Software para configuração de um joystick para exercícios de mãos e dedos

Abstract

The hands are vital parts of the human body, allowing the achievement of day-to-day tasks that need tactile or grasping functions. When these functions are compromised, be it by a physical accident or a neurological condition, individual independence is strongly affected. The recovery of these skills generally involves a process of rehabilitation, of which the patient's engagement is an essential aspect, directly influencing their treatment adhesion and clinical evolution. One approach that has gained prominence in an attempt to increase this engagement is game therapy, consisting of the utilization of electronic games as a tool of rehabilitation. This technique has been effective in keeping patients interested and motivated during the treatment process. In this context, researchers from Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná have been develo- ping a joystick based on a hand exerciser of the hand gripper type, allowing patients to engage with electronic games at the same time they exercise their fingers. However, the device shows an important limitation: it is not possible to configure, directly through the hardware, parameters such as pressure intensity, activation time, or the emulated keyboard key. This paper proposes a desktop software that acts as an interface between therapist and joystick, allowing the user to choose configuration parameters, view control usage statistics, and save information about the patient being treated.