Development and evaluation of applications for mobility assistive devices

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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.