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In a message dated 2/1/09 11:00:41 PM, [log in to unmask] writes: > Gait Training Device for PWPs > I would like to comment in regards to the Virtual Reality gait training device. I have had Parkinson’s Disease for approximately 25 years and have been working on such a device for at least 10 years. This work has been funded by an NIH grant and much of the work has been done at the University of Washington’s Human Interface Technology lab which is one of the leading facilities for virtual reality applications. I have worked with both visual and auditory devices. Auditory devices were abandoned in favor of a visual approach because it is very difficult to talk while listening to a rhythmic tone. People can test themselves at home to determine if a virtual (technically ‘ augmented’) reality device would be useful to them. This can be done by placing ordinary playing cards on the ground in a line at about a normal stride length interval (say 18 to 24 inches apart.) The subject stands at one end of the line of cards and walks by stepping over each card like rungs of a ladder. If this improves your gait then you would likely benefit from virtual visual cues. However, I would caution people to beware of devices which make claims to be “training devices”. In my experience such devices in no way can teach one how to walk again without the device. They do work while the subject wears them. Currently, my device (which are called PD Glasses ) is being developed by a Southern California company called Enhanced Vision Systems and should be available within a couple of months. These glasses are intended to be worn to enable walking not as a training device. They can be fitted with the subject’ s prescription glasses. The glasses are totally self-contained (no external hardware or battery packs to be worn in a pocket and wired to the device. They work by projecting virtual cards onto the floor when the subject bends his head down towards the floor. One looks through the image in projecting it onto the floor and thus vision in both eyes is not obstructed. Regards, Tom Riess ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn