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Donning high-tech virtual and augmented reality simulators, while
testing out revolutionary modular prosthetic limbs and interacting
with experts in the field of science, technology, engineering, and
math, a group of about 23 middle school-aged military children had a
chance to learn inspiring and exciting lessons during a two-day
workshop June 3-4, 2017 at the Uniformed Services University of the
Health Sciences (USU).
The workshop was recently launched by
the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) through a grant
from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and is referred to as CONVEY
– Connecting STEM Outreach Now Using VIE Education for Youth. VIE,
or Virtual Integrative Environment, was developed by APL as a
training platform to help amputees adapt to using advanced
brain-controlled prosthetic devices. Led by prosthetic experts from
USU and APL, CONVEY was established for children of military service
members to help them gain a deeper understanding of the healing
process of an amputee, while learning about science, technology,
engineering, and math (STEM) topics. The workshop was also designed
to cultivate an emotional connection unique to these children in
hopes of motivating them to pursue STEM careers.
Working in pairs, the students
played interactive games that taught them about STEM topics,
including physiology, human anatomy, the brain, nervous system and
muscular system. Wearing the Hololens and Oculus Rift -- virtual and
augmented reality headsets -- they were able to “see” a virtual
brain in front of themselves, and examine each of its lobes and
functions. They tried on Myo armbands – devices that allowed them to
control the APL’s Modular Prosthetic Limb as well as virtual
prosthetic limbs to better understand a new and developing
technology helping amputees gain independence. The students also
explored electronics by using circuits, along with lights, motors,
and buzzers, bringing them to life by connecting LEDs or battery
packs that ran currents through modeling clay. The workshop
culminated in a lively and entertaining virtual-reality competition,
which also helped evaluate what they had learned.
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A group of about 23 middle school-aged military children had a
chance to learn inspiring and exciting lessons, using virtual and
augmented reality, during a two-day workshop June 3-4, 2017 at the
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. (Photo by
Sharon Holland, Uniformed Services University) |
Lucille
Kistner, one of the students who participated in the workshop, was
particularly excited about using the virtual and augmented reality
equipment because it allowed her to “feel what it’s like to have a
bionic arm or prosthetic arm,” she said. She explained how the Myo
band allowed her to maneuver a virtual arm while playing ping pong,
and as the virtual arm responded to her muscle movements, she could
hit the ball back and forth.
“It’s all related to your brain,
so that’s cool,” she said.
Lucille is interested in a career
in the field of science, she added, and is inspired by how this
technology will help make a difference for so many people.
“It was really fun,” added Noah Hutchinson, another student who
participated in the workshop. He enjoyed wearing the Myo armband,
too, experiencing for himself how the device responds to muscle
movements. He was also inspired by how this technology will help
amputees do more independently, and therefore have a better future.
Dr. Paul Pasquina, professor and chair of USU’s Department of
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and chief of Rehabilitation
Medicine at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, helped
organize the workshop. Having been a leader in the field of
prosthetics and amputee care for nearly two decades, sees great
promise in the STEM workshop.
“While there have been
significant advances in medical, surgical and rehabilitative care
over the past decade, the challenges that our patients and families
continue to face are constant reminders that more work is needed,”
Pasquina said. “It is our hope that the CONVEY workshop will inspire
future generations of scientists from a broad field of disciplines
to help solve some of these challenges and contribute to an improved
quality of life, not only for our men and women in uniform, but for
society as a whole.”
Dwight Carr, APL STEM program manager,
added that CONVEY is also designed to use the virtual training
platform to enhance each child’s understanding of how STEM concepts
are being used to help individuals gain independence, mobility, and
human interaction with loved ones.
“It’s an engaging and
interactive way to expand the use of the technology, while helping
both the service members and their families,” Carr said.
Dr.
Peter Squire, program officer in ONR’s Human Performance Training
and Education office, added it’s important to be thinking, now,
about the capabilities that will be needed in the future, while
building the workforce of the future.
“This is a good
opportunity to understand how science impacts prosthetics, to better
understand the way they use science, and to think about what things
you can do today that may impact folks tomorrow,” Squire said.
By Sarah Marshall, Uniformed Services University
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2017
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