The U-M 3-D Lab will work with Medical School researchers to develop a gaming application for people with spinal cord injury (SCI).
The project, whose principal investigator is Michelle Mead, assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, has been awarded a $600,000 three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Beginning Oct. 1, the 3-D Lab will work with Mead to develop an electronic gaming application for the iPod Touch designed to facilitate skill development, to enable those with SCI to better manage their health and interact more readily in home, health care and community environments.
The project represents the emerging field of “serious games”— that is, games designed for purposes other than entertainment — and is tailored to the preferences and learning styles of 16- to 24-year-old boys and men with SCI. This is the first funded grant use of the Motion Capture System in the 3-D Lab.
The 3-D Lab, which is part of the U-M Library, is a service facility that specializes in cutting edge technology and expertise for the entire university community.
