24/09/2024
Asiakkaamme Sofiakylä ja testikäyttäjämme Niko ovat pääosassa Kehitysvammaisten Tukiliiton innostavassa artikkelissa, jossa pelataan meidän (Rehaboo!) aktiivisuuspeliä
https://tukiviesti.fi/tarinat/peli-innostaa-ja-opettaa/
Briefly in ENG:
Our game was featured in the disabled support Disabled Support Association's latest publication - here is a Google Translate version of the FIN text:
The game inspires and teaches
Games offer a fun way to practice new skills and keep fit. Niko Turpeinen and the residents of Sofiakylä got excited about the exercise Rehaboo rehabilitation game.
TEXT Mari Vehmanen
PHOTOS Mikko Käkelä and Laura Vesa
Let's go now! On Niko Turpeinen's computer screen, a human figure moves along a path and a running track, jumps, surfs, picks up objects along the way and does much more. Niko controls the character's movements with his own body while sitting in a wheelchair.
At regular intervals, traveling is interrupted for a while when different mini-games come up. In them, for example, you have to throw slush on the stove, throw darts at the blackboard or tamp carpets. Even in these tasks, Niko uses his hands and the rest of his body as a controller.
"The mini-games come in a completely random order. Fortunately, they are all equally nice. There isn't one favorite," says Niko.
The new Rehaboo rehabilitation game developed in Finland is running on the screen. Niko came across it last November at Apuvälinemessi. The very first trial session at the fair booth got him excited, and luckily it was possible to get the game for trial use at home.
Since then, the game has been in heavy use.
"I play every day, except when I'm in a village," says Niko.
He lives in a group home in Kepakodi in Sipoo, but visits his family frequently.
As a physical therapy warm-up
In Niko's opinion, the best thing about Rehaboo is that there is no need for separate controllers. For example, in the popular Wii exercise console game, Niko found the various accessories difficult.
"It's easy. Just start waving your own hands. You don't have to think about whether there is a battery or a connection somewhere in the cabin."
Rehaboo reads Niko's movements through the camera on his laptop. To make it easier to see, Niko has combined the game with a view on a larger computer screen.
According to Niko, at the beginning of every game moment, you have to wait a moment for the camera to recognize his body. After this, the game mostly works very well and obeys movements smoothly.
In Niko's opinion, playing is above all fun, but there have also been benefits.
"My doctor says that this helps my upper body," says Niko.
He has used Rehaboo, for example, for warm-ups with his physiotherapist during his home visits. Niko's other rehabilitation methods include, for example, pole dancing, walking with the help of a walker, using a standing stand, exercise cycling and pool therapy.
"And the newest thing is pony riding. It's nice," says Niko.
"It's going well"
Service home in Sofiakylä at Nokia Anna Suolahti and Antti Ruuska have come with the director Satu Ala-Rämi to spend a game time during the rest of the day's program. In Sofiakylä, Rehaboo is played in front of a big game totem ‒ or game wall, as Sofiakylä's customers call it. With the help of wheels, it is possible to move a screen almost two meters high from one place in the room to another with the power of one person.
First, Anna puts herself in front of the game. By raising his hand, he chooses the standing version and the faster option.
"Now we have to go. Hey, help! It's going well", Anna enlivens herself by playing.
He moves the character on the screen by running and jumping in place. Sometimes you have to bend under obstacles or reach with your hands. Along the way, you will encounter small tasks again.
"Löylynheitto", Anna answers the question which of Rehboo's mini-games she thinks is the best.
He doesn't have time to talk anymore, because now it's time to run again. After the game is over, Anna throws herself on the couch out of breath. The scoreboard says that a total of around 600 points were scored.
"It's good", Anna evaluates her result.
Sweat will come
Next is Antti's turn. This time he decides to play sitting in a chair. Antti says that he often plays Rehaboo while standing as well.
"Good Antti! Now hard. Yay!” Let Anna cheer next to you.
In one of the mini-games, Antti has to remember animals passing by. In the second task, the task is to remember shapes and colors. The memory games are going great, and the journey continues.
At the finish, Antti also gets points, which he is very satisfied with.
"I was sweating a bit. The funnest mini-game is throwing a basketball. I like playing this. Sometimes I play other things, for example, a car driving game on the board," Antti talks after the game is over.
He says that Friday is usually game day.
The awaited moment
Director Satu Ala-Rämi says that playing Rehboo together has already become a long-awaited moment in the week's program for many Sofiakylä customers.
"Of course, playing is not everyone's thing, but some are very enthusiastic. At the beginning, a couple of people participated in the game at a time, so that the situation remained calm enough. But now it's great to play in a group of five or six people."
According to Satu Ala-Rämi, the patience of the participants to wait for their turn has clearly increased with the number of times they play. The team spirit of the players has otherwise been good.
"Guys are encouraged, and their playing is monitored closely. The points table is studied and there is a bit of competition for positions, but not too seriously. Everyone's results have indeed improved a lot."
As a form of rehabilitation, the best thing about Rehaboo is its versatility, according to Satu Ala-Rämi. Thanks to various options, playing together can be done by a wide variety of participants.
"For example, compulsive movements do not prevent playing. And if necessary, the assistant can help with the movements behind the sitting or standing player."
Along with physiotherapy
"It was great to notice the interest of players with developmental disabilities in Rehaboo at the Assistive Equipment Fair last year," says head of sales Antti Törmänen from EvokAI Creative Labs Inc.
The largest target group of the physical rehabilitation game is the elderly. To activate them and maintain their ability to function, the game is suitable, for example, for nursing homes and home care.
According to Antti Törmänen, Rehaboo is suitable for a wide range of rehabilitation needs and situations. Thanks to technology based on motion detection, there is no need for separate sensors or virtual accessories. For home use, an ordinary laptop with only a camera is sufficient.
"Playfulness and new technology can provide a good addition to physiotherapy and other so-called more traditional rehabilitation. In no way do the games eliminate the need for other rehabilitation."
For many, games are a motivating and fun way to do motor skills and other exercises. Following your own point development and a little competition with others can increase enthusiasm.
"There are a lot of repetitions when playing without noticing it. It is also possible to measure and monitor development," says Antti Törmänen.
MORE INFORMATION: www,rehaboo.com
Pelit tarjoavat hauskan tavan harjoitella uusia taitoa ja pitää yllä fyysistäkin kuntoa. Niko Turpeinen ja Sofiakylän asukkaat innostuivat liikunnallisesta Rehaboo-kuntoutuspelistä.
