The Treatment of Akinesia using Virtual Images

by Jerrold D. Prothero

Acknowledgments and Dedication

This thesis represents a remarkable convergence of at least three threads: the search for treatments of akinesia in the medical community, the development of a new display technology by Virtual Vision, Inc. and the human factors research at the Human Interface Technology Laboratory (HITL). Consequently, the complete list of people to whom I am indebted is lengthy; there follows a partial list, with apologies to whomever I have not acknowledged.

The original idea behind this thesis came from T.R., a person with Parkinson's disease who also served as our first subject. This research could not have happened without him. Thanks are also due to D.L., our second subject, and the first we investigated quantitatively.

Dr. Thomas Furness, director of the HITL and professor of Industrial Engineering, is a co-inventor of the display technology commercialized by Virtual Vision, Inc. which was used in this study. He served as chair of my thesis committee, and provided many helpful suggestions during the development of the project.

Suzanne Weghorst, medical coordinator for the HITL, directed the project and served as a thesis committee member.

Denis Anson, acting instructor in Rehabilitation Medicine, played a crucial role in the study and served as a thesis committee member.

Dr. Judy Ramey, professor of Technical Communication specializing in usability testing, made her equipment available and served as a thesis committee member.

I am indebted to all of my committee members for their helpful suggestions on my thesis drafts, but particularly Denis Anson and Suzanne Weghorst.

Bob Price, research associate in Rehabilitation Medicine, allowed us to use the Biomechanics Laboratory for the quantitative part of this study and coordinated data collection and analysis.

Dr. Fred Silverstein, professor of Gastroentrology, a medical advisor for both Virtual Vision, Inc. and the HITL, was invaluable both for his contacts in the medical community and for his enthusiasm for this project.

Dr. Phil Swanson, head of Neurology and director of the Parkinson's Disease Information and Referral Center (PDIR), and Maria Linde, coordinator of the PDIR, referred subjects for the study and provided encouragement.

Dr. George Kraft, professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, provided encouragement and suggestions concerning other important applications of the technology not covered in this thesis.

Gordon Kuenster, CEO and founder of Virtual Vision, Inc. was instrumental in providing both technical assistance and a display technology which had not yet been commercially released.

Richard Johnston and Steve Shankle from Virtual Vision, Inc. provided assistance during the trials with T.R., including the development their own test images for use in the study.

Greg Heacock, an optics engineer with Virtual Vision, has worked on prototypes for a next-generation display specifically for akinetic patients.

Toni Emerson, HITL research librarian, provided assistance with literature searches and co-authored a technical report which is the basis of Appendix B.

Ari Hollander, a fellow HITL graduate student, provided his Amiga 3000 for the qualitative study, as well as crucial programming assistance.

Dr. John Sundsten, a neuroanatomist in the Department of Biological Structure's Digital Anatomist Program, was very helpful in the preparation of anatomical illustrations.

I would like to thank my brother, Jeff Prothero, for the loan of images of his brain, which I have used in illustrations.

A ``thank you'' is due to fellow HITL graduate students Paul Danset and Mark Takacs who provided assistance with LaTeX.

Kathryn Best, a HITL summer intern finishing a master's degree at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, filmed part of the study.

Last, but certainly not least, I am indebted to the HITL generally for providing an environment in which this research could be initiated and carried through to success.

To my parents, John and Joyce.