Once this high quality measurement data is collected, numerous additional analyses could be performed, quantifying and characterizing tremors asymmertry, amplitude statistics, individual digit movement, etc. Additionally, a tremor database could be created capturing thousands of peoples tremor data (with video?) for larger scale analysis. Addressing other types of tremor, other applications could be developed to quantify vocal tremor using audio analysis as well as head tremors using computer vision/face tracking tools.

A Path Forward

Though these applications don't actually solve the problem of tremors, like this interesting company is doing with tremor balancing spoon, they may be able to bring low cost assessment to doctors and sufferer's yielding more data to gain information from. They are very (potentially overly) simplified tests to demonstrate the concept of testing hand tremor with the device. It is limiting to only be able to use the technology for hand tremors, though future advances will likely bring the technology for entire or specific body tracking. Another potential downside is the lack of tactile feedback during a test. Moving a hand in the air without and feeling (such as a pen/paper interaction) may not provide for the best results.

Nonetheless, I think there is a lot of opportunity for the technology to aid in data collection in this field and hopefully to help scientists collect more data and identify better solutions to tremors. Potentially modeling tremor characteristics could allow for better prediction of source and cause.

What are your thoughts? Do you know someone who works in this field? Would this be valuable for them? Please share and or ask them what they'd think. This is a problem I'm interested in working on.

Thanks,

Chris