Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launch strikes on regions of al-Mahmoudiyah, al-Khardali
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli aircraft execute series of strikes in Kfar Tibnit, South Lebanon.
Iranian ambassador in Beijing to Al Mayadeen: We hope that Europe and the US give up their illegal actions and authoritarian hegemony.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli shelling targets displaced persons' tent in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, casualties were reported
IOF storm Jalazone camp, north of Al Bireh city in the occupied West Bank
Israeli media: A severe incident reported in Gaza some time ago
Israeli media: Military evacuation helicopters are transporting injured soldiers from Khan Younis
Israeli media: A security incident has been reported in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip
The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps - Quds Force announces the martyrdom of the head of the Palestine Unit Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi.
Sayyed Khamenei: The idea of Iran's surrender is laughable to the wise, for the Iranian people are strong and will remain strong, proud, and honorable.

Avatar motion-capture technology proven applicable in disease research

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Jan 2023 13:37
3 Min Read

According to experts, the technology might cut in half the time and cost of developing new treatments in clinical trials.

  • x
  • Ronal (L), voiced by Kate Winslet, and Tonowari, voiced by Cliff Curtis, in a scene from
    Ronal, voiced by Kate Winslet, and Tonowari, voiced by Cliff Curtis, in a scene from "Avatar: The Way of Water" (AP)

The motion capture suits used to bring characters to life in films such as Avatar are assisting researchers in tracking the onset of diseases that hamper mobility.

In many circumstances, the sooner such illnesses are diagnosed, the sooner a patient can obtain the necessary care and therapy.

The new device analyzes bodily movements using artificial intelligence.

The UK experts judged the severity of two genetic illnesses twice as fast as the greatest doctors in testing.

According to the experts, it might also cut in half the time and cost of developing new treatments in clinical trials.

The findings were reported in the journal Nature Medicine.

Dr. Valeria Ricotti, of Great Ormond Street Institute for Child Health, told BBC News that she was "completely blown away by the results."

"The impact on diagnosis and developing new drugs for a wide range of diseases could be absolutely massive," she said.

The new technology was tested on patients with Friedreich's Ataxia (FA) and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in two separate studies.

The researchers revealed that the new technique might also be used to track people recuperating from other disorders that impair movement.

Any ailment involving the brain and neurological system, the heart, lungs, muscles, bone, and a variety of psychiatric disorders are included.

Tracking the severity and anticipated course of such disorders typically entails assessing the speed and precision with which patients perform a set of predefined movements in a clinic. This assessment, which is critical for determining what kind of assistance and therapy a patient requires, might take years.

The two studies published demonstrate that the motion capture system can do this faster and more accurately. It was derived from the technology used by filmmakers in the Avatar films to capture the movement of performers in order to portray convincing aliens on screen.

FA usually manifests itself during adolescence and affects one in every 50,000 people, whereas DMD affects 20,000 children, predominantly boys, worldwide each year. There is currently no cure for either condition.

How does it work?

The motion sensor suits were originally tested on FA patients by a team at Imperial College. They discovered that the AI could predict the progression of the disease over a period of twelve months in half the time that an expert would normally take.

A separate team at Great Ormond Street Hospital tested the technology on 21 boys with DMD aged five to 18. It predicted their movement six months in advance considerably more correctly than a doctor could.

The researchers believe that their technique might be used to accelerate and reduce the cost of clinical trials for novel medications for a variety of illnesses.

It may also reduce the cost of testing novel medications for rare genetic illnesses.

Professor Richard Festenstein from the Medical Research Council's London Institute of Medical Sciences, said, as quoted by BBC News, that "the suit technology, which he helped to develop, had the potential to change the economics of drug discovery."

Read next: Native Americans call to boycott Avatar over cultural appropriation

  • FA
  • Motion-Capture technology
  • DMA
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Avatar
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

Hezbollah's now-Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, July 2, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Sheikh Qassem praises Iran resilience in face of 'Israel', US

Al Houthi: Overthrowing Islamic Republic impossible
US & Canada

Sayyed Al Houthi: Overthrowing Islamic Republic of Iran impossible

Reproductive violence used as genocide tool in Gaza: UN
Politics

Reproductive violence used as genocide tool in Gaza: UN

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS