A Bibliometric Analysis of Human-Machine Interaction Methodology for Electric-Powered Wheelchairs Driving from 1998 to 2020

Electric power wheelchairs (EPWs) enhance the mobility capability of the elderly and the disabled, while the human-machine interaction (HMI) determines how well the human intention will be precisely delivered and how human-machine system cooperation will be efficiently conducted. A bibliometric quantitative analysis of 1154 publications related to this research field, published between 1998 and 2020, was conducted. We identified the development status, contributors, hot topics, and potential future research directions of this field. We believe that the combination of intelligence and humanization of an EPW HMI system based on human-machine collaboration is an emerging trend in EPW HMI methodology research. Particular attention should be paid to evaluating the applicability and benefits of the EPW HMI methodology for the users, as well as how much it contributes to society. This study offers researchers a comprehensive understanding of EPW HMI studies in the past 22 years and latest trends from the evolutionary footprints and forward-thinking insights regarding future research.

Power Wheelchair Virtual Reality Simulator with Vestibular Feedback

Autonomy and the ability to maintain social activities can be challenging for people with disabilities experiencing reduced mobility. In the case of disabilities that impact mobility, power wheelchairs can help such people retain or regain autonomy. Nonetheless, driving a power wheelchair is a complex task that requires a combination of cognitive, visual and visuo-spatial abilities. In practice, people need to pass prior ability tests and driving training before being prescribed a power wheelchair by their therapist. Still, conventional training in occupational therapy can be insufficient for some people with severe cognitive and/or visio-spatial functions. As such, these people are often prevented from obtaining a power wheelchair prescription from their therapist due to safety concerns. In this context, driving simulators might be efficient and promising tools to provide alternative, adaptive, flexible, and safe training. In previous work, we proposed a Virtual Reality (VR) driving simula-integrating vestibular feedback to simulate wheelchair motion sensations. The performance and acceptability of a VR simulator rely on satisfying user Quality of Experience (QoE). Therefore, our simulator is designed to give the user a high Sense of Presence (SoP) and low Cyber-sickness. This paper presents a pilot study assessing the impact of the vestibular feedback provided on user QoE. Participants were asked to perform a driving task whilst in the simulator under two conditions: with and without vestibular feedback. User QoE is assessed through subjective questionnaires measuring user SoP and cyber-sickness. The results show that vestibular feedback activation increases SoP and decreases cyber-sickness. This study constitutes a mandatory step before clinical trials and, as such, only enrolled people without disabilities.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE USABILITY SCALE FOR POWER WHEELCHAIRS AND ITS APPLICATION IN POWER WHEELCHAIRS USERS IN KOREA

More of power wheelchair users’ needs have to be met in the making of power wheelchairs. However, there has been no usability scale for the power wheelchair that is specifically focusing on the users’ needs. The purpose of this study was to test and validate a usability scale for power wheelchairs (USPW). The USPW has been developed through interviews with power wheelchair and consultations with a panel of experts. The USPW consists of four evaluation categories (safety, operation, efficiency, and satisfaction). In order to validate it, its usability and the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction Assistive Technology (QUEST) were also administered to 50 power wheelchair users. The USPW was extracted 12 items from safety, 7 from operation, 5 from efficiency, and 14 from satisfaction, with a total of 38 items. The content validity met the criteria. The total internal consistency (Cronbach’s [Formula: see text]) of the USPW was 0.75. Users of power wheelchair demanded that the safety of moving on the slopes, the satisfaction of storage space for power wheelchairs, and the repair service process would be improved. The correlation between the USPW and the QUEST was significant ([Formula: see text]). The USPW may be very useful to evaluate overall usability of power wheelchair including its safety, operability, efficiency, and satisfaction. The developed usability scale (USPW) may help wheelchair makers become aware of the problems of present power wheelchairs and the users’ needs, allowing them to make better ones.

Evaluation of a touch interface for the control of electric wheelchairs for people suffering from neuromuscular diseases

International audience Power wheelchairs remain an efficient means of regaining mobility for many people around the world. Unfortunately, some are not able to use power wheelchairs because of difficulties using a standard joystick. People with neuromuscular diseases who experience a loss in muscular strength find it difficult to use of a joystick. In this paper, we explore steering power wheelchairs using a tactile interface on a smartphone. Eleven users with neuromuscular diseases tried this type of steering in free learning sessions. Four among them were able to take part in an experiment where we evaluated their kinematic performance between the use of the tactile steering interface and the joystick. The paper presents data and observations from both sessions and tries to detect tendencies and draw hypotheses that can guide further and in-depth clinical testing of the tactile steering for wheelchair users suffering from neuromuscular diseases. Overall, the user performance with the tablet was close or the same as their performance with the joystick. In addition, the users reported a lesser level of physical demand of the tactile steering over the joystick Les fauteuils roulants électriques constituent un moyen efficace de retrouver une certaine mobilité pour de nombreuses personnes dans le monde. Malheureusement, certaines ne sont pas en mesure d'utiliser un fauteuil roulant électrique en raison de difficultés éprouvées lors de l'utilisation d'un joystick standard. Les personnes atteintes de maladies neuromusculaires souffrant d'une perte de force musculaire ont du mal à utiliser un joystick. Dans cet article, nous explorons l'utilisation d'une interface tactile sur un smartphone pour le pilotage de fauteuils roulants électriques. Onze utilisateurs atteints de maladies neuromusculaires ont testé notre prototype lors de séances d'initiation. Parmi eux, quatre ont pu participer à une expérience dans laquelle nous avons évalué leur performance cinématique lors de l’utilisation de l’interface de pilotage tactile et du joystick. Cet article présente des données et des observations issues de ces deux campagnes (initiation et évaluation), met en évidence des tendances et dégage des hypothèses qui peuvent guider versdes essais cliniques plus approfondis concernant le pilotage tactile pour des utilisateurs de fauteuils roulants souffrant de maladies neuromusculaires. Dans l’ensemble, les performances des utilisateurs avec la tablette étaient proches de celles du joystick. En outre, les utilisateurs ont signalé un sentiment de moindre fatigue physique avec l'interface tactile par rapport au joystick