TechRico Launches 'Rehamaru Lite,' a New VR/MR Service for Nursing Care Facilities

TechRico Co., Ltd. has launched 'Rehamaru Lite,' a new functional training support service utilizing VR (Virtual Reality) and MR (Mixed Reality) technologies, aimed at nursing care service providers and facilities.

'Rehamaru Lite' is a new service for the nursing care field developed based on the knowledge and track record of the MR rehabilitation device 'Rehamaru,' which has been provided to hospitals and rehabilitation facilities.

Utilizing MR technology that allows users to engage with virtual content while seeing the real space, physical training, cognitive training, and combined physical-cognitive training can be conducted individually or in groups.

While conventional VR/MR rehabilitation devices have mainly been used for individual training, 'Rehamaru Lite' supports group rehabilitation where multiple people can participate simultaneously. Even in nursing care environments facing labor shortages, it supports the provision of functional training based on rehabilitation principles while offering enjoyment and continuity.

Additionally, 'Rehamaru Lite' is a service compatible with the 'Functional Training Support' category newly established in the Nursing Care Technology Implementation Support Business from FY2025. By utilizing subsidies, you can implement it from an effective cost of 150,000 yen, including initial costs and one year of rental fees. (*2)

## Background of Development
In the nursing care field, while there is a demand for functional training tailored to the condition of each user, there are many situations where it is difficult to consistently provide individualized training due to labor shortages and increasing workloads.

Furthermore, in conventional functional training, keeping users motivated and engaged continuously has been a major challenge.

TechRico Co., Ltd. has previously provided 'Rehamaru,' a rehabilitation support device utilizing MR technology, to hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. 'Rehamaru' has been used in medical and rehabilitation settings as a device that fuses real space and virtual content to support the training and evaluation of physical and cognitive functions.

'Rehamaru Lite,' launched this time, is a service redesigned into an easy-to-use format for nursing care environments based on the expertise cultivated in these medical and rehabilitation fields. It aims to provide functional training that is easy to incorporate into the daily operations of nursing facilities and can be continued enjoyably.

## Main Features of 'Rehamaru Lite'

1. Solid functional training based on the track record of 'Rehamaru' for hospitals
'Rehamaru Lite' was developed based on the knowledge of 'Rehamaru,' which has been utilized in medical and rehabilitation settings.
Through training content focused on physical functions, cognitive functions, and attention functions—rather than mere recreation—it can provide functional training based on rehabilitation principles even in nursing care settings.

2. Industry-first (*1) VR/MR group rehabilitation for simultaneous multi-user engagement
Because multiple users can participate in training at the same time, it can be used for daily functional training and recreation while creating a sense of unity and enjoyment in a group.
Even in understaffed nursing care settings, it can efficiently provide training opportunities to multiple people while reducing the burden on supporters.

3. Easy for the elderly to use safely because the real space is visible
By utilizing MR technology, users can engage with virtual content displayed in front of them while checking their surrounding space.
Therefore, it is a feature that it is easily accepted even by elderly people who tend to feel anxious about VR that completely immerses them in a virtual space, making it easy to incorporate into daily functional training at nursing facilities.
Furthermore, since supporters can check the progress of the training on a computer screen, they can operate it while providing verbal encouragement and supervision even during group training for multiple people.

4. Supports physical training, cognitive training, and combined training
With 'Rehamaru Lite,' training can be conducted according to the user's condition and goals, such as upper limb movement, balance, attention, judgment, and spatial awareness.
It also supports combined training where users tackle cognitive tasks while moving their bodies, supporting practical training in a format close to daily life.

5. Difficulty adjustment tailored to the user's condition
It supports implementation at an appropriate difficulty level based on training results and the user's condition.
Because users can start at a difficulty level that they can handle comfortably, it is easy for them to experience success, leading to continuous training while maintaining enjoyment.

6. Simple operability easy for caregivers and nurses to use
With an operation design that is easy to handle even for those without specialized knowledge, it aims to be a service that is easy to introduce into the daily operations of nursing facilities.
It can be used not only for individual training but also for group recreation and functional training time.