Physiology Brown Bag Seminar

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Event Details
  • Date/Time:
    • Wednesday January 25, 2017 - Thursday January 26, 2017
      12:00 pm - 12:59 pm
  • Location: Georgia Tech, 555 14th Street NW, Room 1253
  • Phone: 404-894-3700
  • URL:
  • Email:
  • Fee(s):
    N/A
  • Extras:
Contact

If you have questions about logistics or would like to set up an appointment with the speaker, please contact the School of Biological Sciences' administrative office at bio-admin@lists.gatech.edu.

Summaries

Summary Sentence: Using Wearable Computers for Passive Haptic Learning and Rehabilitation

Full Summary:

Using Wearable Computers for Passive Haptic Learning and Rehabilitation

Thad Starner, PhD
College of Computing Engineering
Georgia Tech
 
Abstract:
Ever try to learn a musical instrument only to give up because it took too much time? What if a wearable computer could teach the "muscle memory" needed to play a melody without the endless practice at the piano?  The Mobile Music Touch (MMT) is a wireless glove that enables users to learn to play piano melodies while performing everyday tasks.  The MMT device looks like a fingerless workout glove with a small box on the back containing a Bluetooth radio and microcontroller. Vibration motors are embedded in the glove at the base of each finger and the thumb.  The song being learned can be loaded onto a user’s mobile phone and is played as they go about their business.  As each note is played, the glove taps the finger corresponding to the appropriate key on a piano keyboard.  The result: in as little as 30 minutes, the user learns the "muscle memory" of the first phrases of the song, even if their attention has been devoted to another task. We call this effect "Passive Haptic Learning" and have shown that it can also be used to learn Braille and Morse code. Working with Dr. Debbie Backus of the Shepherd Center, we have also investigated whether the MMT glove might help people with tetraplegia due to partial spinal cord injury improve sensation and dexterity in their hands.  Significant improvements were seen after eight weeks of use.

Using Wearable Computers for Passive Haptic Learning and Rehabilitation

Thad Starner, PhD
College of Computing Engineering
Georgia Tech
 
Abstract:
Ever try to learn a musical instrument only to give up because it took too much time? What if a wearable computer could teach the "muscle memory" needed to play a melody without the endless practice at the piano?  The Mobile Music Touch (MMT) is a wireless glove that enables users to learn to play piano melodies while performing everyday tasks.  The MMT device looks like a fingerless workout glove with a small box on the back containing a Bluetooth radio and microcontroller. Vibration motors are embedded in the glove at the base of each finger and the thumb.  The song being learned can be loaded onto a user’s mobile phone and is played as they go about their business.  As each note is played, the glove taps the finger corresponding to the appropriate key on a piano keyboard.  The result: in as little as 30 minutes, the user learns the "muscle memory" of the first phrases of the song, even if their attention has been devoted to another task. We call this effect "Passive Haptic Learning" and have shown that it can also be used to learn Braille and Morse code. Working with Dr. Debbie Backus of the Shepherd Center, we have also investigated whether the MMT glove might help people with tetraplegia due to partial spinal cord injury improve sensation and dexterity in their hands.  Significant improvements were seen after eight weeks of use.

Additional Information

In Campus Calendar
Yes
Groups

School of Biological Sciences

Invited Audience
Faculty/Staff, Public, Undergraduate students, Graduate students
Categories
Seminar/Lecture/Colloquium
Keywords
School of Biological Sciences Seminar
Status
  • Created By: Jasmine Martin
  • Workflow Status: Published
  • Created On: Jan 20, 2017 - 3:13pm
  • Last Updated: Apr 13, 2017 - 5:13pm