Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA.
Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2022 Oct;17(7):815-827. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2020.1818135. Epub 2020 Sep 14.
To enable power wheelchair users with limited mobility to safely and independently charge their wheelchairs.
Stakeholders of multiple roles - including potential users, their caregivers, and clinicians with specifically relevant expertise - were engaged in a user-centred design process. Initial informal interviews, focus groups, online surveys, prototype demonstrations, semi-structured interviews, and expert reviews were utilized to guide development and iteratively evaluate prototypes.
The resulting wireless charging system enables independent charging while also significantly increasing capacity and charging speed. Autonomous positioning and remote control features further address the particular use cases of the target population, and vital features of existing power wheelchairs are retained according to stakeholder input. Pertinent topics emerging from stakeholder input are discussed.
Careful application of user-centred design principles is essential to the successful development of usable assistive technology devices, particularly for target populations with complex disabilities. The diverse perspectives of all relevant stakeholders must be considered and synthesized to produce a practical and usable solution.Implications for rehabilitationBattery charge is a constant and critical concern for power wheelchair users.Many power wheelchair users cannot independently use and monitor existing chargers.A wireless wheelchair charging system was developed to alleviate this issue.Sustained user engagement is crucial in the effective development of such assistive technology.
使行动不便的动力轮椅使用者能够安全、独立地为轮椅充电。
包括潜在使用者、他们的护理人员以及具有特定相关专业知识的临床医生在内的多个角色的利益相关者参与了以用户为中心的设计过程。初始的非正式访谈、焦点小组、在线调查、原型演示、半结构化访谈和专家审查被用于指导开发和迭代评估原型。
所产生的无线充电系统能够实现独立充电，同时显著提高充电容量和速度。自主定位和远程控制功能进一步针对目标人群的特定使用情况进行了优化，并且根据利益相关者的反馈保留了现有电动轮椅的重要功能。讨论了从利益相关者反馈中出现的相关主题。
仔细应用以用户为中心的设计原则对于可使用的辅助技术设备的成功开发至关重要，特别是对于具有复杂残疾的目标人群。必须考虑和综合所有相关利益相关者的不同观点，以提供实用且可用的解决方案。
电池充电是动力轮椅使用者持续关注的关键问题。许多动力轮椅使用者无法独立使用和监控现有的充电器。开发了一种无线轮椅充电系统来解决这个问题。持续的用户参与对于此类辅助技术的有效开发至关重要。
