Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MOMENTS (Multi-sensory experiences for in-home therapy and entertainment)
Período documentado: 2018-08-01 hasta 2018-12-31
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.
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.
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.
• 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.
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.