When the Classroom Meets the Clinic

A technological solution originally developed for schools is now being used as an innovative therapeutic tool at Reuth Tel Aviv Rehabilitation Hospital. This is an immersive room – an interactive digital space – initiated by Hadassah Fortinsky, head of the Occupational Therapy Unit at the hospital, in collaboration with the startup company 3walls. This is the first time the company, which has sold dozens of rooms to educational institutions to date, is operating in the healthcare sector, with the goal of optimally preparing patients for a return to routine life.

Customized Therapeutic ExperienceThe technology allows for simulating everyday life environments – a beach, a train, a supermarket – using advanced projections and sensors, thereby providing patients with a tailored therapeutic experience that connects cognitive and motor training with virtual reality. “For example, a patient after a stroke can perform motor actions like reaching out to pick up a product from a supermarket shelf or a cognitive action like following instructions when buying a train ticket. One can also play games that help with fine motor skills, increasing range of motion, improving balance and memory, or social interaction like a barbecue meal – all in a safe, controlled, and multi-sensory space,” says Fortinsky. According to her, “The system also helps reduce anxiety and improve mood through nature tours, and the exercises themselves were specifically designed to meet the needs raised by the professional staff at the hospital. Patients in respiratory rehabilitation also get to go on nature tours and to capital cities around the world and experience a multi-sensory experience of sounds, music, touch, and movement through the innovative system”.

A Living and Dynamic Process

The approach of 3walls company is based on flexibility and complete adaptation: The immersive room relies on existing interactive technologies from around the world, integrating software, games, and sensors – all custom-tailored to the needs of Reuth Hospital and each individual patient.

“Our technology started in classrooms, but we knew from the beginning that it had broader applications,” says Uri Melamed, founder and CEO of the company. “We were excited to see how the same platform could become a powerful rehabilitation tool. We are in continuous contact with the professional staff at the hospital, and whenever a new idea arises, we develop it together with them – it’s a living and dynamic process.”

According to him, “The thing we wanted most from day one was to help people. That was true when we worked with students – and it’s true now, as we help patients rehabilitate their lives. For us, this is just the beginning.”