling movements they make.

Tests are

now being carried out to help develop a system that works without the

need to wear the glove, as well as incorporating thermal imaging devices

which will be able to detect underlying injuries through changes in

skin temperature.