Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Laboratory
Introduction
The Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Laboratory (RHA) is established within the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Institute (REAT) with a mandate to carry out the institute’s strategic research. The lab is organised into 2 main research groups that are the Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation Systems group and the Assistive Technology group.
Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation Systems group (NRSG)
The works of the group concern the development of technologies, devices and systems related to neuroengineering and rehabilitation systems that are applicable to elderly and disabled persons. Three key areas are emphasised;
- Cognitive rehabilitation
- Auditory rehabilitation
- Physical rehabilitation
Assistive Technology group (ASTG)
Assistive Technology group aims to apply ICT technology to help address the needs for assistive devices and systems in elderly and disabled persons.
Two key areas are emphasised;
- Independent living technology
- Assistive technology for education of disabled children
Research interests
The lab has a team of researchers with interests in the following areas;
- Development of digital signal processing algorithms and systems for hearing aids
- Wireless technology applicable to hearing assistive devices
- Brain computer interface technology and its applications for alternative communication and cognitive rehabilitation in disabled persons
- Robotic technology for physical rehabilitation/prosthetics
- AT software of children with leaning disability
- System designs and multimodal inputs analyses of novel patient monitoring systems
Examples of our works
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Cost-effective digital hearing aid
REAT by RHA have been working with its industrial partner to develop good-quality and cost-effective digital hearing aids suitable for rural usage. The first version of the device has just completed the first year of its long-term clinical trial. REAT is working with its partner to ready the second version that will be commercial ready. |
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Environmental control unit (ECU) Environmental control unit (ECU) is a set of assistive devices that allows elderly or persons who are physically disabled to control their living environment. Our basic-version ECU is designed to control (turn on/off) the lights and/or other electrical devices using RF-technology based remote control. The more advance controlling set (to control TV or Air condition or Special interface design) is optional for individual case. Our team have been working with governmental and local authorities such as the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and Thumbon administrations to implement pilot projects at selected areas (42 centres, 21 provinces so far ) throughout the country. |
DAISY-MoRE
Web-Care |
Software suite for accessible ICT by disabled persons Two examples of our work towards social contribution; the DAISY-MoRE is a mobile application software that allows phone user to read digital talking books with the universally accepted DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) format. The second example, Web-Care, is a web checking software tool that is used to evaluate the accessibility level of any website according the guidelines by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Two versions of Web-care, automatic and semi-automatic, and DAISy-MoRE can be accessed or download for free at https://astec.nectec.or.th |
Current projects
- A Feasibility Study on a Computerized System for Cognitive Rehabilitation for Disabled and Elderly Persons with Memory Impairments using BCI Technology
- Development of industrial-class hearing assistive devices
- Development of Standards and Tools for Information and Communication Technology Accessibility Project
- Development of Reading, Writing, Intellectual Capacity, and Calculating Aid Tools for Persons with Learning Disabilities
- Independent Living Technology Development
- Production and Installation RF Remote Control 1:4 and Emergency Remote Control Contract
Website
https://astec.nectec.or.th
Lab head
Dr Pasin Israsena