After closing the conceptual project stage, the system implementation started with the Tech Lab prototype having the therapists substituting the patient behaviours. Within the Tech Lab phase the sole functioning of the technical components and their interplay have been successfully tested. Therefore, each component was deployed accordingly to the architecture and connected via a common messaging layer, the communication flows specified were implemented and the interplay of the components were tested based on pre-defined core activities. In parallel, the clinical pathways which set the baseline for the coaching activities were revised and enriched with technical details that are necessary to integrate them into the care process. After publishing them, the pathways are available in the professional portal and can be refined and prescribed to a concrete patient. The Virtual Coach interacts with the patient according to the boundaries the pathway sets but also personalizes the interaction.
In a second step, the Living Labs simulated the homes by research apartments providing a protected environment and support for the patients successfully trying out the VC solution. The Virtual Coaching solution was implemented into a controlled environment at the premises of each medical partner. Three Living Labs have been implemented for the pathologies of Stroke, Parkinson`s Disease, and Heart Failure. In addition to the Living Lab prototype, users are continuously involved in the design process. Results from the patients indicated good ratings of the vCare solution and, in general, a high level of enthusiasm and curiosity both by the patients and the professional users.
Thirdly, within the subsequent Pilot Phase the patients used the solution in their real home setting. Admittedly, the achieved final results vary a bit depending on the pathology and sub-score of the indicator assessment. But in sum, the main objective can be regarded as reached in terms of the measured improvements in QoL during the pilot phase by ensuring continuity of care and the access to personalized cognitive (for the neurological cases), motor exercises (for all patient groups) and overall coaching advises by the Virtual Coach. Also, the overall provision of an effectively working and well-acceptable smart virtual coaching could have been proved by the final user tests.
Orthogonally to the technical and clinical tests, altogether the foreseen dissemination plan has been successfully addressed: both the clinical (rehabilitation@home) and technological (vCoach related technology) aspects have been continuously followed trying to find the right communication angle and opportunities for each of the two. The focus was mainly to put on raising awareness on the potential benefits of the virtual coach in the rehabilitation clinical context and the strategy proposed by the consortium to reach solid results, i.e. Technology Readiness Level (TRL 7) by the end of the project. All the communication channels foreseen at the beginning of the project were created and maintained and some complementary initiatives were developed: this included the vCare Newsletter, the production of both animated and life videos and the activation of complementary social networks. All vCare consortium partners have been involved in the dissemination activities. Both direct and indirect exploitation routes have been drafted and prepared to be materialised post project.
