Monash University
Endoscopy patients will soon be able to ‘play’ with their insides as part of an innovative research project that aims to integrate humans and technology through fun experiences with ingestible sensors.
Researchers from Monash University, RMIT and Deakin University have developed a system that combines medical imaging capsules with digital play. The unique system is called InsideOut and allows participants to ‘play’ with three different real-time game-like videos of their gastrointestinal tract.
Capsule endoscopy is a medical procedure that uses a tiny wireless camera with an ingestible sensor that captures footage of a patient’s digestive tract. While this procedure is commonly used, it can often be uncomfortable for a patient and can be the cause of anxiety. InsideOut aims to reconsider the connection between healthcare and technology by offering an innovative and alternative approach that promotes a playful, fulfilling and somewhat calming experience by actually involving the patient in the procedure.
It involves a wearable device and imaging capsule the user swallows. The wearable device, which the user wears around their waist, contains a display showing the real-time video captured by the capsule. The software also maps the user’s body movements to various video game-like manipulations such as scaling, rotation, balancing and speed.
Project lead, Professor Florian ‘Floyd’ Mueller, Director of the Exertion Games Lab in Monash University’s Faculty of Information Technology (IT), says this technology has the potential to contribute to a more humanised healthcare agenda by putting the patient first.
“Through this research, our team found the experiential perspective of a patient during a medical imaging procedure was often overlooked by associated medical applications. We designed InsideOut with the aim to introduce a playful experience for people to
/Public Release.
