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The power of play; Developing and evaluating a sensor enhanced plushie as an interaction tool to robot MiRo to improve and assess the wellbeing of post-operative children.

Damen, D. (2024) The power of play; Developing and evaluating a sensor enhanced plushie as an interaction tool to robot MiRo to improve and assess the wellbeing of post-operative children.

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Abstract:In hospital settings, surgeries impact a child’s wellbeing physically and emotionally. Potential stress of the situation and the limited communication can cause anxiety, loneliness and undertreated pain. Young children do less often get adequate treatment compared to adults, while undertreated pain can increase and lengthen the duration of symptoms. Therefore, assessing and improving the wellbeing of hospitalised children is very important. For this purpose, a plushie resembling a magic wand, enhanced with a microphone, an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), capacity pads and a pressure sensor, is developed as a new tool for interaction with robot MiRo-e while being indicative of and enhancing the wellbeing of preschoolers. Promising results were obtained from tests evaluating the plushie and robot conducted with six healthy participants (ages 4-5.5), showing the technology’s potential to offer companionship and distraction and indicate the child’s wellbeing. After further improvements and tests, the system could be implemented in clinical settings to assess the wellbeing of children post-operatively to tackle undertreatment and improve their wellbeing by providing companionship and personalised distractions.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:TNW: Science and Technology
Subject:50 technical science in general, 70 social sciences in general
Programme:Biomedical Engineering MSc (66226)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/98379
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