Interactive Robotics in Medicine and Care

The ichó ball is an interactive therapy system that is used for people with neurological disorders, particularly dementia and strokes. It was particularly developed to promote cognitive and motor skills and is designed to motivate patients in a playful way.

Various installed applications can be used in both individual and group sessions and can be used directly via the ball and the associated remote control. This includes, for example, interactive games such as "complete proverbs" or "guess animal noises", which stimulate communication in groups. The ichó ball can play sounds and music, detect what it is being used for via 9 different sensors, light up in distinct colours and vibrate. It is designed to be haptically appealing and to train various motor and sensory processes.

The ball is a certified medical device and opens up interesting new perspectives in medical care, especially in areas where it is important to promote cognitive interaction with patients. In our research, it allows us to observe the effects of an automated assistive technology in nursing care.