In BackHome we focus on the definition and provision of cognitive rehabilitation tasks to people with neurological disorders going back to home after a discharge. Those tasks will be executed through a Brain-Neural Computer Interface system and will consist of desktop-based serious games. By now, two games have been implemented: the “memory cards” game, aimed at improving memory skills, and the “find a category” game, aimed at improving attention-and-perception skills. The implemented games are currently under testing at the end-users facilities, in Belfast and Wüurzburg.

1. Eloisa Vargiu
Barcelona Digital
Technology Center
Cognitive Rehabilitation
through Serious Games

2. Outline
1. BackHome
2. Cognitive Rehabilitation in BackHome
3. Serious Games
4. Closing Remarks
2

3. The Project
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 BackHome is the first European research project aimed at
delivering the ambitious, but critical, step to bring BNCI
systems to mainstream markets
The Objectives
 To study the transition from the hospital
to the home
 To learn how different BNCIs and other
assistive technologies work together
 To reduce the cost and hassle of the
transition from the hospital to the home

4. BackHome is aimed at…
4
 …producing applied results, developing
o new and better integrated practical electrode systems
o friendlier and more flexible BNCI software
o better telemonitoring and home support tools

5. Cognitive Rehabilitation in BackHome
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 Therapists
o Plan
o Schedule
o Telemonitor
o Personalize
the prescription of cognitive
rehabilitation tasks
 Cognitive rehabilitation tasks are given in form of serious
games
 The user performs those tasks inside her therapeutic range

6. 6
Cognitive Rehabilitation in BackHome

7. 7
Cognitive Rehabilitation – Perception

8. 8
Cognitive Rehabilitation – Perception
 Daily-life activities
o Level 1: Teeth brushing (6 actions)
o Level 2: Frying an egg (8 actions)
o Level 3: Buying the bread (10 actions)

9. 9
Cognitive Rehabilitation – Attention & Concentration

10. 10
 Find a category
o Level 1: High level categories (e.g., Plant)
o Level 2: More specific categories (e.g., Kitchen)
o Level 3: Abstract categories (e.g., Something that walks)
Cognitive Rehabilitation – Attention & Concentration

11. 11
Cognitive Rehabilitation – Memory

12. 12
 Memory cards
o Level 1: Shapes (8 cards)
o Level 2: Fruits (12 cards)
o Level 3: Animals (20 cards)
Cognitive Rehabilitation – Memory

13.  A user centered approach has been adopted
 The find-a-category game and the memory-cards game have
been validated by a therapist focus group and are currently
under testing by people with trauma in Belfast
 The daily-life-activities game will be validated by a therapist
focus group this month in Belfast
 The overall approach has been fully integrated in the overall
BackHome system
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Closing Remarks

14. Thanks for your
attention!
 Web
• www.Backhome-FP7.eu
 LinkedIn
• BackHome-FP7-Research-Innovation
 Twitter
• @BackHomeFP7
 Youtube
• BackHomeFP7
evargiu@bdigital.org