CITIC at the University of A Coruña (UDC) recently hosted representatives from the Brain Injury Galicia and Brain Injury Lugo associations, who met with researcher Manuel Lagos to learn about and test several virtual reality applications developed at the center. These tools, specifically designed for the physical and cognitive rehabilitation of individuals with acquired brain injury, represent a significant advancement in the therapeutic use of technology.

During the visit, attendees had the opportunity to experience firsthand some of the solutions being developed as part of various research projects. One of them was VR Home Activities, an application that simulates daily life tasks such as preparing breakfast, placing fruit in a bowl, or using cutlery. Its goal is to improve both motor and cognitive skills through virtual environments that feel familiar and functional to users.

They also had the chance to discover ATENDIS-VR, an application developed by CITIC in collaboration with the ADCOR Foundation and funded by the Galician Innovation Agency through the InnovaPeme 2023 program. This tool offers a set of cognitive stimulation activities designed for use with Meta Quest 2 and 3 devices. It includes seven different exercises with adaptive difficulty levels, aiming to comprehensively strengthen users’ physical and cognitive abilities while promoting engagement through an immersive and accessible experience.

The visit also included a demonstration of Supermarket 4.0, a project selected in the second call of the University Research Promotion Program in Technologies for the Common Good. This application recreates a supermarket environment where users can practice tasks such as searching for and selecting products, managing a shopping basket, or making payments at the checkout. The goal is to develop instrumental skills that support autonomy in everyday activities.

The meeting showcased the potential of virtual reality in rehabilitation processes and explored future collaboration opportunities between CITIC and the brain injury associations.

These visits are part of the center’s ongoing commitment to developing technological solutions in the social and healthcare sector, promoting inclusive and people-centered innovation.