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: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=739707
• 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 naïve, 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.

手动轮椅（MWC）使用的风险包括长期使用导致的福尔斯跌倒和重复性肩部损伤，这两种风险都可以通过适当的培训来降低。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可以实现运动学习策略，例如增强反馈（除了在任务期间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效果已经在简单任务的背景下进行了研究，例如快速达到目标，而不是生态或复杂的任务，例如MWC技能。另一个问题是学习发生所需的VR现实主义的数量。增加的realis需要更复杂和昂贵的硬件，而不一定需要运动学习。在过去的12年里，我的研究重点是麦吉尔轮椅模拟器（miWe）的开发。虽然最初是为电动轮椅驾驶开发的，但该模拟器已扩展到MWC。手动miWe是低成本的，运行在一个标准的计算机接口与定制的触觉接口，提供力反馈（MWC）。SA 1.确定虚拟现实对MWC平衡技能学习的影响我们将首先更新模拟器的虚拟化身，通过添加一个由粘弹性元件连接到虚拟MWC的身体，这将通过用户自己的躯干运动来控制。参与者（健康成年人）将在一个由前坡和侧坡组成的虚拟场景中练习保持平衡，同时通过头戴式显示器或普通电脑屏幕观看场景。我们将测量显示类型对MWC平衡技能学习的影响，以及保留（2天后）和转移到真实的MWC平衡技能。我们还将通过比较低成本miWe模拟器中平衡技能的学习来比较姿势信息的影响，以及将通过CFI资助建造的高保真MWC模拟器。SA 2.通过增强反馈和错误增强优化MWC技能学习和保持我们将比较MWC推进/平衡技能的学习和保持，以及天真健康成年人在miWe模拟器中练习时的2天保持，以及转移到真实的世界技能。我们将评估不同的增强反馈时间表（每次试验后，频率降低或没有反馈）以及错误增强对运动学习的影响。该研究计划将允许在多学科环境中培训HQP（1名博士，4名硕士和5名本科生）。结果将推进知识的运动学习策略的适用性和现实主义的作用，在VR中的复杂技能的背景下。结果还将验证使用模拟器作为MWC推进和平衡技能的训练工具，以及将学习转移到真实的生活中。