Design and development of an automatic data acquisition system for a balance study using a smartcard system

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Sports Science

Background:

• Balance training requires accurate measurement of board angle values.
• Existing methods for data acquisition can be time-consuming and complex.
• Personalized training plans are crucial for effective balance rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an automated measurement system for logging board angle values during balance training.
• To utilize smartcards for secure storage and retrieval of individual training data.
• To streamline the data acquisition process for balance studies.

Main Methods:

• A smartcard system with I2C protocol and E2PROM memory was employed for proband identification and data storage.
• A smartcard reader connected via USB to a notebook facilitated data retrieval.
• Data acquisition and smartcard reading programs were developed using Microsoft® Visual C#.
• Individual training plans were stored in separate files, with data saved in proband-specific directories.
• Automatic log-file generation ensured exact documentation of each event.

Main Results:

• The system enables automatic data acquisition of board angle values during balance training.
• Smartcards efficiently store and manage individual proband identification and training data.
• The developed software facilitates easy and time-saving study development and data management.
• Automated log-file creation ensures accurate and complete documentation of training sessions.

Conclusions:

• The developed smartcard-based measurement system simplifies and automates data logging for balance training studies.
• This approach enhances efficiency and accuracy in collecting and managing training data.
• The system provides a valuable tool for researchers and clinicians in balance assessment and rehabilitation.