http://www.jneuroengrehab.com/content/10/1/90/abstract
Abstract (provisional)
Background
Older adults are the most prevalent wheelchair users in Canada. Yet, cognitive impairments
may prevent an older adult from being allowed to use a powered wheelchair due to safety
and usability concerns. To address this issue, an add-on Intelligent Wheelchair System
(IWS) was developed to help older adults with cognitive impairments drive a powered
wheelchair safely and effectively. When attached to a powered wheelchair, the IWS
adds a vision-based anti-collision feature that prevents the wheelchair from hitting
obstacles and a navigation assistance feature that plays audio prompts to help users
manoeuvre around obstacles.
Methods
A two stage evaluation was conducted to test the efficacy of the IWS. Stage One: Environment
of Use -- the IWS's anti-collision and navigation features were evaluated against
objects found in a long-term care facility. Six different collision scenarios (wall,
walker, cane, no object, moving and stationary person) and three different navigation
scenarios (object on left, object on right, and no object) were performed. Signal
detection theory was used to categorize the response of the system in each scenario.
Stage Two: User Trials -- single-subject research design was used to evaluate the
impact of the IWS on older adults with cognitive impairment. Participants were asked
to drive a powered wheelchair through a structured obstacle course in two phases:
1) with the IWS and 2) without the IWS. Measurements of safety and usability were
taken and compared between the two phases. Visual analysis and phase averages were
used to analyze the single-subject data.
Results
Stage One: The IWS performed correctly for all environmental anti-collision and navigation
scenarios. Stage Two: Two participants completed the trials. The IWS was able to limit
the number of collisions that occurred with a powered wheelchair and lower the perceived
workload for driving a powered wheelchair. However, the objective performance (time
to complete course) of users navigating their environment did not improve with the
IWS.
Conclusions
This study shows the efficacy of the IWS in performing with a potential environment
of use, and benefiting members of its desired user population to increase safety and
lower perceived demands of powered wheelchair driving.
Great article..lots of advances in design and technology for the wheelchair helping create ease for those using them. hopefully we will be able to move forward in creating and designing features to suit everyone.
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