An Electric Wheelchair Mounted Robotic Arm—A Survey of Potential Users

Adams

Prior

2009

Univ Access Inf Soc

This paper describes a technique using dimensional analysis that so far has been rarely, if ever, used in studies of universal access. However, this procedure can produce a robust decision support process for inclusive designs. In this paper, it is applied to a case study of a wheelchair robot computer interface with choices in data input methods, addressing disparate requirements of different groups of intended users. The main underlying issue is to combine technical measurements, speed of operation and cost with subjective opinion. It turns out that Braglia's method has greater robustness in determining rank compared to standard techniques. In this, case a simple switch was rated better than a mouse or voice operation for control.

“…Prior [20] performed an analysis of user requirements. A survey of 50 individuals with various disabilities identified the activities that were either difficult or impossible to perform.…”

Section: Defining Diverse User Requirementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating choice in universal access: an example from rehabilitation robotics

Adams

Prior

2009

Univ Access Inf Soc

“…For the current application, user tasks were first described informally by considering how an able-bodied person may undertake the task [10], or how similar tasks are achieved with existing rehabilitation robotic systems from video footage of the Manus, Handy-1 and RAID systems [11]. It was not clear ab initio what parameters would be acceptable to disabled users, as most would be totally unused to the capabilities of such a robotic assistive device.…”

Section: Modelling User Tasksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation methods for an accessible user interface for a rehabilitation robot

Parsons¹,

Warner

et al. 2006

Univ Access Inf Soc

This paper describes the research methods required for the development and validation of a user interface for a wheelchair mounted manipulator for use by severely disabled persons. It explains the construction of the interface using tasks to define the user interface architecture. It outlines the experiments used to evaluate the user responses and draws conclusions about the effectiveness of the whole system. A systematic procedure is defined to obtain numerical estimates of the effectiveness of task analysis for individual use. This approach marries engineering procedures with a consideration of the human interaction. The prototype robot used several gesture recognition systems to achieve a better level of accessibility and usability than other robots used for rehabilitation at this time. Two different approaches to user interfaces were tested with different input devices.

“…An analysis of user requirements was performed by Prior [1], [21]. The survey of 50 individuals with various disabilities identified the activities that were either difficult or impossible to perform, and established a number of tasks that people would wish to undertake with a robotic device.…”

Section: Defining User Requirementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Middlesex University rehabilitation robot

Parsons¹,

Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology

Prior

et al. 2005

This paper describes the development of an electrically powered wheelchairmounted manipulator for use by severely disabled persons. A detailed review is given explaining the specification. It describes the construction of the device and its' control architecture. The prototype robot used several gesture recognition and other input systems. The system has been tested on disabled and non-disabled users. They observed that it was easy to use but about 50% slower than comparable systems before design modifications were incorporated.