Development of an artificial intelligence algorithm for the analysis of wheelchair movements

Monitoring wheelchair user movement is an essential task for assessing a wheelchair user’s mobility and helping them maintain an active lifestyle. Research has shown that increased mobility leads to healthier overall lifestyles, and that people with disabilities are at an increased risk for sedentary lifestyles and the health problems associated with that lifestyle, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, and the development of pressure ulcers (WHO, 2014). Existing technology for analyzing wheelchair user mobility data requires the use of external sensors that must be purchased and maintained (Warms & Belza, 2004). To improve the ease by which mobility data is maintained and analyzed, a wheelchair user can utilize existing technology, such as smart mobile devices, to gather and analyze motion data. This study will focus on the development of a recurrent neural network (RNN) that is trained using wheelchair user data collected from smart devices attached to the wheelchair or wheelchair user. The benefit of collecting data this way is that it does not require the use of additional sensors or equipment, as most wheelchair users will already have access to a smart device capable of collecting movement data. The study found that it was feasible to meaningfully analyze data gathered from a smart device using an RNN. The raw data is analyzed with the RNN to gather information about the mobility of a wheelchair user. The final analysis includes the total time spent moving, number of bouts of movement, and the longest bout of movement. This resulting data could be used by a wheelchair user or healthcare professional to help assess healthy lifestyle habits

Upper Extremity Biomechanical Model for Evaluation of Pediatric Joint Demands during Wheelchair Mobility

Current methods for evaluating upper extremity (UE) dynamics during pediatric wheelchair use are limited. We propose a new model to characterize UE joint kinematics and kinetics during pediatric wheelchair mobility. The bilateral model is comprised of the thorax, clavicle, scapula, upper arm, forearm, and hand segments. The modeled joints include: sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular, glenohumeral, elbow and wrist. The model is complete and is currently undergoing pilot studies for clinical application. Results may provide considerable quantitative insight into pediatric UE joint dynamics to improve wheelchair prescription, training and long term care of children with orthopaedic disabilities

Key Accessibilities Issues (KAIs) for People with Disabilities (PwDs) at Electric Train Service (ETS) Station

The establishment of various acts and legislation for PwDs rights signify a strong ethical value and positive support from the government to ensure equal rights for all citizens. It also serves as guidelines for the professional to plan and design their projects. The Malaysian Standard (MS) 1184:2014 for instance contains six KAIs to be considered by the project team during the early planning stage to ensure continuous movement of the PwDs. On the contrary, many researchers reported that Malaysia is still lacking in considering and providing equal accessibility and facilities for this group. This paper aims to investigate whether the provision of KAIs for the PwDs provided at ETS station complies with the MS1184:2014. Three ETS stations in Perak were chosen for the case study. Document analysis of the MS1184:2014 was conducted to identify the KAIs dimensions to be provided for the PwDs at the stations. From the document analysis conducted, an observation checklist was developed to assess the availability and compliance of the KAIs dimensions with the MS1184:2014. The observation was recorded in a tabular method. From the tabulated information, the types and frequency of the availability and compliance of the facilities were determined. The research revealed that although majority of the sub-dimensions/facilities were available at the stations, they do not all comply with the MS. Some of the sub-dimensions/facilities do not function properly and cannot be used by PwDs. The physical barrier or incompliance facilities that were identified throughout the observations could be minimized to give the PwDs accessibility to use the ETS services. Besides, the ETS stations need to provide a more inclusive environment so that the PwDs can be independent and are capable to actively participate with the community. The research also suggested that when it comes to developing or creating better public transportation stations, customer feedback is crucial. The designer or the local authority should be more inventive in designing a barrier-free environment and infrastructure

Towards an intelligent wheelchair system for users with cerebral palsy

This paper describes and evaluates an intelligent wheelchair, adapted for users with cognitive disabilities and mobility impairment. The study focuses on patients with cerebral palsy, one of the most common disorders affecting muscle control and coordination, thereby impairing movement. The wheelchair concept is an assistive device that allows the user to select arbitrary local destinations through a tactile screen interface. The device incorporates an automatic navigation system that drives the vehicle, avoiding obstacles even in unknown and dynamic scenarios. It provides the user with a high degree of autonomy, independent from a particular environment, i.e., not restricted to predefined conditions. To evaluate the rehabilitation device, a study was carried out with four subjects with cognitive impairments, between 11 and 16 years of age. They were first trained so as to get acquainted with the tactile interface and then were recruited to drive the wheelchair. Based on the experience with the subjects, an extensive evaluation of the intelligent wheelchair was provided from two perspectives: 1) based on the technical performance of the entire system and its components and 2) based on the behavior of the user (execution analysis, activity analysis, and competence analysis). The results indicated that the intelligent wheelchair effectively provided mobility and autonomy to the target population.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version