Society
HEI-Lab has had a strong presence in the community, contributing with innovative and high-impact projects to the organizations with which it collaborates. HEI Lab thus has the potential to be a catalyst for social and technological innovation, tackling contemporary challenges while creating sustainable and meaningful value for communities.
1: Application of Advanced Technologies in Communities
HEI-Lab has demonstrated how its initiatives are empowering communities through access to education in technology. The importance of the HEI Lab lies in empowering communities to solve local problems using advanced tools, such as the project developed for the Portuguese Psychological Association to develop virtual reality applications to train junior psychologists in ethical decision-making. In the future, HEI Lab intends to expand its reach by providing more resources, thus strengthening community participation in solving their challenges.
2: Ethics and Safety in Technology Adoption
HEI-Lab has also focused on developing approaches to ensure ethics and safety in the adoption of technologies, highlighting the importance of decisions based on evidence and facts. In the context of this project, the HEI Lab plays a crucial role in validating technological solutions to ensure the protection of users, such as the project with children with disabilities (APPACDM) for controlled and safe training for routine functions and/or training for employment using virtual reality. In the future, it intends to continue working closely with organizations to develop and implement ethical and safe guidelines.
3: Interdisciplinarity in the Practical Application of Technologies
HEI-Lab has reinforced the importance of collaboration between different areas of knowledge in the practical application of technologies, allowing different disciplines to work together to solve complex problems. An example of this interdisciplinarity is HEI-Lab's intervention in the revitalization of the cognitive behavioural therapy unit at the Júlio de Matos hospital, which was reactivated with the aim of using VR applications to treat patients.
In the future, HEI-Lab plans to expand these interdisciplinary partnerships, promoting a continuous dialog between different specialties and further enriching the technological solutions offered, as evidenced by HEI-Lab's involvement in interdisciplinary projects (e.g. BioLamer (Horizon Europe)).
4: Innovation in Home Care and Ageing
The HEI-Lab also stands out for its role in innovating home care and aging services, presenting advanced solutions adapted to individual needs. Its contribution aims to improve the quality of life of the elderly through technologies such as Virtual Reality and artificial intelligence. In the future, HEI Lab will continue to develop and implement innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of the elderly population.