�Cunningly disguised as a toy, a new medical device that harnesses the power of distraction can greatly reduce the painfulness felt by young burns victims.
Designed for medical device company Diversionary Therapy Technologies by Sam Bucolo, who is a Queensland University of Technology industrial design Associate Professor, Ditto is a virtual reality-inspired diversionary therapy aid.
Professor Bucolo aforesaid that the trademarked Ditto device is able to distract a child's attention to avail them through and through the irritating process of having burns dressings changed, which a patient may endure several times in front recovery.
Professor Bucolo aforementioned Ditto was undergoing clinical trials to recognise it as a fully-fledged medical device, and it has been shown to be more effectual at reducing pain heaps than the traditional methods of distraction used in hospitals, such as videos and computer games.
"Burns patients need to feature their bandages changed three times a week for up to two months, and this is a very painful experience," Professor Bucolo said.
"The children are already anxious when they go far at the hospital, because they know the operation is going away to ache.
"However, we know that pain perception has a strong psychological component that can be overcome with appropriate preparation and distraction."
Professor Bucolo said Ditto was intentional for children aged triad to eight-spot years quondam and secondhand multi-modal interaction a engineering science that was closely related to practical reality, only did not require bulky equipment or goggles that might distress young, queasy children.
"It was important that the product took only seconds to lock the child and it was besides important that the distraction lasted 20 minutes, about the length of meter it commonly takes a nurse to replace nathan Birnbaum bandaging," Professor Bucolo said
"The child holds the circular Ditto device and tilts it to navigate through the virtual world, kind of than using a keyboard or part game comptroller.
"The solid form of the toy dog is the interface. It has a touch screen and vibrating handles.
"Children can choose a lineament who accompanies them through the games, 'find and touch' stories and singsong movies. They can likewise take a figurine of their part home with them."
Professor Bucolo aforesaid the virtual world could be seen from all angles plainly by moving the toy.
"They can even look underneath objects by tipping it upside-down," he aforementioned.
Ditto won for Diversionary Therapy Technologies the Australian leg of the UK-based business challenger Technium Challenge International.
The project originated at the Australasian CRC for Interaction Design, based at QUT, and involved a ambit of researchers including doctors, designers, children's authors and engineers.
Funding was received from the Queensland Department of State Development, a Federal Government Commercial Ready grant and private financing.
Ditto is due to be commercially available at the end of this year.
Queensland University of Technology
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