Cecchi, F.

Kolar, J.

Mihely, M.

Munih, M.

Pasic, J.

Rihar, A.

Sgandurra, G.

The CareToy system, equipped with sensors to measures infant's activity while playing and visual and audio stimuli to attract infant's intention, provides a perfect environment for exploration of child's development. Measurements related to infant's posture, movement and interaction with toys are classified into behaviors and interpreted with clinical meaning. Infant's head and trunk movements are one of the first abilities to develop and provide an indication of postural control. These movements are assessed from the pressure distribution matrix and the wireless inertial measurement unit (wIMU) attached to the infant's chest. Reaching and grasping are notable signs of infants’ psychomotor development. They are skills required to actively explore and interact with the environments surrounding the infant. In order to assess these important capabilities wIMUs are attached on both infant's forearms and various sensors are embedded into the toys and lighted buttons. Hand acceleration and jerk, average speed, travelled path, movement smoothness and infant's reachable arm workspace are all valuable parameters. Playing with the toy is an indicator of infant's manipulation capabilities. Number of grasps, their strength, duration and latency (in relation to the provided stimuli) are determined from the pressure and force sensors embedded into the toys. Results of a case study with three clinically different triplets are an excellent demonstration of the instrumented gym value. With the analysis of measured signals it is possible to distinguish between normal and delayed development. More importantly, possible neurodevelopmental disorder can be detected, thus clinicians can be promptly informed and can take immediate actions

Observations of preterm infants interacting with the CareToy system.

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