Austria-based St Pölten University of Applied Sciences (UAS) is founding a centre for applied research on media-assisted health care, which will be completed by 2016.

Some of the projects of the Center for Applied Research in Media Assisted Health Care for Motion and Activity’s (Carma) will be presented, under the motto ‘Destination Future’ at the European Researchers' Night on September 27 in St Pölten.

The projects will include topics of media, health, living, mobility, life, history and technology, said a statement.

Having the right music in their ears can help athletes to achieve top performances and help to better control the desired running pace during training, it said.

During running, a smartphone could measure the heart rate, for example, and provide a musical feedback system to control the training. If the heart rate is too low or too high for the desired training effect, music is played that helps the athlete subconsciously to run faster or slower, it said.

However, Carma aims to help ambitious athletes achieve better results. Media-assisted feedback that takes individual physiological preconditions into account is playing an increasingly prominent role in health prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

The centre is, therefore developing, assistance systems that foster independence and activity into old age. The University's physiotherapy course plays a leading role in the development of this approach. It studies how prevention, therapy and rehabilitation can be optimised through the use of digital technologies, particularly in young people.

"The project is a perfect fit for EU initiatives on eHealth and demographic change. It provides solutions for the future problems of a changing society," said Jakob Doppler, co-initiator of Carma and a researcher at the Institute for Creative/Media/Technologies (IC/M/T) at St. Pölten UAS. The Institute develops and tests technical sensors and analysis and feedback systems for Carma.

"We are delighted to be able to bring European Researchers' Night to St. Pölten. It will enable us to present our excellent research work in an accessible way and to give people an insight into our most exciting projects," says Hannes Raffaseder, rector of St. Pölten UAS, head of the project and coordinator of the St. Pölten contribution to European Researchers' Night. - TradeArabia News Service