The TheraTEX project, carried out from 1 June 2019 to 31 December 2022 under the German federal funding code 03ZZ0670C, aimed to create a real‑time analysis and feedback system embedded in a novel textile for patients with hemiparesis. The core technical achievement was the integration of multiple sensors into a garment that can be worn under ordinary clothing and connected to a companion app. The sensors capture mobility, muscle activity, and posture, enabling the system to provide individualized, motivating training sessions and intelligent control of therapeutic actuators. The prototype suit is designed to accompany patients throughout the later stages of therapy (phases C–F) and to adapt to the needs of both stationary wheelchair users and long‑term ambulatory patients.
In the sensor‑evaluation work package (AP5) the team developed data‑fusion algorithms and signal‑generation modules that transform raw sensor streams into actionable feedback. The system delivers real‑time cues through three modalities: visual, auditory, and tactile. Auditory feedback is delivered via a voice that points out postural errors and a generic soundscape that accompanies exercises and daily activities. Tactile actuators provide region‑specific cues, allowing the wearer to feel precisely where corrections are needed. Visual feedback, displayed on the companion app, aggregates data over longer periods, making trends in mobility and muscle engagement easily interpretable. Together these modalities create a multimodal feedback loop that supports both immediate correction and long‑term progress monitoring.
User‑centered design (AP2) was guided by scenarios developed in close collaboration with the Medical Park and the Kunsthochschule Weissensee. Three prototype personas—Robert, Sabine, and a third not detailed in the report—were used to prioritize functional requirements. Robert’s scenario emphasized reminder functions for daily exercises and alerts for postural imbalance, while Sabine’s scenario focused on real‑time correction during movement execution. The design process involved workshops, persona refinement, and iterative prototyping, ensuring that the garment’s form factor, sensor placement, and feedback mechanisms met the practical needs of patients and therapists.
Scenario development (AP1) established the interaction contexts for the smart textile. The team defined use cases that extend beyond the clinical setting into everyday life, such as reminders for exercise routines, posture monitoring during routine activities, and corrective feedback during movement. These scenarios informed the technical specifications for sensor placement, data‑fusion logic, and user interface design.
The project’s collaborative framework included ART+COM AG as the lead partner, with the Kunsthochschule Weissensee contributing design expertise and the Medical Park providing clinical insight and user testing. Additional research projects—BewARe, QURATOR, and NuForm—were engaged for knowledge exchange and to situate TheraTEX within a broader ecosystem of wearable health technologies. A public symposium held at the Kunsthochschule Weissensee in November 2022 showcased the prototype and gathered feedback from stakeholders. Findings were also presented at the Xinnovations and QURATOR conferences, highlighting the project’s relevance to the wider research community.
In summary, TheraTEX delivered a multifunctional textile platform that fuses sensor data, generates real‑time multimodal feedback, and supports individualized rehabilitation for hemiparetic patients. The project’s user‑centered design, rigorous scenario development, and interdisciplinary collaboration underpin its potential to enhance therapeutic outcomes and to integrate seamlessly into patients’ daily lives.