ITTO20120804A1 - APPARATUS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF THE MOTOR SKILLS OF A SUBJECT AND ITS PROCEDURE - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION of the industrial invention entitled:

â € œEquipment for assessing the motor skills of a subject and related procedure â €

TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out the quantitative evaluation of motor skills of at least a part of the body of a subject, comprising an interface device configured to detect movements of the subject and processing means for analyzing data detected by said interface device.

General technical problem

Motor ability is a stable trait of genetic origin and favors the development of motor ability. The latter is the competence achieved in a task.

For the assessment of motor skills, particularly in contexts of recovery from trauma, it is important to have equipment and systems useful for carrying out an assessment that includes a quantitative analysis of movement.

Currently on the market there are systems for the quantitative analysis of movement that are based on motion capture, or on dynamometric techniques or electromyographic techniques.

The elements that are measured by similar systems can be:

â— kinematic elements, ie the movements of the body, and are measured using Motion Capture systems;

â— dynamic elements, ie forces and angular moments, which are measured using dynamometric techniques involving force platforms and other sensors;

â— electromyographic elements, ie the electrical signals of activation of the muscles, which are measured by means of electrodes applied to the subject.

These techniques for the quantitative analysis of movement have intrinsic and peculiar characteristics that can limit their possibility of use as they present complexity in the analysis, the need for the presence of the operator, invasiveness, extreme specificity of the techniques in relation to certain measures .

Purpose of the invention

The object of the present invention is to overcome the technical problems previously described.

In particular, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a corresponding procedure that allow to operate a quantitative analysis of the movement which is obtained through the maximum possible interaction between the subject and the evaluation apparatus, a reduced invasiveness and an at least marginal presence of operators, thus allowing the certification of motor skills and abilities on a quantitative basis.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is achieved by an apparatus having the characteristics forming the subject of the following claims, which form an integral part of the technical teaching given herein in relation to the invention. The invention also relates to a corresponding measurement procedure.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, given purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:

- figure 1 is a schematic diagram representing an apparatus according to the invention,

- figure 2 is a flowchart representative of a process implemented by means of the apparatus of figure 1;

- figure 3 schematically represents steps carried out in the context of a first phase of the process of figure 2;

- figure 4 schematically represents steps carried out in the context of a second phase of the procedure of figure 2.

Detailed description of the invention

In short, the apparatus according to the invention comprises a multi-touch touch panel which operates the detection by means of laser light. This panel allows the detection of the movement of at least a part of the subject's body, for example the finger or the hand, when it is in contact with the laser plane of the panel. This touch panel is configured to operate with dimensions suitable for measuring morphological indices of the subjects undergoing analysis

Figure 1 shows the apparatus according to the invention.

The apparatus according to the invention indicated as a whole with the reference number 10, comprises a cabinet 11, in particular an iron cabinet, which acts as a support for a plexiglass panel 12 which acts as a projection panel, inserted in a frame a laser light plane 13, ie a frame that operates according to the LLP (Light Laser Plane) detection technology, as well as a dark room for rear projection via a video projector 14. The panel is preferably transparent.

The cabinet 11 in the example described here has dimensions of 2.4 meters wide, 2.6 m high, 1.6 m deep. The panel 12 is inserted in a front wall 11a of the cabinet 11 at a height of 90 centimeters from the ground.

In operating conditions, the cabinet 11 has three closed vertical sides or walls, in addition to the front wall 11a, which do not house this panel 12. On one of these closed vertical sides there may be a door to access the inside when the ™ apparatus 10 is not in an operating condition. This closed structure of the cabinet 11 serves to prevent the penetration of light into the dark room, which could affect the precision of the touches of a user, or subject, indicated in Figure 1 with the numerical reference 700, of the frame on the surface. laser light 13.

The cabinet 11 therefore has the front wall 11a, which includes in the panel 12 the laser light plane frame 13, of rectangular shape, in the example having dimensions of 1.5 meters in height by 2 meters in width, in to which the plexiglass panel 12 is inserted. Along the perimeter of the laser light plane frame 13 there are eight laser light emitting devices 13a, arranged respectively four at the four corners of the laser light plane frame 13 and four in the middle of each of the longer sides, in the The example shown is the horizontal sides of the frame 13. In this way the laser emitting devices 13a identify two rectangles or squares in the frame 13 and project the beams substantially along their diagonals.

A rear projection film 16 is preferably applied to the rear of the plexiglass panel 12, capable of diffusing the brightness of the video projector 14 over the entire surface of the plexiglass panel 12. On the sides of the cabinet 11 there are two loudspeakers 18 which are used to diffuse the auditory feedback during the exercises. For example, with the dimensions indicated for the apparatus 10, speakers with a sound pressure level of 80db can be used.

Inside the cabinet 11 are housed the video projector 14, equipped with a short range fisheye lens 19, a camera 20 to operate the recognition of luminous blobs 22 that are formed by touching the panel 12 and a stabilized power supply 21 which provides the € ™ power to the laser emitting devices 13a.

Outside the cabinet 11 a first computer 41 and a second computer 42 are arranged, for example two personal computers, the first computer 41 being used to recognize the points of contact with the panel 12, i.e. the blobs 22, under the control of a detection software module 400 operating according to the CCV (Community Core Vision) procedure, as better illustrated below, while the second processor 42 is used for an authentication function, in particular via QR code, which is also implemented through an authentication software module 200 which operates in the second computer 42 and better described below and for the management of a personal data database, indicated with the reference 520 in figure 2. The first computer 41 also controls the rear projector 14 to project the tests on panel 12. In the example apparatus shown, camera 20 is a Sony PS3eye webcam, modified by applying an IR filter at 780 nm, corresponding to ndent to the wavelength of emission of IR laser light, and 2.8 mm optics, resolution 640x480 @ 60fps.

The rear projector 14 is a Benq MP776ST projector, XGA resolution (1024x768), brightness of 3500 ANSI Lumen, contrast 3500: 1, Diagonal Ratio / Projection Distance 0.61: 1 (81 "@ 1m), Optics: F = 2.6 , f = 6.9 mm.

The 13a laser emitters have a power of 25 mW, emit at a wavelength of 780 nm in infrared, are equipped with a 120 ° reshaping lens.

The projection panel 12 essentially comprises a 1.5 mm thick plexiglass plate, the rear projection film 16 being glued to the rear of this panel 12, facing the rear projector 14 inside the cabinet 11.

The laser frame 13 as indicated implements the LLP (Laser Light Plane) technology, which is known per se and characterized by the use of laser sources, the laser emitting devices 13a, to irradiate the touch plane, i.e. the panel 12 . Each laser emitter device 13a in fact emits infrared radiation, as mentioned at the 780 nm wavelength, which generates a plane of light about 1 mm thick and parallel to the panel 12, calibrated so that it is positioned immediately above the surface of this panel 12. Figure 1 shows the user 700, placed in an upright station in a parking position 800 at a predetermined distance, for example 60 cm, from the panel 12 which acts as an interface and screen. The panel 12 is therefore in the example placed vertical with respect to the plane, for example the floor, on which the parking position 800 is identified, i.e. the user 700, placing himself in an upright station in the parking position 800, is facing the panel 12, at the predetermined distance chosen for the evaluations. When the finger of a user 700, indicated by 100 in Figure 1, intercepts this luminous plane created by the frame 13, a so-called blob 22 is created in the plane, formed by the interference of the finger 100 with the laser beam emitted by the emitters 13a. Said blob 22 is detected, that is taken up, by the camera 20, which sends the image taken to the first computer 41, where, through a detection software module 400 performed by this computer, the image analysis is performed, the identification of each blob 22 generated over time by touches or movements by touching the panel 12, and their classification as touches on the panel 12. As mentioned, the laser emitting devices 13a are preferably positioned on the corners of the rectangular frame 13 and each emitter 13a comprises a respective reshaping lens which transforms the respective laser beam into a plane of laser light. These lenses have an angle ranging from 90 to 120 degrees. The wavelengths preferably used are 780 nm, as in the example of figure 1, and 940 nm.

The recognition of the luminous blobs 22, as mentioned, is entrusted to computer vision techniques, per se known to the technician in the sector in connection with the use of IR-LLP interfaces, operated on the first computer 41 through the detection module 400. The camera 20 is sensitive to infrared light, through the aforementioned infrared filter, and captures images of the panel 12 at speeds between, for example, between 30 and 60 frames per second, framing the rear surface of the panel 12, the which, on the other hand, operates as a touch surface via its anterior surface. The images acquired by the camera 20 are processed on the computer 41 in the detection module 400, which among other operations applies a filtering by means of filters that improve the image and applies algorithms that extract the characteristics relating to the blobs 22 from the images. the detection module 400 implements for this purpose the techniques (Community Core Vision) which are implemented in open source / inter-platform software modules for computer vision and machine sensing, or interface detection, available for example on the World Wide Web at the URL http://ccv.nuigroup.com/. Thus, by means of the arrangement of panel 12, laser frame 13, video projector 14 and camera 20, the point of contact is highlighted by means of a blob 22 when the subject 700 touches the surface of the panel 12. the aforementioned image processing techniques in module 400 locate, in a known way, in the image acquired by the camera 20 this contact point by associating it with horizontal and vertical Cartesian coordinates, x, y referred to the plane of the panel 12. To obtain a correct referencing between these x, y coordinates and the touch point it is possible to perform a calibration phase of the apparatus 10, indicated with 310 in figure 2, which associates the touches generated on the screen with points already known to the apparatus 10.

As anticipated, the apparatus for evaluating motor skills 10 implements on the computers 41 and 42 a plurality of software modules for its management, which are schematically indicated in the flow diagram shown in figure 2.

A first software module 200 is therefore provided, executed on the second computer 42 to operate the automatic recognition of the user 700 through a QR code shown by the user 700 to the camera 20. The software module 200 processes the computer 42 on the Image coming from the camera 20 obtaining the corresponding identification code of the user QR_ID. In this way, no direct input of information is required by the user 700 and confidentiality is maintained as no unencrypted information is entered.

The QR code, that is the two-dimensional image that encodes the identification code of the user QR_ID, is preferably generated by the device itself after a registration procedure in which, for example, data on age, sex, if the user is right, left or ambidextrous. Data can also be requested to compose an anamnesis of user 700. The image of the QR code can be applied, for example, to an identification card, which allows to correlate the identification code of the specific QR_ID user with the data recorded in the personal database 520.

This registration procedure, which leads to the generation of the QR code and possibly the identification card, is preferably performed by means of a third separate computer, indicated with reference 43 in figure 1, which includes for example a printing device to print the Image of the QR code or the entire card. Said third processor 43 preferably comprises the personal data database 520 and then provides, through a connection or remote connection, to supply the information relating to the identification code of the user QR_ID to the second processor 42 when it carries out the authentication procedure 200.

Downstream of the authentication procedure 200, the first computer 41 executes a second software module for managing the tests 300, which manages the tests or games through which the motor characteristics of the user are evaluated 700. The application It is written for example in the Adobe Systems Incorporated FLASH language and ActionScript 3 and requires the installation of Adobe AIR 1.5 or higher.

The test management module 300 initially comprises a calibration step 310 and then a test execution step 320.

Figure 3 shows representative screens of steps of the calibration phase 310. 311 indicates a screen, which is displayed by the first computer 41 through the projector 14 on the panel 12, which illustrates an insertion phase by the user 700 of data relating to your height, through the display of a U ruler and a U1 cursor that can be scrolled vertically by dragging it with a finger 100 to indicate the correct height. 312 indicates a screen that illustrates a phase in which the user 700 enters data relating to the weight, in particular interactively by increasing the weight marked by a scale W by touching the corresponding increase and decrease buttons. 313 indicates a screen that shows a calculation and display step, by the calibration module 310, of the body mass index B of user 100. 314 indicates a screen representing a step measurement of a calibration zone R, corresponding to the opening of the arms of user 700, which represents an anthropometric measurement of the subject. The user 700 carries out this measurement by extending his arms as much as possible and placing his fingers 100 of the right and left hand on the panel 12. Therefore, the apparatus 10 according to the invention can be calibrated on the basis not only of entered data by the user 700, but also on the basis of anthropometric measurements carried out through the apparatus itself and is therefore able to perform a calibrated assessment of motor skills and morphological indices.

This assessment of motor skills is in particular preferably carried out by means of a self-learning or automatic learning system, for example based on neural networks, for example implemented via software on the second computer 42, which operates to provide standard reference scores based on the population that presents itself. characteristics (age, sex, prevalent side).

Figure 4 shows representative screens of tests, or exercises, carried out in the execution phase of test 320, in which the module 300 projects the information or images necessary for the test through the first computer 41 and the projector 14. on panel 12.

Indicated with reference 321 is a screen projected by the rear projector 14 on panel 12 of a test, called QUICKSHOT, in which users 100 or subjects must touch P markers that appear inside the area of R calibration as fast as possible. Also visible are a counter for the number of touches N and a counter for the time taken T. This test measures the value of ROM (Range of Motion) left and right, the percentage of touches right and left, the number of exact touches, the number of wrong touches, the fastest touch, the slowest touch, the average touch speed, the number of touches to the left, the number of touches to the right, the highest touches and calculates a radar diagram of correct touches.

Indicated with the reference 323 is a screen of a test, called FLASH, in which flashes F of a camera appear on the screen, taking on different colors. Subjects must touch the screen as soon as they see the flash F of the indicated color, on any part of the screen. The number of errors, the fastest touch, the average speed of the touches, the slowest touch are measured.

Indicated with reference 324 is indicated a test, called BENDSIDE, in which the subject 700 with his arms stretched up overlaps his hands on top of each other and drags a circle C to the right, touching it on panel 12 and then dragging his fingers on panel 12; subsequently, always starting from the top, user 700 drags the circle C to the left, flexing the trunk. The figure shows an information box I which indicates to the subject 700 which movements to operate using text and indicator arrows. The right flexion angle, the left flexion angle and the difference between angles are measured.

Compared to the previous tests, which may require only the detection of a punctual touch, this test 324 BENDSIDE constitutes an example of a test in which the apparatus 10 specifically detects the movement of the hands or fingers of the subject that draw a trajectory on the panel 12, or screen.

Indicated with reference 322, a screen representing a test is indicated, called KNOBS, in which the user must rotate a knob M projected on panel 12 as if he were grasping it, anticlockwise and then clockwise. The figure shows the information box I which indicates to the subject 700 which movement to operate by means of text and an example image. In this test, the left and right rotation for both hands and the difference between the intra- and extra-rotation angles are measured. This GRIPS test, like the BENDSIDE test, involves following the rotation movement of the hands of the subject 700 through the tactile interface represented by panel 12 IR-LLP.

Here are listed other tests performed by the apparatus 10 according to the invention, not represented in figure 4:

- a test called TAPING, in which the panel 12 shows two circles on the right and on the left, which light up in a random sequence. The subjects have to memorize the sequence and reproduce it, touching the respective circles. We evaluate the correct touches, the sequence.

.- a test, called PIANO, in which the subject 700 is asked to place the wrist of the hands in an area given on panel 12 representing a hand and to touch with the corresponding finger as soon as the corresponding phalanx of the hand on panel 12 lights up . Correct touches are measured for the left and right hand, total errors, the fastest left and right touch, the slowest left and right touch, average speed left and right touch, average total speed, percentage of exact touches for each finger;

- a test, called STEREO, in which the subjects must identify whether a sound emitted by the loudspeakers 18 comes from the right or from the left, by touching the corresponding circles projected on the panel 12 in a fixed position. The reaction times to all touches are measured as a function of volume and frequency;

- a test, called BLOW Dâ € ™ EYE, in which the subject must fix a precise point on the screen, or panel 12, in front of him. When a white dot appears, which can arrive randomly from north, south, west or east direction, user 700 must touch any point on the screen as quickly as possible. The reaction speed is measured, in particular calculated with respect to eight touches, two for each direction, distances in seconds and pixels and the percentage of distance from a central reference point. The distance is recorded both in seconds and in pixels, that is to say how much space has been covered and how much time has passed since the ball entered the screen until the user touched it. This registration is redundant;

- a test, called ABACO, in which the subjects must touch as quickly as possible in ascending order the numbers from 1 to 30, which are displayed arranged in random order on the panel 12. The percentage of completion is measured, fastest side, right average time and left average time with standard deviation, total time, total errors, fastest touch, slowest touch, average touch.

These tests each allow the evaluation of one or more respective motor skills, as detailed below.

Quick Shot ability to react to visual stimulus - Color discrimination ability

Motion related logic skill abacus

Glance ability to react to the visual stimulus within the visual field - Oculomotor capacity

Stereo ability to react to the auditory stimulus

Flash ability to react to visual stimulus

Piano ability of finger dexterity and response orientation.

Movement-related memory taping ability

Bendside lateral flexion capacity of the torso

Knobs for flexion capacity relative to the pronation-supination of the arm.

The lateral flexion capacity of the torso relative and the flexion capacity relative to the pronation-supination of the arm represent examples of motor skills that the apparatus according to the invention is able to evaluate.

A third image analysis software module 400 performs a CCV (Community Core Vision) analysis procedure to the computer 41 on the images acquired by the camera 20 to recognize the points of contact of the fingers 100 of the user 700 with the surface of the panel 12, i.e. the position of the relative luminous blobs 22 which are thus formed The software module 400 identifies the blobs 22 in a per se known way, and to each touch event the software assigns a unique E_ID, associated with the respective coordinates Cartesian (x, y) on panel 12, so that each touch event E_ID (x, y) can then be managed by other software modules, specifically the test management module 300, as indicated in figure 2. In this mode It is possible to manage several touches at the same time and to drag virtual objects onto the surface of the plexiglass screen 12, with the consequent detection of movement. In summary, the second image analysis software module 400 makes it possible to process the images captured by the camera 20 and to communicate with the test management module 300 through which the motor characteristics of the user 700 are evaluated.

The system foresees the use of a database management module 500 (MySQL Workbench 5.2.34) to manage access to the database 510, on which the identification data of the users 700, the sessions carried out by these users are saved 700, in addition to all the data obtained from the various tests carried out during these sessions. This module 500, or a correspondent thereof, even if not explicitly shown in figure 2, is used to manage the personal data database 520.

In a preferred version therefore:

the third processor 43 performs the recording of the user data 700 and the functions of generating the QR code and maintaining the personal data database 520; the second processor 42 manages the operations of recognition of the QR code presented to the video camera 20, consequently envisages starting the actual procedures for the quantitative assessment of motor skills by activating the first processor 41 and the test management module 300; the second processor 42 also manages the updating of the personal data database 520 remotely placed on the third processor 41

the first computer 41 controls the camera 20, executing the test management module 300 and the image analysis module 400 which recognizes and references the position of the blobs 22, manages the measurement database 510.

While the arrangement and functions of the processors described above are favorable, in particular for separating and possibly relocating the QR code generation functions elsewhere with respect to the authentication operation, it is clear that the processors may also be in a number other than that indicated in the example and having a different distribution of software modules and databases, in particular, there may be a single processor that supervises all the operations described above and, moreover, a single database in which personal information and data for each user 700.

Therefore, the characteristics and advantages of the invention are clear from the above description.

The apparatus according to the invention allows an analysis linked to the maximum interaction between the subject and the instrument of analysis, a reduced invasiveness, in particular in the analysis of healthy subjects, and a marginal or no presence of the operator and therefore allows the certification of motor skills and abilities on a quantitative basis. This is because it is possible to evaluate motor skills and abilities on a quantitative basis, following the movement of parts of the subject's body, in particular the finger or hand, in contact with the tactile interface.

Advantageously, for this purpose, a system comprising an interface device is used which comprises a multitouch touch panel, which detects by means of a laser light panel and a camera, which allows precise detection of the movement. This interface device, through the use of a laser plane generated by a limited number of emitters, is particularly advantageous for obtaining a large-sized panel compatible with the need to measure morphological indices and anthropometric parameters relating to the subject's limbs, for measure motor skills and abilities.

The apparatus according to the invention advantageously allows to provide a reference metric to compare people with different characteristics for age, sex, motor and intellectual abilities and normalize them in order to be able to provide a certification of the motor characteristics of the individual.

The apparatus according to the invention allows, in fact, through total automation, to evaluate the subjects without the intervention of the operator, thus eliminating all operator-dependent errors.

The apparatus according to the invention advantageously has a playful method, for which the user, being in a playful environment, does not have the perception of being subjected to tests, thus facilitating the collection of realistic information; the conditions are created for obtaining data as close as possible to the potential of the subject.

Furthermore, the apparatus according to the invention allows to obtain a transversal analysis of several motor parameters at the same time and can compare motor skills over time, by storing the test data in the database. In particular, the apparatus according to the invention can examine motor skills in pre- and post-trauma conditions.

In the context of the advantages indicated above, the detection technology adopted, which detects the movement of at least a part of the subject's body through the contact of this part of the body with a plane of laser light, involves further advantageous aspects.

The multitouch panel 12 with laser detection, light diffusion layer and camera recording 20 is advantageously more suitable for following continuous movements, compared for example to a conventional touch screen display, for example resistive, even if of the multitouch type , and not only suitable for recording user touches, even if made in several points at the same time. Compared to a resistive multi-touch display, the IR-LLP panel used by the apparatus according to the invention has a greater precision necessary to follow the movement and operates complex detections and controls. Furthermore, compared to other multitouch technologies, such as capacitive technology, the IR-LLP panel does not require specific receivers, nor does it require, furthermore, the large number of emitters necessary to obtain sufficient precision in LED multitouch technology.

The IR-LLP panel also has numerous advantages related to the need to have a large multi-touch surface in order to perform the assessment of motor skills, detecting the movement of the limbs over extended fields of movement. For example, the dimensions, width and length of the surface of the panel must be such as to allow the measurement of the necessary anthropometric parameters, such as the opening of the subject's arms, as described above. Therefore, it is clear that this panel generally has such dimensions comparable with the anthropometric parameters to be measured, in particular higher than one meter:

â— an advantage connected to the use of an IR-LLP type panel is that it does not envisage the use of a specific contact surface, unlike, for example, techniques that require layers of silicone to be spread on the surface to diffuse infrared radiation , therefore this panel can use glass or acrylic or any other material without distinction. This is advantageous for choosing the most suitable material for a large panel;

â— in addition, the lasers of the IR-LLP panel ensure illumination even in the center of the screen, obviating the risk that this center may be poorly lit due to the large size of the screen required, in particular if the illumination comes from the edges of the screen. frame;

â— the IR-LLP technique is also less sensitive to external light, this advantage being very relevant for a large panel, which allows a lot of external light to pass, compromising the precise acquisition of blobs by the camera;

Therefore, compared in particular to resistive and capacitive screens, the IR-LLP technique presents clear advantages in terms of cost and feasibility with the dimensions indicated above.

Finally, the IR-LLP technique also has simple and easily scalable setup and calibration operations.

Naturally, the details of construction and the embodiments may be widely varied with respect to what has been described and illustrated without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

The apparatus according to the invention is preferably intended to interact with parts of the body such as fingers or hands, but can be used with any other part of the body that can produce a blob on the tactile interface. In the case of an interface that foresees the interaction with the feet, or even with the feet, it is possible to foresee a panel arranged horizontally.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for performing the quantitative assessment of motor skills of at least one part of the body (100) of a subject (700), comprising an interface device configured to detect movements of the subject (700) and processing means (41, 42, 43) to analyze data detected by said interface device (10), characterized in that said interface device (10) comprises a multi-touch tactile panel (12) which detects the movement of said at least one part of the body (100) of the subject (700) by contacting said at least one part of the body (100) with a laser light plane (13), a camera (20) configured to take images of a surface of said touch panel (12), said processing means (41) being configured to acquire said images of said touch panel (12) and identify in said images points (22) in which said at least one part of the body (100) of the moving subject (700) touches said plane of laser light (13). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said touch panel (12) comprises a frame comprising laser emitters (13a) emitting light in a plane parallel to the touch panel (12). 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said video camera (12) films the surface of the panel (12) opposite to the tactile surface. 4. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a video projector (14) projecting images in rear projection on the surface of the panel (12) opposite its tactile surface. 5. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said multi-touch touch panel (12) is arranged vertically with respect to a stationary position of the subject (800). 6. Procedure for carrying out the quantitative assessment of the motor skills of a subject (700), which comprises placing the subject (700) at a determined distance (800) from an apparatus for the evaluation of motor skills according to one of claims 1 to 5, operating a test procedure (300) comprising projecting (14) one or more tests requiring the subject to touch (100) at one or more points (22) the touch panel (12), take (20) images of a surface of said touch panel (12), acquire (1) said images of said touch panel (12) and identify (400) in said images points (22) in which said at least one part of the body ( 100) of the moving subject (700) touches this plane of laser light (13), associating with said identified points touch events (E_ID (x, y)), providing said touch events (E_ID (x, y)) to said test procedure (300) to operate the quantitative evaluation of motor skills. 7. Process according to claim 6, characterized in that said test procedure (300) comprises a calibration procedure (310) for entering or measuring data of the subject (700), in particular anthropometric parameters comprising one or more of height, weight , maximum horizontal opening of the arms. Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it comprises recognizing by means of said video camera (20) an identification code of the subject (700), in particular a QR code. 9. Process according to claim 6 or 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises managing (500) one or more databases (510; 520) included in said processing means (41, 42, 43) to perform one or more of the following operations: store the identification data of the users (700) and the corresponding identification codes (QR_ID), store user calibration data (700) memorize the sessions carried out by users (700), memorize the results of the tests carried out during these sessions.