Multi-sensory experiences for in-home therapy and entertainment

Project Information

MOMENTS

Grant agreement ID: 827220

DOI

10.3030/827220

Project closed

EC signature date 23 July 2018

Start date 1 August 2018

End date 31 December 2018

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

B & J ADAPTACIONES SL
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MOMENTS (Multi-sensory experiences for in-home therapy and entertainment)

Reporting period: 2018-08-01 to 2018-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Families who have a relative with a cognitive and/or sensory disability (conditions such as autism, dementia, Down syndrome or multiple sclerosis which affect > 15% of the population) want the provide the best of care to their loved ones. Therapeutic support is often available to people with disabilities at schools, care centres, hospitals, associations, but at home they are a bit on their own. Families struggle to connect with them, reinforce the work done during therapy or simply spend some quality time together.

Multi-sensory environments (MSEs) is a discipline of occupational therapy that helps treat cognitive and sensory deficiencies (in memory, attention, social interaction…). Through the combination of special lighting, multimedia and sensory devices (bubble tubes, optic fibre, vibro-acoustic mats…), these controlled environments help to relax, focus and stimulate them. The problem is that end-users (the person with disability and his/her family) can only benefit from MSEs for a very limited time, during a weekly visit at a school, a care centre or a hospital. These are places are outside their comfort zone and people with disabilities require a solution for their home.

The overall objective of MOMENTS is to bring the benefits of multi-sensory stimulation to the homes of people with disabilities. We aim to change the model of a weekly MSE therapy at a school or a hospital to a 24/7 access model that empowers families.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

As part of Phase 1 of MOMENTS, we have assessed the technical and commercial feasibility of bringing into the market a MSE product adapted to the home environment. The key results are:

• Technological: development of technical specification of a new “plug & play” control box and definition of a new digital content platform.
• Legal feasibility and IPR arrangements: analysis of existing regulatory requirements and a “Freedom to Operate” study. Definition of a strategy for knowledge protection.
• User’s acceptance: Validation of the business idea by families of people with disabilities and therapists. Focus on dementia, autism and cerebral palsy.
• Commercial viability: Development of a market study (including online survey to distributors); analysis of competitors and definition of initial commercial plan.
• Business plan: Delivery of an initial business plan for MOMENTS, including investment plan and financial model.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

MOMENTS will be the first MSE product that has been specifically designed for the home environment (lower scale and affordable) with a unique digital platform that connects families with therapists and supports them in co-creating the most valuable and personalised MSE experiences for each individual user. MOMENTS does not only provide continuous MSE therapy, it significantly improves the wellbeing of disabled people, one of the most vulnerable groups in our society.

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