prior to 2012 I like most people had never heard of visual spatial neglect
never heard of visual spatial neglect
never heard of visual spatial neglect but then in July of 2012 along with
but then in July of 2012 along with
but then in July of 2012 along with about 60,000 other Australians that year
about 60,000 other Australians that year
about 60,000 other Australians that year my mum suffered a stroke she was only 51
my mum suffered a stroke she was only 51
my mum suffered a stroke she was only 51 at the time her mum stroke was
at the time her mum stroke was
at the time her mum stroke was substantial it affected a large portion
substantial it affected a large portion
substantial it affected a large portion of the right hemisphere of her brain and
of the right hemisphere of her brain and
of the right hemisphere of her brain and as a result she’s been living with a
as a result she’s been living with a
as a result she’s been living with a disability of a sense now at the time I
disability of a sense now at the time I
disability of a sense now at the time I didn’t know a lot about strokes I was
didn’t know a lot about strokes I was
didn’t know a lot about strokes I was only 19
only 19
only 19 I’d only recently finished my first year
I’d only recently finished my first year
I’d only recently finished my first year of university I knew that in some
of university I knew that in some
of university I knew that in some instances strokes could be fatal and I
instances strokes could be fatal and I
instances strokes could be fatal and I was vaguely familiar with the idea that
was vaguely familiar with the idea that
was vaguely familiar with the idea that many people have had a stroke often have
many people have had a stroke often have
many people have had a stroke often have some form of paralysis but that’s it
some form of paralysis but that’s it
some form of paralysis but that’s it that’s all I knew I was about to have a
that’s all I knew I was about to have a
that’s all I knew I was about to have a very steep learning curve with my
very steep learning curve with my
very steep learning curve with my brother and sisters our mum lives with
brother and sisters our mum lives with
brother and sisters our mum lives with the more common or recognisable effects
the more common or recognisable effects
the more common or recognisable effects of stroke hemiparesis which is the
of stroke hemiparesis which is the
of stroke hemiparesis which is the paralysis or loss of sensation on one
paralysis or loss of sensation on one
paralysis or loss of sensation on one side of the body mobility difficulties
side of the body mobility difficulties
side of the body mobility difficulties as a result of this paralysis and
as a result of this paralysis and
as a result of this paralysis and significant memory and attention
significant memory and attention
significant memory and attention difficulties but she’s also been left
difficulties but she’s also been left
difficulties but she’s also been left with a really common post stroke
with a really common post stroke
with a really common post stroke condition but one that I had never heard
condition but one that I had never heard
condition but one that I had never heard of until she had a stroke it’s called
of until she had a stroke it’s called
of until she had a stroke it’s called visual spatial neglect or VSN for short
visual spatial neglect or VSN for short
visual spatial neglect or VSN for short visual spatial neglect is believed to
visual spatial neglect is believed to
visual spatial neglect is believed to acutely affect about two-thirds of
acutely affect about two-thirds of
acutely affect about two-thirds of stroke patients who suffer damage to the
stroke patients who suffer damage to the
stroke patients who suffer damage to the right hemispheres of their brains in
right hemispheres of their brains in
right hemispheres of their brains in particular damage to the parietal lobe
particular damage to the parietal lobe
particular damage to the parietal lobe which is the center of our brain that
which is the center of our brain that
which is the center of our brain that helps us manage
helps us manage
helps us manage Sections sensory input and helps us
Sections sensory input and helps us
Sections sensory input and helps us understand the layout of spaces now
understand the layout of spaces now
understand the layout of spaces now while the majority of people who have
while the majority of people who have
while the majority of people who have VSN have acquired it as a result of a
VSN have acquired it as a result of a
VSN have acquired it as a result of a stroke it’s important to note that it’s
stroke it’s important to note that it’s
stroke it’s important to note that it’s not a condition that is confined to
not a condition that is confined to
not a condition that is confined to stroke patients VSN can occur after any
stroke patients VSN can occur after any
stroke patients VSN can occur after any significant brain trauma think anything
significant brain trauma think anything
significant brain trauma think anything and everything from extreme sports
and everything from extreme sports
and everything from extreme sports accidents to car crashes slipping over
accidents to car crashes slipping over
accidents to car crashes slipping over and hitting your head on the floor too
and hitting your head on the floor too
and hitting your head on the floor too hard violent assaults and anything in
hard violent assaults and anything in
hard violent assaults and anything in between it can also occur as a result of
between it can also occur as a result of
between it can also occur as a result of Alzheimer’s so it’s really very common
Alzheimer’s so it’s really very common
Alzheimer’s so it’s really very common but if you’re anything like I was at the
but if you’re anything like I was at the
but if you’re anything like I was at the time you’re probably wondering so what
time you’re probably wondering so what
time you’re probably wondering so what exactly is visual spatial neglect
exactly is visual spatial neglect
exactly is visual spatial neglect broadly speaking neglect is a series of
broadly speaking neglect is a series of
broadly speaking neglect is a series of disorders which removes your ability to
disorders which removes your ability to
disorders which removes your ability to properly process stimuli or sensation in
properly process stimuli or sensation in
properly process stimuli or sensation in the case of visual spatial neglect it’s
the case of visual spatial neglect it’s
the case of visual spatial neglect it’s an inability to process visual stimuli
an inability to process visual stimuli
an inability to process visual stimuli more specifically it’s an inability for
more specifically it’s an inability for
more specifically it’s an inability for the brain to process what the eyes are
the brain to process what the eyes are
the brain to process what the eyes are seeing on one side of the world all of
seeing on one side of the world all of
seeing on one side of the world all of the data is coming in through your eyes
the data is coming in through your eyes
the data is coming in through your eyes but the brain just can’t process it as a
but the brain just can’t process it as a
but the brain just can’t process it as a result people with visual spatial
result people with visual spatial
result people with visual spatial neglect lose the ability to be
neglect lose the ability to be
neglect lose the ability to be consciously aware of one side of the
consciously aware of one side of the
consciously aware of one side of the world around their bodies most commonly
world around their bodies most commonly
world around their bodies most commonly this is the left-hand side now the way
this is the left-hand side now the way
this is the left-hand side now the way that VSN works it’s not like you’ve got
that VSN works it’s not like you’ve got
that VSN works it’s not like you’ve got a split down your visual field it’s not
a split down your visual field it’s not
a split down your visual field it’s not a blindness your eyes are working
a blindness your eyes are working
a blindness your eyes are working perfectly fine imagine instead that
perfectly fine imagine instead that
perfectly fine imagine instead that you’ve got a perfectly good working
you’ve got a perfectly good working
you’ve got a perfectly good working camera and you take a picture but when
camera and you take a picture but when
camera and you take a picture but when you try to print that picture out your
you try to print that picture out your
you try to print that picture out your printer only spits out half a page the
printer only spits out half a page the
printer only spits out half a page the brain doesn’t recognize the data coming
brain doesn’t recognize the data coming
brain doesn’t recognize the data coming in from the left hand side of the world
in from the left hand side of the world
in from the left hand side of the world and it assumes
and it assumes
and it assumes that all of the data coming in from the
that all of the data coming in from the
that all of the data coming in from the right hand side of the world is the
right hand side of the world is the
right hand side of the world is the entirety of your vision
entirety of your vision
entirety of your vision in severe cases this can lead to people
in severe cases this can lead to people
in severe cases this can lead to people literally avoiding one side of the world
literally avoiding one side of the world
literally avoiding one side of the world now this can be a pretty tricky concept
now this can be a pretty tricky concept
now this can be a pretty tricky concept to grasp but on a day to day basis
to grasp but on a day to day basis
to grasp but on a day to day basis somebody with visuospatial neglects may
somebody with visuospatial neglects may
somebody with visuospatial neglects may only eat food off one side of their
only eat food off one side of their
only eat food off one side of their plate they may only wash or shave one
plate they may only wash or shave one
plate they may only wash or shave one side of their face and they’ll tend to
side of their face and they’ll tend to
side of their face and they’ll tend to read text from the middle of the page
read text from the middle of the page
read text from the middle of the page rather than from the left-hand edge
rather than from the left-hand edge
rather than from the left-hand edge their brains completely failing to
their brains completely failing to
their brains completely failing to provide data that the other side of the
provide data that the other side of the
provide data that the other side of the world is there in order for them to
world is there in order for them to
world is there in order for them to engage with it now this can escalate to
engage with it now this can escalate to
engage with it now this can escalate to being a serious and very dangerous issue
being a serious and very dangerous issue
being a serious and very dangerous issue pretty quickly potentially the most
pretty quickly potentially the most
pretty quickly potentially the most dangerous aspect of esm is the tendency
dangerous aspect of esm is the tendency
dangerous aspect of esm is the tendency for patients to overlook obstacles in
for patients to overlook obstacles in
for patients to overlook obstacles in what’s referred to as their neglected
what’s referred to as their neglected
what’s referred to as their neglected side so as a result they can have a lot
side so as a result they can have a lot
side so as a result they can have a lot of difficulty learning the layout of
of difficulty learning the layout of
of difficulty learning the layout of spaces and how to move through those
spaces and how to move through those
spaces and how to move through those spaces effectively dramatically
spaces effectively dramatically
spaces effectively dramatically increasing the risks of Falls and
increasing the risks of Falls and
increasing the risks of Falls and associated injuries as if this wasn’t
associated injuries as if this wasn’t
associated injuries as if this wasn’t difficult enough it’s further
difficult enough it’s further
difficult enough it’s further complicated by what’s referred to as a
complicated by what’s referred to as a
complicated by what’s referred to as a body imaging deficit somebody with a
body imaging deficit somebody with a
body imaging deficit somebody with a visual spatial neglect can have a lot of
visual spatial neglect can have a lot of
visual spatial neglect can have a lot of trouble understanding the physical
trouble understanding the physical
trouble understanding the physical dimensions of their own body they’ll
dimensions of their own body they’ll
dimensions of their own body they’ll tend to neglect 1/2 so whilst I
tend to neglect 1/2 so whilst I
tend to neglect 1/2 so whilst I understand that I’m this wide and I can
understand that I’m this wide and I can
understand that I’m this wide and I can fit through a space this way somebody
fit through a space this way somebody
fit through a space this way somebody with a visual spatial neglect may only
with a visual spatial neglect may only
with a visual spatial neglect may only understand one half of their bodies as a
understand one half of their bodies as a
understand one half of their bodies as a result they’ll often misjudge the kind
result they’ll often misjudge the kind
result they’ll often misjudge the kind of spaces that they can move through or
of spaces that they can move through or
of spaces that they can move through or they will greatly overcompensate for
they will greatly overcompensate for
they will greatly overcompensate for what they can see as you can imagine
what they can see as you can imagine
what they can see as you can imagine visual neglect patients will often run
visual neglect patients will often run
visual neglect patients will often run into doorways or furniture on their
into doorways or furniture on their
into doorways or furniture on their neglected side and if you couple this
neglected side and if you couple this
neglected side and if you couple this with the common physical aspects of a
with the common physical aspects of a
with the common physical aspects of a brain injury
brain injury
brain injury mobility difficulties issues with
mobility difficulties issues with
mobility difficulties issues with balance you can start to see how
balance you can start to see how
balance you can start to see how everyday tasks and movements that would
everyday tasks and movements that would
everyday tasks and movements that would otherwise be quite common and mundane
otherwise be quite common and mundane
otherwise be quite common and mundane now start to present a very real
now start to present a very real
now start to present a very real potential danger now I’d like to start
potential danger now I’d like to start
potential danger now I’d like to start telling you that at this point things
telling you that at this point things
telling you that at this point things get better but unfortunately it gets
get better but unfortunately it gets
get better but unfortunately it gets worse an enormous associated difficulty
worse an enormous associated difficulty
worse an enormous associated difficulty with visual spatial neglect is that it’s
with visual spatial neglect is that it’s
with visual spatial neglect is that it’s often accompanied by a condition called
often accompanied by a condition called
often accompanied by a condition called anis Ignazio which makes the patient
anis Ignazio which makes the patient
anis Ignazio which makes the patient unable to recognize that they have an
unable to recognize that they have an
unable to recognize that they have an issue at all so they’ll have a lot of
issue at all so they’ll have a lot of
issue at all so they’ll have a lot of trouble actively compensating for their
trouble actively compensating for their
trouble actively compensating for their neglect because their brains will be
neglect because their brains will be
neglect because their brains will be telling them that nothing is wrong as we
telling them that nothing is wrong as we
telling them that nothing is wrong as we saw it treatment and support for mum I
saw it treatment and support for mum I
saw it treatment and support for mum I quickly came to realize that the
quickly came to realize that the
quickly came to realize that the treatment methods for visual spatial
treatment methods for visual spatial
treatment methods for visual spatial neglect were both limited and pretty
neglect were both limited and pretty
neglect were both limited and pretty time-consuming in their execution the
time-consuming in their execution the
time-consuming in their execution the most common form of treatment is through
most common form of treatment is through
most common form of treatment is through what’s called behavioral mitigation
what’s called behavioral mitigation
what’s called behavioral mitigation strategies intensive one-on-one therapy
strategies intensive one-on-one therapy
strategies intensive one-on-one therapy a therapist will go through a number of
a therapist will go through a number of
a therapist will go through a number of activities to try to teach a patient to
activities to try to teach a patient to
activities to try to teach a patient to disregard their brain telling them that
disregard their brain telling them that
disregard their brain telling them that there’s nothing else to see and to look
there’s nothing else to see and to look
there’s nothing else to see and to look over into their neglected side and as
over into their neglected side and as
over into their neglected side and as many scenarios as possible
many scenarios as possible
many scenarios as possible commonly therapists will teach patients
commonly therapists will teach patients
commonly therapists will teach patients that as they approach a doorway they
that as they approach a doorway they
that as they approach a doorway they need to remember to look over to the
need to remember to look over to the
need to remember to look over to the left they’ll teach them that as they
left they’ll teach them that as they
left they’ll teach them that as they approach a step they need to make sure
approach a step they need to make sure
approach a step they need to make sure that they look down and to the left to
that they look down and to the left to
that they look down and to the left to avoid being caught up or tripped and
avoid being caught up or tripped and
avoid being caught up or tripped and they’ll teach them that every time they
they’ll teach them that every time they
they’ll teach them that every time they enter a room they need to visually scan
enter a room they need to visually scan
enter a room they need to visually scan that space to get in as much visual
that space to get in as much visual
that space to get in as much visual information as possible so they can
information as possible so they can
information as possible so they can better understand how to move through
better understand how to move through
better understand how to move through that space effectively now most commonly
that space effectively now most commonly
that space effectively now most commonly this treatment is delivered in a
this treatment is delivered in a
this treatment is delivered in a clinical rehabilitation setting now
clinical rehabilitation setting now
clinical rehabilitation setting now clinics set up to be safe the patient
clinics set up to be safe the patient
clinics set up to be safe the patient they’ve generally got nice big open
they’ve generally got nice big open
they’ve generally got nice big open spaces flat carpeted floors there’s a
spaces flat carpeted floors there’s a
spaces flat carpeted floors there’s a very little low set furniture and there
very little low set furniture and there
very little low set furniture and there are always therapists on hand if
are always therapists on hand if
are always therapists on hand if something was to go wrong now
something was to go wrong now
something was to go wrong now unfortunately back in the real world in
unfortunately back in the real world in
unfortunately back in the real world in particular in a patient’s home things
particular in a patient’s home things
particular in a patient’s home things typically are not set up like this back
typically are not set up like this back
typically are not set up like this back at home
at home
at home you might have uneven floorboards or
you might have uneven floorboards or
you might have uneven floorboards or carpet you’ve got a coffee table
carpet you’ve got a coffee table
carpet you’ve got a coffee table you’ve got your couch you might have
you’ve got your couch you might have
you’ve got your couch you might have pets you may have children or even
pets you may have children or even
pets you may have children or even grandchildren and there can be a lot of
grandchildren and there can be a lot of
grandchildren and there can be a lot of visual distraction around which can make
visual distraction around which can make
visual distraction around which can make trying to apply what a patient has
trying to apply what a patient has
trying to apply what a patient has learned into a in a clinic into their
learned into a in a clinic into their
learned into a in a clinic into their home a pretty difficult task and if you
home a pretty difficult task and if you
home a pretty difficult task and if you couple this with memory and detention
couple this with memory and detention
couple this with memory and detention difficulties and the fact that many
difficulties and the fact that many
difficulties and the fact that many patients may not even be aware of their
patients may not even be aware of their
patients may not even be aware of their own deficit you can quickly start to see
own deficit you can quickly start to see
own deficit you can quickly start to see a real problem now I can’t stress enough
a real problem now I can’t stress enough
a real problem now I can’t stress enough that the way that therapists deal with
that the way that therapists deal with
that the way that therapists deal with visual spatial neglect now is absolutely
visual spatial neglect now is absolutely
visual spatial neglect now is absolutely fantastic they’re using the best methods
fantastic they’re using the best methods
fantastic they’re using the best methods we know of to treat a really difficult
we know of to treat a really difficult
we know of to treat a really difficult condition and trying to teach patients
condition and trying to teach patients
condition and trying to teach patients strategies to overcome their neglect and
strategies to overcome their neglect and
strategies to overcome their neglect and then trying to get them to retain that
then trying to get them to retain that
then trying to get them to retain that knowledge and apply it outside a clinic
knowledge and apply it outside a clinic
knowledge and apply it outside a clinic that’s a really really tricky task to
that’s a really really tricky task to
that’s a really really tricky task to achieve treatment has its limitations
achieve treatment has its limitations
achieve treatment has its limitations depending on where you live the level of
depending on where you live the level of
depending on where you live the level of universal health care available your
universal health care available your
universal health care available your personal access to private health
personal access to private health
personal access to private health insurance you may only be eligible for a
insurance you may only be eligible for a
insurance you may only be eligible for a few months of treatment post brain
few months of treatment post brain
few months of treatment post brain injury in some instances you may get
injury in some instances you may get
injury in some instances you may get none at all surely there had to be a
none at all surely there had to be a
none at all surely there had to be a better way to deal with this so I asked
better way to deal with this so I asked
better way to deal with this so I asked myself how could I use my skills as an
myself how could I use my skills as an
myself how could I use my skills as an industrial designer to in the simplest
industrial designer to in the simplest
industrial designer to in the simplest manner possible replicate the
manner possible replicate the
manner possible replicate the actions of a therapist enhance treatment
actions of a therapist enhance treatment
actions of a therapist enhance treatment techniques and do this with an automated
techniques and do this with an automated
techniques and do this with an automated system that could be taken directly from
system that could be taken directly from
system that could be taken directly from a clinic and put into a patient’s home
so I took the most basic principle of
so I took the most basic principle of VSM treatment reminding patients via
VSM treatment reminding patients via
VSM treatment reminding patients via verbal cues to look into their neglected
verbal cues to look into their neglected
verbal cues to look into their neglected side in as many scenarios as possible
side in as many scenarios as possible
side in as many scenarios as possible and I applied this to a simple wearable
and I applied this to a simple wearable
and I applied this to a simple wearable system VSM patients will get a pair of
system VSM patients will get a pair of
system VSM patients will get a pair of glasses fitted with a discreet camera
glasses fitted with a discreet camera
glasses fitted with a discreet camera and a bone conduction speaker and the
and a bone conduction speaker and the
and a bone conduction speaker and the other aspect of the system is a series
other aspect of the system is a series
other aspect of the system is a series of small infrared tags which are to be
of small infrared tags which are to be
of small infrared tags which are to be fitted throughout a patient’s home in
fitted throughout a patient’s home in
fitted throughout a patient’s home in locations where their therapists or
locations where their therapists or
locations where their therapists or carers or their family members think
carers or their family members think
carers or their family members think that they’re most needed whether that’s
that they’re most needed whether that’s
that they’re most needed whether that’s on the ends of your coffee table on the
on the ends of your coffee table on the
on the ends of your coffee table on the left-hand side of every doorway maybe
left-hand side of every doorway maybe
left-hand side of every doorway maybe it’s just on the inside of the left-hand
it’s just on the inside of the left-hand
it’s just on the inside of the left-hand side of your pantry when you approach
side of your pantry when you approach
side of your pantry when you approach one of these tags they’ll start to glow
one of these tags they’ll start to glow
one of these tags they’ll start to glow to try to capture your attention and the
to try to capture your attention and the
to try to capture your attention and the camera in the glasses will pick up the
camera in the glasses will pick up the
camera in the glasses will pick up the location of the tag and you will be
location of the tag and you will be
location of the tag and you will be given clear verbal instructions through
given clear verbal instructions through
given clear verbal instructions through the bone conduction speaker to search
the bone conduction speaker to search
the bone conduction speaker to search for that tag in your neglected space our
for that tag in your neglected space our
for that tag in your neglected space our bone conduction is ideal for this
bone conduction is ideal for this
bone conduction is ideal for this scenario because it transmits sound
scenario because it transmits sound
scenario because it transmits sound directly through the skull it makes the
directly through the skull it makes the
directly through the skull it makes the system a lot more discreet because
system a lot more discreet because
system a lot more discreet because nobody else around you can hear the
nobody else around you can hear the
nobody else around you can hear the verbal cues also many patients who have
verbal cues also many patients who have
verbal cues also many patients who have a visual spatial neglect often have an
a visual spatial neglect often have an
a visual spatial neglect often have an auditory neglect which is an inability
auditory neglect which is an inability
auditory neglect which is an inability to properly process sound on one side of
to properly process sound on one side of
to properly process sound on one side of the world bone conduction helps to
the world bone conduction helps to
the world bone conduction helps to sidestep this issue
in simple terms all we want to do is to
in simple terms all we want to do is to alert patients to what’s outside their
alert patients to what’s outside their
alert patients to what’s outside their visual field and get them to look in
visual field and get them to look in
visual field and get them to look in that direction in as many scenarios as
that direction in as many scenarios as
that direction in as many scenarios as possible whether that means knowing
possible whether that means knowing
possible whether that means knowing where a piece of furniture is knowing
where a piece of furniture is knowing
where a piece of furniture is knowing that you’re too close to one side of a
that you’re too close to one side of a
that you’re too close to one side of a doorway or maybe it’s just being able to
doorway or maybe it’s just being able to
doorway or maybe it’s just being able to find something that you would otherwise
find something that you would otherwise
find something that you would otherwise miss now the idea is that the system
miss now the idea is that the system
miss now the idea is that the system would be used initially in a
would be used initially in a
would be used initially in a rehabilitation clinic therapists could
rehabilitation clinic therapists could
rehabilitation clinic therapists could use the system for neglect training
use the system for neglect training
use the system for neglect training activities so immediately
activities so immediately
activities so immediately patients are made aware of exactly what
patients are made aware of exactly what
patients are made aware of exactly what they have to do find these tags in every
they have to do find these tags in every
they have to do find these tags in every required scenario and that exact same
required scenario and that exact same
required scenario and that exact same task is translated directly from a
task is translated directly from a
task is translated directly from a clinic into a patient’s home and this
clinic into a patient’s home and this
clinic into a patient’s home and this direct transfer between clinic and home
direct transfer between clinic and home
direct transfer between clinic and home can help avoid any issues around trying
can help avoid any issues around trying
can help avoid any issues around trying to apply a learned task to what may now
to apply a learned task to what may now
to apply a learned task to what may now seem like a bit of an unfamiliar
seem like a bit of an unfamiliar
seem like a bit of an unfamiliar environment hopefully leading to greater
environment hopefully leading to greater
environment hopefully leading to greater functional outcomes and a much faster
functional outcomes and a much faster
functional outcomes and a much faster recovery now the system is designed to
recovery now the system is designed to
recovery now the system is designed to be taken home so that your treatment can
be taken home so that your treatment can
be taken home so that your treatment can continue I sat down and I worked out
continue I sat down and I worked out
continue I sat down and I worked out that the cost of fitting out mums entire
that the cost of fitting out mums entire
that the cost of fitting out mums entire house with the infrared tags was still
house with the infrared tags was still
house with the infrared tags was still less than what we were spending for just
less than what we were spending for just
less than what we were spending for just one week of therapy now for patients
one week of therapy now for patients
one week of therapy now for patients with a mild neglect the system might
with a mild neglect the system might
with a mild neglect the system might only be used until they’ve built up a
only be used until they’ve built up a
only be used until they’ve built up a good habit around looking into their
good habit around looking into their
good habit around looking into their neglected site at which point the system
neglected site at which point the system
neglected site at which point the system can be moved on to somebody else
for patients with a much more severe
for patients with a much more severe neglect the system might be used
neglect the system might be used
neglect the system might be used constantly as long as they need it as
constantly as long as they need it as
constantly as long as they need it as long as it’s helping because visual
long as it’s helping because visual
long as it’s helping because visual spatial neglect is such a pervasive
spatial neglect is such a pervasive
spatial neglect is such a pervasive condition for some this system might be
condition for some this system might be
condition for some this system might be the difference between whether they need
the difference between whether they need
the difference between whether they need a live-in carer for others it could mean
a live-in carer for others it could mean
a live-in carer for others it could mean the difference between whether they get
the difference between whether they get
the difference between whether they get to stay at home or whether they need to
to stay at home or whether they need to
to stay at home or whether they need to go to a living care facility it’s
go to a living care facility it’s
go to a living care facility it’s designed to streamline the recovery
designed to streamline the recovery
designed to streamline the recovery process in a manner that doesn’t require
process in a manner that doesn’t require
process in a manner that doesn’t require you to rearrange your lifestyle brain
you to rearrange your lifestyle brain
you to rearrange your lifestyle brain injury does enough of that as it is now
injury does enough of that as it is now
injury does enough of that as it is now this is a treatment for just one aspect
this is a treatment for just one aspect
this is a treatment for just one aspect of brain injury recovery it’s not rocket
of brain injury recovery it’s not rocket
of brain injury recovery it’s not rocket science
science
science and we haven’t reinvented the wheel I’ve
and we haven’t reinvented the wheel I’ve
and we haven’t reinvented the wheel I’ve taken a relatively simple and
taken a relatively simple and
taken a relatively simple and cost-effective design solution and have
cost-effective design solution and have
cost-effective design solution and have applied it to a significant problem now
applied it to a significant problem now
applied it to a significant problem now prior to 2012 I had never even heard of
prior to 2012 I had never even heard of
prior to 2012 I had never even heard of visual spatial neglect if my mum had not
visual spatial neglect if my mum had not
visual spatial neglect if my mum had not had her stroke I probably never would
had her stroke I probably never would
had her stroke I probably never would have ever heard of it and I would have
have ever heard of it and I would have
have ever heard of it and I would have never come up with a design solution to
never come up with a design solution to
never come up with a design solution to help to treat it let’s not wait for
help to treat it let’s not wait for
help to treat it let’s not wait for designers and engineers to have such
designers and engineers to have such
designers and engineers to have such personal connections with these problems
personal connections with these problems
personal connections with these problems to start turning their attention and
to start turning their attention and
to start turning their attention and their talents toward finding solutions
their talents toward finding solutions
their talents toward finding solutions if you have a problem tell a designer if
if you have a problem tell a designer if
if you have a problem tell a designer if you are a designer or an engineer go out
you are a designer or an engineer go out
you are a designer or an engineer go out and find a hidden problem you never know
and find a hidden problem you never know
and find a hidden problem you never know the solution you create might one day
the solution you create might one day
the solution you create might one day help someone you love
help someone you love
help someone you love [Applause]
”
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