Proposal

Narrative

The proposed project is a unique opportunity to engage and educate FAU students in technology research and training using cutting-edge balance technology that physician’s offices, rehabilitation clinics and other facilities focus on the promotion, assessment and restoration of movement in sport (concussion with FAU athletic training), health (falls) and disease. Several faculty members in the ESHP Department can utilize this technology in a focused academic effort (practicum, testing & prescription, lab techniques and other classes). Faculty will assist ESHP, and engineering students in multidisciplinary UG research projects supported by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry with state-of-the-art technologies. • Student class activities will extend along a sustainable educational pathway from practical understanding of movement and balance to hands-on development and deployment which together will enrich student experiences, advance their skills in the latest technologies, and achieve valuable learning outcomes supporting new skills and enhancing future careers in a range of disciplines and professions. • The ESHP majors will promote exercise, learn about disabilities, concussions, recovery rates/physical discrepancies with this specific equipment. • FAU engineering students will have an opportunity to implement these cutting-edge technologies and knowledge of biomechanics using the Magic Leap Augmented reality system and the Biodex system on humans. • Many of our ESHP courses are offered in person and also online. For the online student to benefit, a demonstration video would be made for their courses. The online student, if wanting to actually utilize this equipment on the Boca Campus, would be able to arrange a session. This interdisciplinary approach combines faculty expertise while forging strategic healthcare partnerships locally (I-Health), enhancing new technologies (I-Sense), and possibly advanced automation (Sensing and Smart Systems).

Facilities

No renovations or upgrades will be required in existing facilities; though the ESHP laboratory will be significantly enhanced by the project.

Hardware Requirements

Hardware requirements are the Biodex Balance System SD, with the Sway Handles, which incorporates static and dynamic balance assessments and conditioning. The system includes display, stability level, printer, and other items. The exact product specifications and photo have been uploaded in the supporting documentation section of this technology fee grant. Nothing additional that what is currently in the Exercise Science and Health Promotion lab will be needed. If this grant is funded, when integrating augmented reality for the Biodex system with the College of Engineering begins, items already available are 2 Magic Leap ML2 units with laptops.

Software Requirements

Configured by the College of Science’s Technology team as per FAU IRM specifications.

Personnel Costs

No personnel costs are requested.

Other Costs

No other costs are requested.

Timeline

When monies are immediately available, the order will be placed immediately to ensure arrival by the beginning of the summer term 2024 for use in classes.

Sustainability

The equipment requested is state-of-the-art with expected sustainability of 5 years or longer as these are development platforms expected to have forward compatibility with future devices and software. The acquired systems and developments will be shared and maintained collaboratively by participating units, associated faculty, research assistants and students as appropriate.

Resource Matching

Not available at this time.

Implementing Organization

Dr. Graves, Exercise Science and Health Promotion Department, will implement the project, as soon as the equipment is received. She will work with other ESHP faculty (Dr. Artese and Ian Pyka, instructor) to incorporate its use within practicum, biomechanics, exercise lab techniques, and exercise testing & prescription classes. She will work with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science with the Magic Leap Goggles, since these students and faculty have collaborated in the past. In other words, the applications (apps) that the engineering students will develop for balance assessment (concussion), prediction of falls, range of motion, biomechanical analyses, and other activities.