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Raspberry Pi-Powered Body Illusion Lets You Experience Parkinson's

Posted by Soulskill on from the powerful-perspective dept.

hypnosec writes: Analogue, a theater/art group, has developed an interactive installation called "Transports," powered by the Raspberry Pi, that lets you experience symptoms of Parkinson's disease. In the illusion, a person's mind is tricked into believing that his/her hand is the hand shown in a point-of-view video, and the motorized glove worn by the user gives the feeling of tremors associated with Parkinson's. The glove recreates tremors, the ones experienced by patients, at 6 hertz – the upper limit of what is experienced by people with Parkinson's disease. Users are asked to follow instructions fed through headphones while using the glove, which creates an illusion of a virtual limb. They are supposed to mimic the movements of a man on the screen and manipulate real cutlery as he does.

38 comments

  1. Na-na-na na-na by TWX · · Score: 1

    Gettin' jiggy w'it!

    With apologies, however slight, to Will Smith.

    --
    Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    1. Re:Na-na-na na-na by waferbuster · · Score: 1

      Ok, as a person with Parkinson's, this is the funniest first post I've seen in ages. I think I'm going to adopt this as my new motto. "I'm not low on Azilect, I'm just gettin' jiggy with it!"

      --
      I'm an individual! Just like everyone else!
  2. Seriously by ShieldW0lf · · Score: 1

    Get a real job.

    --
    -1 Uncomfortable Truth
  3. Er...nice job there... by pushing-robot · · Score: 0

    I'm not sure how to say this...funny thing, really...would you believe we all misread your grant application and were quite under the impression that you would help people experience life without terrible diseases?

    --
    How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
    1. Re: Er...nice job there... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Um, yeah, sounds a bit like someone figured out how to turn gold into lead.

    2. Re:Er...nice job there... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you're giving "a theater/art group" grants to cure disease, that's your problem.

    3. Re:Er...nice job there... by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure how to say this...funny thing, really...would you believe we all misread your grant application and were quite under the impression that you would help people experience life without terrible diseases?

      Well, thinking about how these sorts of VR systems have been used for treating phantom limb issues, IIRC, it might be interesting to see if visualizing your limbs not shaking might help people with some forms of tremors—possibly not Parkinson's, because it is typically caused by a neurotransmitter deficiency resulting from cell death, but certainly for familial essential tremors and other tremors caused by miswiring.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  4. sign on door: beware of being an asshole by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    guy knocks on the door. hi, i'm the stasi, are you the carpenter? no fuck off go to hell quit following me you fucking stasi freaks. have a nice day. see you tomorrow, hope you go to hell. lost in hell. america the slave states of surveillance and persecution.

  5. Cool by Richy_T · · Score: 1

    Just what the world was waiting for.

  6. Slashvertizement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How to get poasted on slashdot,

    1. make something, anything
    2. make sure it is "powered by" Raspberry Pi, or at very least Arduino

    If it doesn't satisfy both of the above, it is not worthy of front page.

  7. End it all by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Does it include a virtual .45 so you can off yourself and get away from touchy-feely, sensitive sorts who are worried about what everyone else is feeling?

  8. Will it allow improvement on the spoon? by damn_registrars · · Score: 2

    I remember seeing a spoon made to help Parkinson's patients eat that helped patients a fair bit. Perhaps coupling the two would improve the spoon, and other downstream assistance appliances.

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
    1. Re:Will it allow improvement on the spoon? by waferbuster · · Score: 1

      I saw the spoon video, and I want one. Now. In the meantime, I use my unaffected left hand to hold the spoon. It's a compensating method that's free...

      --
      I'm an individual! Just like everyone else!
  9. Anti-parkinson's/Tremor Aid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have familial tremor, a genetic condition with an effect similar to Parkinson's (but separate from Parkinson's... and I can still get Parkinson's). This condition is degenerative and thus I've lost a lot of fine motor skill control over the years. I wonder-- and could try this-- if this device could be used to cancel the effects of tremor or Parkinson's by sensing the frequency and amplitude of the existing shaking and inducing a phase-cancelled version of the shake. Destructive interference might actually reduce the effect of my tremor to the point where I can do fine work again. Soldering without burning the board or component, here I come!

  10. Old-fashioned approach by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    It's far cheaper to the beat the holy sh8t out of somebody rather than create these disease and aging simulators.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
    1. Re:Old-fashioned approach by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 1

      I've found that just managing to stay alive for a while is proving to be an excellent ageing simulator.

      --
      Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
    2. Re:Old-fashioned approach by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      But it's a bear to shut off

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
  11. Party! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This thing will make the rounds through Frat houses.
    "Dude! Let's get retarded!"

  12. You could do that by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or just sit on a washing machine.

    1. Re:You could do that by Bob_Who · · Score: 1

      Or just sit on a washing machine.

      You might be onto something....

      They might have been working on simulating multiple orgasms and stumbled on Parkinson's in error.

  13. better hand sensory illusion by rubycodez · · Score: 1

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

  14. Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can't imagine why anyone would want to do this...having witnessed the sad progression of that disease second hand, it is not something that a sane person would want to experience.

    1. Re:Why? by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 1

      I tend to think that pursuing this sort of endeavour doesn't lead to a nice place.

      --
      Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
    2. Re:Why? by Bob_Who · · Score: 0

      I can't imagine why anyone would want to do this...having witnessed the sad progression of that disease second hand, it is not something that a sane person would want to experience.

      You're right. This must be spin on a screw up.

      They were most likely working on multiple orgasms and got this in error.

    3. Re:Why? by JasonGoatcher · · Score: 2

      This forum is full of unimaginative people, I swear to God.

      It's a lot easier, and more compelling, to help people if you know what they're going through. This device allows people to experience the effects of Parkinson's without actually causing actual harm to themselves.

      It's simply a role-playing tool, like a bully being asked to pretend like he's the victim.

    4. Re:Why? by Rhywden · · Score: 2

      Indeed. There are also suits and goggles which simulate old age so that youngsters can better empathize with the needs of the elderly. I mean, at some point you'll surely have stood in line behind an older person who took their sweet time to get the spare change out of the purse. With such suits, you can experience for yourself why that took so long.

      It's one thing to intellectually know about a concept and a completely different thing to have actually experienced it.

      You can do similar stuff when it comes to educating about the dangers of alcohol. Simply put on a special goggle (which emulates your field of view when at about 1.0 BAC and also induces vertigo) and you'll see why driving drunk is dangerous.

    5. Re:Why? by waferbuster · · Score: 1

      Sorry to break it to you, but Parkinson's symptoms are nothing at all like orgasm. Nope, not even close. I wish.

      --
      I'm an individual! Just like everyone else!
    6. Re:Why? by Bob_Who · · Score: 1

      I was talking about the washing machine action, but I see your point.

    7. Re:Why? by MrHanky · · Score: 1

      Most slashbots are absolute morons when it comes to art, social sciences and humanities. It's as if they've had a collective lobotomy.

  15. I prefer simulating Altzheimer by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    It's also easier to do. To get an idea what it would be like, take a liter of vodka...

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  16. A bit much. by napulist · · Score: 1

    Just like Tyra Banks "experienced" homelessness for a day?

  17. Raspberry American PI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    After reading the project lead comments about #gamergate and the death of the nerd culture, I tought Raspberry PI would have given you at least ebola, aids and butt cancer.

  18. There is a point to this by Required+Snark · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Event though the Slashdot Pundits are clueless about the utility of such a simulation, it has real significance.

    There is nothing like having the experience of another persons problems to make you more thoughtful and sympathetic. Even if someone like Tyra Banks shallowly exploits homelessness for a day, the principle still holds.

    For a real world example of how vicious someone can be about a disease like Parkinson's, just look at what Rush Limbaugh did to Michael J. Fox:

    In October 2006 Limbaugh said Michael J. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, had exaggerated the effects of his affliction in political TV ad advocating for funding of stem cell research. Limbaugh said that Fox in the ad had been "shameless" in "moving all around and shaking", and Fox had not taken "his medication or he's acting, one of the two". Fox said "the irony of it is I was too medicated", adding that there was no way to predict how his symptoms would manifest. Limbaugh said he would apologize to Fox "bigley and hugely...if I am wrong in characterizing his behavior on this commercial as an act". In 2012, Fox said Limbaugh in 2006 had acted on "bullying instincts" when "he said I faked it. I didn't fake it", and said Limbaugh's goal was to have him marginalized and shut down for his stem cell stance.

    I would bet that anyone who had the simulated experience would never make that kind of odious claim against someone else. For example if kids in school were exposed to the effect they would be a lot less inclined to make fun of people with tremors.

    This is an example of how technology can change perceptions in positive ways.

    --
    Why is Snark Required?
    1. Re:There is a point to this by waferbuster · · Score: 1
      I think the simulation is an interesting idea... but it's a transient experience after which the participant will go back to being steady and 'normal.' Imagine going into a restaurant, ordering lunch, and then having the food shake and fall off your fork whenever you try to take a bite. Embarrassing? You bet! Demoralizing, knowing that this is going to continue for the rest of your life and only get worse? Yep.

      Living with a disability sucks. Any project that increases awareness of how a disability can inhibit an otherwise coherent individual from doing everyday tasks (like buttoning a shirt), is worthwhile in my (not so uninvolved) opinion.

      As for Rush mocking Michael J. Fox, Here's his response on NBC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... As Michael states in the video, without medication he'd be frozen (Google 'Parkinson's Frozen' to see what he means by that... it's pretty freaking scary). While I lean more towards Republican viewpoints than Democrat, I find Rush's insinuations in this instance distasteful, ignorant, and hurtful.

      Robin Williams committed suicide during early stages of Parkinson's, possibly due to the idea of living with this disability for the rest of his life. Not having an entire foundation at my disposal, when I get to his stage of Parkinson's, I obviously cannot expect to have as finely tuned medication dosing as Michael has.

      My goal is to live my life as well as I can, as long as I can. That's all any of us can do.

      --
      I'm an individual! Just like everyone else!
    2. Re:There is a point to this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Rush's goal is to be distasteful, ignorant and hurtful to maximize his income. If he was serious, he would resort to name calling. He was shock jock before he found something more profitable.

      My dad had Parkinson's. This simulation doesn't really show what it's like. Embarrassing eating? No, that's not much of an issue. Peeing all over the bathroom. Having to have someone else wipe you after a bowel movement. Being frozen and unable to get out of bed to pee. Not being able to walk without the risk of falling. Those are far more humiliating. It's a devastating disease. Since it's degenerative, you live your life knowing it will only getting worse.

      What bothers me about MJF is that he still won't admit why he has Parkinson's. Anyone who knows about this can tell you why he and a number of his friends all came down with it at the same time.

    3. Re:There is a point to this by houghi · · Score: 1

      Perception is a powerfull thing. When I was around 12, a person with Alzheinmers left his wheelchair in a hotel outside a concert hall to enjoy the music.

      I was driving in the chair (not stealing it) when he came out. He told me he did not mind as he could walk a little bit. I must however bring his chair to the bar without leaving the chair or help.

      The bar was one story lower. However with the chair within 10 seconds I realized I needed to plan my route. It was not possible to just take the elevator one floor down. It was:
      1 floor up, go to the other elevator, 2 floors down, go to the first elevator 1 floor up due to the uneveness of the floors.

      That left a life long impression on me not to take things for granted and all it took was 15 minutes of my life and a smart man who understood how to bring across information.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    4. Re:There is a point to this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's that about MJF? No one knows what causes people to get Parkinson's. Are you implying that he and his friends are somehow faking it?

      Was going to post the same about the "simulation". Tremor or dyskinetic movement is frustrating but by no means the worst of what the disease does to a person. On top of all that, there are the side effects from the drugs used to treat the various symptoms. Damned if you do, damned worse if you don't take them.

  19. WTF by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If I wanted to play at being be a spastic, I could just drink a fuckton of beer.