Usability Evaluation of a Novel Robotic Power Wheelchair for Indoor and Outdoor Navigation

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Jorge L CandiottiRory A Cooper

Abstract

To compare the Mobility Enhancement roBotic (MEBot) wheelchair's capabilities with commercial electric-powered wheelchairs (EPWs) by performing a systematic usability evaluation. Usability in effectiveness, efficacy, and satisfaction was evaluated using quantitative measures. A semistructured interview was employed to gather feedback about the users' interaction with MEBot. Laboratory testing of EPW driving performance with 2 devices in a controlled setting simulating common EPW driving tasks. A convenience sample of expert EPW users (N=12; 9 men, 3 women) with an average age of 54.7±10.9 years and 16.3± 8.1 years of EPW driving experience. Not applicable. Powered mobility clinical driving assessment (PMCDA), Satisfaction Questionnaire, National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Task Load Index. Participants were able to perform significantly higher number of tasks (P=.004), with significantly higher scores in both the adequacy-efficacy (P=.005) and the safety (P=.005) domains of the PMCDA while using MEBot over curbs and cross-slopes. However, participants reported significantly higher mental demand (P=.005) while using MEBot to navigate curbs and cross-slopes due to MEBot's complexity to perform its mobility applications...Continue Reading

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