Simulations and Second Chances: Technology is Transforming Human Capability

After a stroke, many people experience motor impairments that reduce their ability to perform everyday tasks independently. Rehabilitation is therefore essential to help stroke survivors regain movement and improve their quality of life. One emerging approach combines haptic devices (technology that provides physical touch or force feedback) with virtual reality to encourage controlled movements in a safe and engaging environment. These movements provide the brain with sensory feedback, which may help rebuild the neural connections needed for improved motor function.

Many daily tasks require the coordinated use of both hands, a skill known as bilateral coordination. Training both arms together can help stroke survivors regain the ability to perform these activities more independently. In this work, hand movements and the force applied are tracked through interactive tasks, allowing the performance of both hands to be monitored and compared. This information can help therapists understand differences between the affected and unaffected sides, supporting more personalised rehabilitation and helping track recovery over time. In this talk, we will explore how these technologies are being used to support stroke rehabilitation and what researchers are learning from them.

There will also be an opportunity to see and interact with some of the technology that makes this research possible.

Success in Formula 1 comes down to making the right decision, quickly. But, with so much data available from the hundreds of sensors that are fitted on the car, how do engineers at McLaren Racing find the right information when decisions sometimes need to be made in a matter of seconds? In this talk Performance Engineer, Amelia Lewis, explains how the right processes allow for the team to use on-car data, model simulations, and driver comments to produce Championship winning F1 cars.