scholarly journals Powered Wheelchair Platform for Assistive Technology Development

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Henderson ◽  
Stephen Kelly ◽  
Robert Horne ◽  
Michael Gillham ◽  
Matthew Pepper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Powered Wheelchair ◽  
Wheelchair Platform

Involving people with dementia and their informal caregivers in the development process of assistive technology: Description and evaluation of a user-centered design (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris A.G.M. Geerts ◽  
Liselore J.A.E Snaphaan ◽  
Inge M.B. Bongers
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Field Study ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
User Centered

BACKGROUND Despite the potential value of assistive technology to support people with dementia (PWD) in everyday activities, use of these technologies is still limited. To ensure that assistive technologies better address the specific needs and daily context of PWD and their informal caregivers, it is particularly important to involve them in all different phases of assistive technology development. The literature rarely describes the involvement of PWD throughout the development process of assistive technologies, which makes it difficult to further reflect on and improve active involvement of PWD. OBJECTIVE This two-part study aimed to gather insights on the user-centered design (UCD) applied in the development process of the alpha prototype of the serious game PLAYTIME by describing the methods and procedures of the UCD as well as evaluating the UCD from the perspective of all involved stakeholders. METHODS The first three phases of the user-driven Living Lab of Innovate Dementia 2.0 were applied to directly involve PWD and their informal caregivers through qualitative research methods, including focus groups and a context-field study, in the development of the alpha prototype of PLAYTIME from exploration to design to testing. After the testing phase, a total number of 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted with PWD, their informal caregivers and the project members of PLAYTIME to evaluate the applied UCD from the perspective of all involved stakeholders. The interviews addressed five of the principles for successful UCD and the appropriateness of the different methods used in the focus groups and context-field study. RESULTS Results of the interviews focused, amongst others, on the level of involvement of PWD and their informal caregivers in the development process, the input provided by PWD and their informal caregivers, the value of early prototyping, continuous iterations of design solutions and in-context testing, the role of dementia care professionals in the multidisciplinary project team, and the appropriateness of open- and closed-ended questions for obtaining input from PWD and their informal caregivers. CONCLUSIONS The description and evaluation of the UCD applied in the development process of the alpha prototype of PLAYTIME resulted in several insights on the relevance of UCD for all involved stakeholders as well as how PWD can be involved in the subsequent phases of usable and meaningful assistive technology development.

scholarly journals A WEB-BASED MOBILE APPLICATION TO SUPPORT SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT IN PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S465-S466
Author(s):  
Hayley R McCarron ◽  
Rachel Zmora ◽  
Joseph E Gaugler
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Manage Care

Abstract Assistive technology has been recognized as a promising tool to improve the lives of persons living with dementia and their caregivers. The use of assistive technology in dementia care is expanding, although it is most often applied to manage care and promote safety. There is a lack of assistive technology designed to aid persons with dementia to participate in meaningful activities. The present study utilizes a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) design to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effects of an assistive technology device, the Social Support Aid (SSA), designed to assist persons with dementia engage in social interaction. Quantitative data were collected initially and three and six months later, and participants in the technology group participated in qualitative interviews. Feasibility and utility scores indicated that participants felt neutral about the technology. Use of the SSA was not significantly associated with changes in quality of social interactions or quality of life measures over the six months of follow-up (P > .05). The qualitative analysis revealed three themes that described how and why the SSA worked or did not: (1) outcomes (2) reasons why (not) useful and (3) recommendations. There is a need to develop effective assistive technology that improves the quality of life of persons with dementia. Assistive technology that allows persons living with dementia to maintain some level of autonomy should be a priority for future research. Results provide recommendations for future assistive technology development and evaluation.

scholarly journals Psychosocial Impact of Powered Wheelchair, Users’ Satisfaction and Their Relation to Social Participation

Technologies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Domingues ◽  
Pinheiro ◽  
Silveira ◽  
Francisco ◽  
Jutai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Psychosocial Impact ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Related Services ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Wheelchair Users ◽  
Powered Wheelchair ◽  
Positive Effects

Several studies showed positive effects of assistive technologies on psychosocial impact and participation of adults with mobility impairments. The purpose of this study was to assess the psychosocial and participation impact of powered wheelchairs. Participants were thirty persons with disabilities who use powered wheelchairs with diverse medical conditions. The Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology, the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale and the Activities and Participation Profile Related to Mobility were used, in addition to demographic, clinical and wheelchair related questions. The participants were satisfied with both the assistive technology and related services, with the lowest satisfaction scores belonging to those who had been using their wheelchairs for a longer period of time. We noticed significant restrictions in participation mostly among persons with longer wheelchair utilization. The most satisfied were the ones with better performance in terms of social participation. Psychosocial scores showed a positive impact with higher adaptability among persons who transitioned from a manual compared to those who already had a powered wheelchair. There was a positive psychosocial impact and therefore an increase in quality of life of its users.

scholarly journals Development of assistive technology for the visually impaired: use of the male condom

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 1158-1164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giselly Oseni Laurentino Barbosa ◽  
Luana Duarte Wanderley ◽  
Cristiana Brasil de Almeida Reboucas ◽  
Paula Marciana Pinheiro de Oliveira ◽  
Lorita Marlena Freitag Pagliuca
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Diseases ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Penile Prosthesis ◽  
Development Study ◽  
Effective Factors ◽  
Male Condom ◽  
Sexually Transmitted

The objectives were to develop and evaluate an assistive technology for the use of the male condom by visually impaired men. It was a technology development study with the participation of seven subjects. Three workshops were performed between April and May of 2010; they were all filmed and the statements of the participants were transcribed and analyzed by content. Three categories were established: Sexuality of the visually impaired; Utilization of the text, For avoiding STDs, condoms we will use, divided in two subcategories, Concept discussion and Text evaluation; and Construction of a simple penile prosthesis. The knowledge transmitted related to STD, the utilization of the condom on the penile prosthesis made by the subjects themselves, and the interaction during the workshops were effective factors for the study. In the context of sexual health, the necessity of developing works involving the visually impaired was noted, addressing sexually transmitted diseases and focusing on the use of the condom by this population.

Shaping the Development and Use of Intelligent Assistive Technologies in Dementia

2019 ◽  
pp. 130-144
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Hildt
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Codes Of Conduct ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Ethical Principles ◽  
User Perspective ◽  
Future Directions

This chapter aims to offer some general thoughts on the development and use of intelligent assistive technologies in dementia. Based on an analysis of ethical principles and concepts, guidelines, recommendations, and codes of conduct in the field broadly construed, the text argues for an approach that takes the user perspective, in particular the users’ abilities, wishes, and goals, more clearly into consideration in intelligent assistive technology development and use. Although the reflections may have implications for caregivers, family members, and others involved in the care of persons with dementia, they are not so much intended to guide individual, patient-directed decision making as to address future directions for technology development and use in a more general way.

scholarly journals Modern technology assists disabled competitors: the first “Cybathlon” special competition in Zürich

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Włodzimierz S. Erdmann ◽  
Piotr Aschenbrenner ◽  
Vasilios Giovanis
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Disabled People ◽  
Powered Wheelchair ◽  
Powered Exoskeleton ◽  
Race 2 ◽  
Free Environment ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
Race 4

Purpose: The purpose of the study was presentation of modern bioengineering technology in order to help people with severe disabilities. Methods: Bioengineering industry can offer severely disabled people several devices in order to enable them to take part in the competition different than Paralympics. The first international competition for people with disabilities supported by modern assistive technology, such as sensors, motors, displays were allowed to compete in Cybathlon held in Zürich in 2016. About 70 athletes and their teams from 25 countries appeared at the event. Results: There were six disciplines (races): 1) Powered Arms (Upper Extremities) Prostheses Race, 2) Powered Legs (Lower Extremities) Prostheses Race, 3) Powered Wheelchair Race, 4) Powered Exoskeleton Race, 5) Functional Electrical Stimulation Bike Race, 6) Brain-Computer Interface Race. About a quarter of the teams represented industry and the rest represented university laboratories. Conclusions: The competition was a success. The organisers have decided for it to be organized every four years, just like the Olympic Games for able bodied competitors. The main inventor of the event professor Robert Riener from Zürich Polytechnic (ETHZ) said assistive technology should: a) be user-friendly b) to function well, c) be affordable, d) to be used within the barrier-free environment.

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