Development and evaluation of applications for mobility assistive devices

移动辅助设备应用程序的开发和评估

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-04764
• 负责人: Archambault, Philippe
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: McGill University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=716820
• 关键词: Development; evaluation; applications; mobility; assistive

Risks of manual wheelchair (MWC) use include falls and repetitive shoulder injury from long-term use, which can both be decreased through adequate training. Virtual reality (VR) can provide a safe and motivating environment to practice MWC skills. Further, VR can implement motor learning strategies, such as augmented feedback (information in addition to what is naturally perceived during the task) and error augmentation (amplifying performance error). However, effects of these motor learning strategies have been studied in the context of simple tasks, such as rapidly reaching to a target and not for ecological or complex tasks, such as MWC skills. Another question is the amount of VR realism necessary for learning to occur. Increased realis requires more complex and expensive hardware, while not necessarily needed for motor learning. Over the last 12 years, my research has focused on the development of the McGill Wheelchair Simulator (miWe). While initially developed for power wheelchair driving, the simulator has been extended to MWC. The manual miWe is low-cost, running on a standard computer interfaced with a custom-made haptic interface that provides force feedback (MWC). SA1. Determine the effects of VR realism on MWC balance skills learning We will first update the virtual avatar of the simulator by adding a body linked to the virtual MWC by a viscoelastic element, which will be controlled through the user's own trunk movements. Participants (healthy adults) will practice maintaining their balance in a virtual scenario consisting of forward and side slopes, while viewing the scene either through a head-mounted display or a regular computer screen. We will measure the effects of display type on learning of MWC balance skills, as well as retention (after 2 days) and transfer to real MWC balance skills. We will also compare the effects of postural information by comparing learning of balance skills in the low-cost miWe simulator, and a high-fidelity MWC simulator that will be built through CFI funding. SA2. Optimize MWC skill learning and retention through augmented feedback and error augmentation We will compare learning and retention of MWC propulsion/balance skills and 2-day retention in nave, healthy adults, while they practice in the miWe simulator, as well as transfer to real world skills. We will evaluate the effects of different augmented feedback schedules (after every trial, with decreasing frequency or no feedback) as well as error augmentation on motor learning. This research program will allow the training of HQPs in a multidisciplinary environment (1 PhD, 4 MSc and 5 undergraduate students). Results will advance knowledge on the applicability of motor learning strategies and on the role of realism, in the context of complex skills in VR. Results will also validate the use of the simulator as a training tool for MWC propulsion and balance skills, as well as transfer of learning to real life situations.

使用手动轮椅（MWC）的风险包括跌倒和长期使用造成的重复性肩伤，这两种风险都可以通过适当的训练来降低。虚拟现实（VR）可以提供一个安全和激励的环境来练习MWC技能。此外，VR可以实施运动学习策略，如增强反馈（任务中自然感知的信息之外的信息）和错误增强（放大性能错误）。然而，这些运动学习策略的影响已经在简单任务（如快速到达目标）的背景下进行了研究，而不是在生态或复杂任务（如MWC技能）中进行研究。另一个问题是学习所需的VR现实性。增强现实需要更复杂和昂贵的硬件，而运动学习并不一定需要。在过去的12年里，我的研究一直集中在麦吉尔轮椅模拟器（miWe）的发展。虽然最初是为电动轮椅驾驶开发的，但模拟器已扩展到MWC。手动miWe是低成本的，在一个标准的计算机界面上运行，带有定制的触觉界面，提供力反馈（MWC）。