The SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutation Explorer: using an interactive application to improve the public understanding of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the virus responsible, SARS-CoV-2, became a source of intense interest for non-expert audiences. The viral spike protein gained particular public interest as the main target for protective immune responses, including those elicited by vaccines. The rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 resulted in variations in the spike that enhanced transmissibility or weakened vaccine protection. This created new variants of concern (VOCs). The emergence of VOCs was studied using viral sequence data which was shared through portals such as the online Mutation Explorer of the COVID-19 Genomics UK consortium (COG-UK/ME). This was designed for an expert audience, but the information it contained could be of general interest if suitably communicated. Visualisations, interactivity and animation can improve engagement and understanding of molecular biology topics, and so we developed a graphical educational resource, the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutation Explorer (SSPME), which used interactive 3D molecular models and animations to explain the molecular biology underpinning VOCs. User testing showed that the SSPME had better usability and improved participant knowledge confidence and knowledge acquisition compared to COG-UK/ME. This demonstrates how interactive visualisations can be used for effective molecular biology communication, as well as improving the public understanding of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.

Creating Interactive Three-Dimensional Applications to Visualise Novel Stent Grafts That Aid in the Treatment of Aortic Aneurysms.

Three-Dimensional (3D) medical animations incorporated into applications are highly beneficial for clinical outreach and medical communication purposes that work towards educating the clinician and patient. Aortic aneurysms are a clinically important area to communicate with multiple audiences about various treatment options; both abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms were selected to create 3D animations and applications to educate medical professionals and patients regarding treatment options. Fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (FEVAR) and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) are both tried and tested minimally invasive surgical methods for treating thoracic aortic aneurysms respectively. The Terumo Aortic Custom Relay Proximal Scalloped stent graft and Fenestrated Anaconda stent graft were both designed specifically for these procedures; however, it can be difficult to visually communicate to clinicians and patients in a straightforward way how these devices work. Therefore, we have developed two interactive applications that use 3D visualisation techniques to demonstrate how these aortic devices function and are implemented. The objective of these applications is to engage both clinicians and patients, therefore demonstrating that the addition of anatomically accurate 3D visualisations within an interactive interface would have a positive impact on public engagement while also ensuring that clinicians will have the best possible understanding of the potential uses of both devices, enabling them to exploit their key features to effectively broaden the treatable patient population.Detailed anatomical modelling and animation was used to generate realistic and accurate rendered videos showcasing both products. These videos were integrated into an interactive application within a modern, professional graphic interface that allowed the user to explore all aspects of the stent device. The resulting applications were broken down into three modules: deployment, clinical performance and features. Following application development, these applications were evaluated by professionals in the field. Overall, positive feedback was received regarding the user-friendly nature of the applications and highly effective animations to showcase the products. The clinical applications and feature modules were particularly successful, while the deployment modules had a neutral response. Biomedical applications such as these show great potential for communicating the key features of medical devices and promoting discussion between clinicians and patients; further testing would need to be conducted on a larger group of participants in order to validate the learning effectiveness of the applications.

Proof of Concept for the Use of Immersive Virtual Reality in Upper Limb Rehabilitation of Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease which gradually reduces motor function and mobility. Virtual reality (VR) has been successfully utilised in support of existing therapeutic approaches for many different conditions, and new innovative and experimental features could be the future of VR rehabilitation. The Quest is a new headset by Oculus, with its built-in tracking, relatively low cost, portability and lack of reliance on expensive processing heavy PCs to power it, and could be an ideal system to facilitate at-home or clinic-based upper limb rehabilitation. A hand-tracking-based rehabilitation game aimed at people with MS was developed for Oculus Quest using Unity. Two distinct games were made to replicate different types of hand exercises, piano playing for isolated finger flexion and maze tracking for coordination and arm flexion. This pilot study assesses the value of such approach along with evaluating intrinsic and extrinsic methods of providing feedback, namely, positive scoring, negative scoring and audio response. One physiotherapist and two individuals with MS were surveyed. Participant response was positive although small sample size impacts the user testing validity of the results. Future research is recommended to build off the data gathered as a pilot study and increase sample size to collect richer feedback.

Using Molecular Visualisation Techniques to Explain the Molecular Biology of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutations to a General Audience.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2019, the virus responsible for the outbreak-SARS-CoV-2-has continued to evolve. Mutations of the virus' spike protein, the main protein driving infectivity and transmissibility, are especially concerning as they may allow the virus to improve its infectivity, transmissibility, and ability to evade the immune system. Understanding how specific molecular changes can alter the behaviour of a virus is challenging for non-experts, but this information helps us to understand the pandemic we are living through and the public health measures and interventions needed to bring it under control. In response to communication challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, we recently developed an online educational application to explain the molecular biology of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mutations to the general public. We used visualisation techniques such as 3D modelling and animation, which have been shown to be highly effective teaching tools in molecular biology, allowing the viewer to better understand protein structure, function, and dynamics. We also included interactive elements for users to learn actively by engaging with the digital content, and consequently improve information retention.This chapter presents the methodological and technological framework which we used to create this resource, the 'SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutation Explorer' (SSPME). It explains how molecular visualisation and 3D modelling software were used to develop accurate models of relevant proteins; how 3D animation software was used to accurately visualise the dynamic molecular processes of SARS-CoV-2 infection, transmission, and antibody evasion; and how game development software was used to compile the 3D models and animations into a comprehensive, informative interactive application on SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mutations. This chapter indicates how cutting-edge visualisation techniques and technologies can be used to improve science communication about complex topics in molecular biology and infection biology to the general public, something that is critical to gaining control of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

Developing and evaluating a prototype public health mobile app on the UK NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA) are asymptomatic with advanced age and male sex being risk factors. Due to their significant mortality rate, the NHS AAA Screening programme was introduced in 2012. However, this is not as well-supported compared to other programmes. When it comes to AAA and its screening, health information is also available from different sources potentially leading to confusion. Based on this, our aim was to develop a prototype mobile application on AAA and its screening, centralising all key information, for the general public. Another aim was to assess the app's usability and impact (i.e. users' perceptions about screening attendance and knowledge of AAA). 24 participants completed a pre-app questionnaire followed by app testing and a post-app questionnaire. Ethical approval was granted from the Glasgow School of Art. 75% of participants had never heard of AAA and 92% had never heard of its screening. After app use, the participants' AAA knowledge significantly increased (Z = -4.318, p < 0.001). App use and opinion of screening attendance were also statistically associated (X1[1, n = 24] = 6.857, p < 0.05). The app's usability was rated positively in the USE questionnaire. Research is needed on public health apps regarding their impact on screening uptake and public knowledge.

Visualising the Link Between Carpal Bones and Their Etymologies.

It has been observed through published studies, as well as anecdotally, that medical students struggle with retention of anatomical knowledge. Studies have found that having an established understanding of classical Greek or Latin languages, which underpin medical terminology, can result in higher anatomy test scores by medical students. It has also been established that three-dimensional (3D) visualisation tools can aid in student learning. This chapter will examine the research conducted at the University of Glasgow, which focused on the creation of a mobile application that visualises the etymology of the carpal bones for the purpose of aiding medical students in their learning and retention of knowledge of anatomy. The chapter will first build a body of knowledge by reviewing previous studies in which a carpal bone test was used as a measure of medical students' anatomy knowledge, as well as the relevance of etymology in medicine and its use in the study of anatomy, and the current teaching methods of anatomy, with a focus on how 3D visualisation tools can aid learning. It then outlines a methodological and technical framework to create anatomically accurate 3D models of the carpal bones and develop the final mobile application. It also discusses the methodology used to carry out suitable user testing and collect user feedback. This chapter concludes by discussing the results of user testing, where feedback was analysed to improve the mobile application design for further use in anatomy teaching. Limitations and future outlooks of the study, along with the future of integrating 3D visualisation tools as teaching methods to aid in student learning of anatomy, are also explored.

What Not to Do with PPE: A Digital Application to Raise Awareness of Proper PPE Protocol.

With a rise in personal protective equipment (PPE) use by all healthcare professionals (HCP) as a prime infection control strategy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic comes the potential increase in its misuse. Evidence suggests this failure to follow proper PPE protocol to prevent self-contamination and transmission can be attributed to both a lack of formal training and guidance and, now, atrophy of infrequently used skills, with many senior professionals demonstrating a lack of proficiency despite years of service. Previous research shows current written and illustrated instructional material depicting PPE guidelines are abundant but does not provide an answer on how best to target violations in protocol and better instruct those that are providing pre-hospital emergency healthcare.In this chapter, we aim to address the gap in paramedic-specific research into PPE protocol and provide an educational, digital tool to work alongside the current guidelines, potentially exploring the cognitive load theory as a design strategy. The use of 3D, interactive animations depicting errors in protocol and their potential contamination consequences in a device-based application could engage clinicians in a more effective way, thus increasing protection and decreasing transmission. This chapter describes the methodology behind the design and development of such an application for emergency care providers and provides the relevant materials needed to carry out user testing and evaluation once participants have been recruited.

Augmented Reality Application of Schizocosa ocreata: A Tool for Reducing Fear of Arachnids Through Public Outreach.

This study aims to create a mobile application for public interaction around the subject of wolf spiders, specifically the brush-legged wolf spider. The hope is that the public will have a reduced level of fear towards arachnids when given a chance to view arachnids in a digital setting. To assist this, the application employs augmented reality animation, which has been shown to have a positive impact on the viewer's interest and learning. With the opportunity to view a digital spider interacting with surfaces in a repeatable and informative manner, viewers may find that their fears are more understood and can be controlled for both their benefit and that of the local arachnids. In order to accommodate multiple audiences, the application was set up to have a more cartoonish and simpler text as well as a realistic and advanced text. The area of information covered the brush-legged wolf spider's anatomy, mating behaviour, and general safety practices for handling and avoiding wolf spiders. The modelling and animation were created using Zbrush and Blender, respectively. The programming and application creations used were Unity with Android and AR plugins.

eLearning and Embryology: Designing an Application to Improve 3D Comprehension of Embryological Structures.

Embryology and histology are subjects that are viewed as particularly challenging by students in higher education. This negative perception is the result of many factors such as restricted access to lab facilities, lack of allocated time to these labs, and the complexity of the subject itself. One main factor that influences this viewpoint is the difficulty of grasping 3D orientation of sectioned tissues, especially regarding embryology. Attempts have been made previously to create alternative teaching methods to help alleviate these issues, but few have explored 3D visualisation. We aimed to address these issues by creating 3D embryological reconstructions from serial histology sections of a sheep embryo. These were deployed in a mobile application that allowed the user to explore the original sections in sequence, alongside the counterpart 3D model. The application was tested against a currently available eHistology programme on a cohort of life sciences graduates (n = 14) through qualitative surveys and quantitative testing through labelling and orientation-based tests. The results suggest that using a 3D modality such as the one described here significantly improves student comprehension of orientation of slides compared to current methods (p = 0.042). Furthermore, the developed application was deemed more interesting, useful, and usable than current eHistology tools (p < 0.05). Modalities such as that developed here could therefore provide a more effective approach to learning these challenging subjects potentially increasing student engagement with embryology and histology.

The Use of Augmented Reality to Raise Awareness of the Differences Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Arthritis is one of the most common disease states worldwide but is still publicly misunderstood and lacks engaging public awareness materials. Within the UK, the most prevalent types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The two are commonly mistaken as the same disease but, in fact, have very different pathogenesis, symptoms and treatments. This chapter describes a study which aimed to assess whether an augmented reality (AR) application could be used to raise awareness about the difference between OA and RA.An application was created for Android tablets that included labelled 3D models, animations and AR scenes triggered from a poster. In total 11 adult participants tested the application taking part in a pretest and posttest which aim to measure the usability of the application and the acquisition of knowledge on OA and RA. A T-test was performed to assess the effectiveness of the application from the pretest and posttest questionnaire outcomes. Overall results were encouraging reporting a very significant acquisition of knowledge and a highly satisfactory user experience.

Understanding the Brain and Exploring the Effects of Clinical Fatigue: From a Patient's Perspective.

Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases are a group of devastating autoimmune disorders that all share a common debilitating symptom fatigue. Fatigue is not widely understood and is often underrepresented in treatment regimes. Fatigue is the least successfully managed symptom of these conditions; however, it can often be the one of the greatest impairments.Augmented reality (AR) enhances a person's reality showing a hybrid environment where real and virtual objects coexist. Currently educational AR applications are saturating the application market, as they have shown great potential for increasing comprehension and understanding of complex concepts. AR expands user engagement by enhancing the learner's enjoyment and enriching their learning environment.This research explores the development and subsequent effect of an AR application on education around fatigue and basic neuroanatomy within the general population. The application was created using medical scan dataset, a variety of 3D modelling software and a game engine to create a functional and interactive augmented application. The application explores the effects of fatigue on a person's daily life while also laying a foundation of basic neuroanatomy. A pilot test conducted on 14 participants (8 males, 5 females and 1 other), with ages ranged 16-64 (4 form range 16 to 24, 5 from range 25 to 34, 1 from range 35 to 44, 3 from range 45 to 54, 1 from 55 to 64), shows the application is highly usable, increases understanding of basic neuroanatomical concepts and has the potential to improve understanding of fatigue. Nonetheless, further development and testing of the application are imperative so that we can gain a better understanding of the usability of the application with wider audiences. Future developments will aim to further aid knowledge acquisition and enhance understanding of fatigue, a complex and widely misunderstood concept.

A Methodology for Visualising Growth and Development of the Human Temporal Bone.

This chapter presents a methodological framework which could be used to produce accurate anatomical 3D models and animations of the developing skull, with a focus on the temporal bone. Initial modelling is based on information from core texts and visual references, before optimising these models for use in interactive real-time applications. A series of 3D modelling and animation workflows typically used in computer games and animation industry were tested and compared. Workflows most suitable for the production of a 3D visualisation of the developing temporal bone were documented in detail and used to produce the final 3D models. 3D models of the developing temporal bone were then implemented in an interactive mobile application, which allowed users to explore the 3D models on their Android mobile device and use augmented reality to enhance real-world information. Results of tests conducted in this research suggest that 3D modelling workflows which mimic the processes occurring during development of the temporal bone are most suitable for producing realistic 3D models. Animation workflows tested in this research have all shown potential to produce morphing animations of the developing temporal bone. The significant time required to create deformation setups and animations themselves however suggests that using scripting to automate these workflows would increase their usability in projects with a limited timeframe.

Image Overlay Surgery Based on Augmented Reality: A Systematic Review.

Augmented Reality (AR) applied to surgical guidance is gaining relevance in clinical practice. AR-based image overlay surgery (i.e. the accurate overlay of patient-specific virtual images onto the body surface) helps surgeons to transfer image data produced during the planning of the surgery (e.g. the correct resection margins of tissue flaps) to the operating room, thus increasing accuracy and reducing surgery times. We systematically reviewed 76 studies published between 2004 and August 2018 to explore which existing tracking and registration methods and technologies allow healthcare professionals and researchers to develop and implement these systems in-house. Most studies used non-invasive markers to automatically track a patient's position, as well as customised algorithms, tracking libraries or software development kits (SDKs) to compute the registration between patient-specific 3D models and the patient's body surface. Few studies combined the use of holographic headsets, SDKs and user-friendly game engines, and described portable and wearable systems that combine tracking, registration, hands-free navigation and direct visibility of the surgical site. Most accuracy tests included a low number of subjects and/or measurements and did not normally explore how these systems affect surgery times and success rates. We highlight the need for more procedure-specific experiments with a sufficient number of subjects and measurements and including data about surgical outcomes and patients' recovery. Validation of systems combining the use of holographic headsets, SDKs and game engines is especially interesting as this approach facilitates an easy development of mobile AR applications and thus the implementation of AR-based image overlay surgery in clinical practice.

Engaging with Children Using Augmented Reality on Clothing to Prevent Them from Smoking.

Smoking is a harmful habit, causing a range of severe consequences which could lead to premature death. This habit is still prevalent amongst young people. In order to protect children, effective early interventions supported by public instances need to be set in place. Raising awareness and educating the youth is crucial to change their mindset about the severity of smoking. Emerging technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) on mobile devices, have been shown to be useful in providing engaging experiences and educating children about a range of issues, including health and anatomy. This chapter presents a research which explores the use of AR as an exciting and engaging medium to effectively help educating children from 5 to 13 years about the effects of smoking. A mobile application, called SmokAR, was developed. This app includes AR visualization amongst other functionalities, whereby children are presented a realistic model of the human lungs of a healthy person and of a smoker. The aim of this research is to propose a transformative experience in order to put children off this dangerous habit whilst they gain knowledge about the effect of smoking on their organs. The anatomical accuracy of the 3D models and animations proposed by the app has been verified by an expert anatomist. A group of children (n = 17) also took part in usability and knowledge acquisition testing at the Glasgow Science Centre. Findings showed a significant high usability suggesting a user-friendly app design. Moreover, results also suggested that participants gained knowledge to a certain extent and felt discouraged from smoking after seeing the model of the smoker's lungs. Although there were several limitations to the study, the potential of the app to support learning and raising awareness is encouragingly positive. In addition, user testing in a more controlled environment, such as a classroom, can help gain further insights into the effectiveness and usability of the app. In the future, this simple but engaging approach to raise public awareness and support education could be used to further communicate with children about negative health effects of other harmful habits such as alcohol or drug consumption.

Enabling More Accessible MS Rehabilitation Training Using Virtual Reality.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder caused by damage to the myelin that protects nerve fibres, resulting in demyelinated lesions and causing various symptoms, one of which is muscle weakness. Physical rehabilitation is an integral part of managing MS, as well as its symptoms, and over time, the forms of implementing rehabilitation have changed according to novel technologies. Virtual reality (VR) has already been successfully applied to many fields of life sciences. VR can recreate engaging virtual environments for the specific purpose of physical rehabilitation that one can experience from the home environment. As a proof of concept, three games were developed for multiple sclerosis (MS) through the ground-breaking game engine Unity: a Piano game, a Recycle game and a Tidy Up game. The Piano game had three levels, starting from learning simple keys and ending with small well-known songs, in order to gradually challenge the user as they progress through their rehabilitation. The Recycle game focused on entertainment; it was playful providing a simpler but engaging and fun experience that used items that are seen in everyday life. In addition, a scoring system was implemented in order to motivate the user. Finally, the Tidy Up game had three different levels giving the user goals to work towards; at each level, the time available to complete the game became shorter giving the user less time to tidy up the table. These games were presented to individuals with MS, who had never used VR. Feedback was collected in order to assess the usability and the perceived sense of presence generated by the proposed approach. The testing also aimed to better understand rehabilitation techniques including factors affecting motivation. The games for rehabilitation were warmly received, and feedback was positive regarding both the usability of the system and the perceived sense of presence within digital environments. Although the tested sample size limits were small, a limitation of the validity of the results, these initial findings suggest VR must be beneficial in MS physical rehabilitation of the upper limb although larger, more formal evaluation is required.

Evaluation of Child-Friendly Augmented Reality Tool for Patient-Centered Education in Radiology and Bone Reconstruction.

The use of augmented reality (AR) has a rich history and is used in a number of fields. Its application in healthcare and anatomy education is developing considerable interest. However, although its popularity is on the rise, its use as an educational and practical tool has not been sufficiently evaluated, especially with children. Therefore, this study presents the design, development and evaluation of an educational tablet-based application with AR functionality for children. A distal radius fracture was chosen, as it is one of the more common fractures in the younger age group. Following a standardized software engineering methodology, we identified functional and non-functional requirements, creating a child-friendly tablet based AR application. This used industry standard software and incorporated three-dimensional models of a buckle fracture, object and image target marker recognition, interactivity and educational elements. In addition, we surveyed children at the Glasgow Science Centre on its usability, design and educational effectiveness. Seventy-one children completed a questionnaire (25 also underwent a short structured interview). Overall, the feedback was positive relating to entertainment value, graphic design, usability and educational scope of the application. Notably, it was shown to increase user understanding of radiology across all age groups following a trial of the application. This study shows the great potential of using digital technologies, and more particularly augmented information, in engaging future generations in science from a young age. Creation of educational materials using digital technologies, and evaluating its effectiveness, highlights the great scope novel technology could have in anatomical education and training.

Towards a More User-Friendly Medication Information Delivery to People Living with Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Study with Alemtuzumab.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system which leads to demyelination and neurodegeneration. The T and B cells, the body's immune cells, start attacking the brain and spinal cord, leading to a variety of symptoms. Alemtuzumab is a recently approved disease-modifying therapy that has been shown to have a very high impact on MS. However, it has many potentially life-threatening side effects which patients are often not aware of. For treatments as effective and risky as Alemtuzumab, patients who are considering it must be well-informed on the process and the potential side effects. Patient education is vital to equip patients with knowledge on their disease and treatment, and has shown to be successful in improving the management of chronic diseases and increasing medication adherence. Unfortunately, the language used is often too complex and at a higher reading level than average patients can comprehend, and available resources such as pamphlets and websites are often disorganized. This research proposes a radically different approach to patient education, using less formal channels such as a mobile application to improve health literacy, using LEMTRADA® (Alemtuzumab) as an example. MS patients were involved in a co-design process to produce a series of user-friendly, intuitive and interactive graphical interfaces which propose plain language, illustrations, animations, audio and Augmented Reality components that aim to enhance patients' knowledge retention and recall. Finally, nine MS patients along with a senior MS nurse tested the mobile application and answered a usability questionnaire that aimed to compare the delivery of information with typical websites and pamphlets. Results suggested this approach to be highly user-friendly and engaging, improving patients' understanding of medical information considerably. This research illustrates more engaging channels to communicate with MS patients in order to enhance health literacy.

Using Interactive 3D Visualisations in Neuropsychiatric Education.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder with a global prevalence of 2-3%. OCD can have an enormous impact on the lives of those with the disorder, with some studies suggesting suicidal ideation is present in over 50% of individuals with OCD, and other data showing a significant number of individuals attempt suicide. It is therefore important that individuals with OCD receive the best possible treatment. A greater understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders among professionals and future clinicians can lead to improved treatment. However, data suggests that many students and clinicians experience "neurophobia", a lack of knowledge or confidence in cases involving the nervous system. In addition, research suggests that the relationship many students have with neurological conditions deteriorates over time, and can persist into practice.If individuals living with conditions such as OCD are to receive the best possible treatment, it is crucial that those administering care are equipped with a thorough understanding of such disorders. While research has shown that the use of interactive 3D models can improve anatomy education and more specifically neurology education, the efficacy of using of such models to engage with neuropsychiatric conditions, specifically OCD, has not been assessed. This study seeks to address this gap.In this study an interactive application for Android devices was designed using standardised software engineering methods in order to improve neuropsychiatry literacy by empowering self-pace learning through interactive 3D visualisations and animations of the neural circuitry involved in OCD. A pilot test and a usability assessment were conducted among five postgraduate life science students. Findings relating to user experience were promising, and pre-test vs. post-test evaluation suggested encouraging outcomes regarding the effectiveness of the application in improving the knowledge and understanding of OCD. In short, this study suggests that interactive 3D visualisations can improve neuropsychiatry education. For this reason, more efforts should be made to construct similar applications in order to ensure patients always receive the best possible care. Fig. 2.1 A diagrammatic representation of the CSTC circuit, based on a similar diagram by Robertson et al. (2017).

New Tools in Education: Development and Learning Effectiveness of a Computer Application for Use in a University Biology Curriculum.

In recent years student exposure to computer applications has increased at an unprecedented rate. Yet the use of these promising technologies in education remains in its infancy. The growing practice of 'gamification' offers today's educators the means of conveying their lessons in a more engaging way, by utilising computer game mechanics. However, many of these learning tools have not been empirically evaluated. This research investigated the development of a desktop computer application, to replace an existing learning resource, a video, currently used by over 700 life sciences students a year in one of the top 100 universities of the world. The interactive game presents the same essential information as the video, on key anatomical features of mammalian skulls, and provides student self-testing. Results from a two-treatment, pre- and post-intervention experimental design suggest the new product is better for providing both knowledge acquisition and a positive learning experience. Nevertheless, the results are unlikely to be statistically significant. Insights from the findings are discussed and directions for future research are given.

The Co-design of Hand Rehabilitation Exercises for Multiple Sclerosis Using Hand Tracking System.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) often affects motor function, leading to an adverse effect on daily living. Rehabilitation is important in terms of improving mobility and activities of daily living. Virtual environments (VE) are increasing in popularity within this research area, but research in terms of VE is still rare, for both the upper and lower limb, in people with MS. Leap Motion (LM), a hand motion tracking system, has demonstrated success in stroke research but has yet to be investigated within MS. Following a co-design approach, five participants with MS discussed in a focus group (FG) their hand mobility issues, their thoughts about this technology-based rehabilitation and motivational factors. Findings were incorporated into the design of a series of gamified upper limb rehabilitation exercises, using LM, on Unity Game Engine. Three participants returned and engaged in user testing session and a FG in order to evaluate and discuss their experience. Overall participants found the proposed technology-based exercises to be engaging, immersive and a desirable approach to rehabilitation. Participant feedback underlined the usefulness of co-creation, especially in accommodating the range of motivators and user preferences. However, the study highlighted the loss of tracking of hand movements with LM as one of the limitations. Participants stated they would be likely to use this approach at home if there was a definite rehabilitation benefit and related more to visualising which muscle groups or actions they were aiming to improve.