THE POSTURE MONITOR

THE PROJECT DEVELOPS AND FIELDTESTS A COMMERCIAL PROTOTYPE SOFT- WARE/HARDWARE PACKAGE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT CHILDREN WHO HAVE LIMITED PHYSICAL CONTROL AND DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING APPROPRIATE POSTURE DUE TO NEOROLOGICAL DEFICITS. THE POSTURE MONITOR (PM) CONSISTS OF A MICROPROCESSOR-CONTROLLED MONITORING DEVICE HOUSED IN A SMALL PLASTIC CASING; A SENSOR FOR DETECTING THE ANGLE OF TRUNK ALIGNMENT; AN EARPHONE TO PROVIDE VOICE- QUALITY AUDITORY PROMPTS; SUPPORT SOFTWARE TO RECORD AND ANALYZE THE CHILD'S TRUNK ALIGN- MANT BEHAVIOR; AND A REMOTE SIGNALLING DEVICE TO REQUEST PHYSICAL ASSISTANCE FROM AN ATTENDANT. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE PM SYSTEM IS TO PROMOTE A SEATED POSITION THAT OFFERS AN INDIVIDUAL GREATER FUNCTIONALITY, PREVENTS BONE AND MUSCULAR DEFORMITIES, AND ENHANCES PSYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS SUCH AS RESPIRATION, CIRCULATION, AND DIGESTION. GOOD POSTURE WIL ALSO HAVE THE EFFECT OF REMOVING ONE OF THE MOST OBVIOUS AND VISIBLE BARRIERS FOR LEARNING, SOCIAL INTERACTION, AND MOBILITY. FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE FIELDTESTING AND GIVEN EVIDENCE OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHINCAL FEASIBILITY OF THE PROTOTYPE METHODOLOGY IN PHASE I, FULLY-FEATURED VERSIONS OF THE PM DEVELOPED DURING PHASE II COULD PROVIDE NOT ONLY GREATER FUNCTIONALITY, BUT ALSO POTENTIAL FOR AUTOMATED MEANS OF MONITORING AND TRAINING PROPER ALIGNMENT BEHAVIOR ACROSS A VARIETY OF SETTINGS AND POPULATIONS.