ASSIST Benchmark presentation

1. ASSIST
Benchmark on assistive devices supporting A Flanders InShape project
mobility for motor disabled people www.flandersinshape.be

2. Table of
contents
1. Introduction
Aims | Approach
1. Assistive on body devices
Wheelchair | Rollator | Stander | Crutch/cane
1.Assistive environments
Travelling & transfer | Trains & planning | Input mobile devices
1. Conclusions
Conclusions | Credits

3. 1. Introduction

4. Benchmark
aims
Introduction
ASSIST benchmark Motor disabilities
Cerebral palsy
The benchmark focuses on assistive aids Spina Bifida
supporting mobility for people with motor Multiple sclerosis
disabilities. The aims of this benchmark are: Spinal cord injury
• to understand significant gaps in the field
• enhance methodological, cultural and medical Focus
Limited when walking
know-how on matters related to motor
Problems become evident in
disabilities day-to-day environment
• guide user research Challenges limit effective
participation in society
• inspire future product development
Documented in ASSIST Benchmark & ASSIST-Cards documents

5. Research
approach
Introduction
ASSIST research approach Designers ask themselves:
Enable the disabled?
The research is divided into: Or make world accessible?
Assistive on body devices : these are devices that Assistive on body devices
are always in contact with the people, and enable Support the body
Complementary to the body
the disabled, such as a wheelchair.
Not replacing body part
Assistive Environments: are not in constant
Assistive environments
contact with the user, and make the world
Differ depending on context
accessible, such as a ramp.

6. 2. Assistive on body devices

7. Overview
Assistive on body devices
Wheelchair Rollator
To relieve pressure of legs or for For people who are still able to
those who cannot stand on their stand by themselves, leaning on it
legs to support their body weight and
make walking less difficult
Stander Crutch/cane
For people that are not able to To support body weight to relieve
stand by themselves: they are fixed one (injured) leg from pressure or
by their waist to the stander, and the need to stand on it
with strength in legs, can push
forward. Support when switching
from sitting to standing

8. Wheelchair
Categories
Assistive on body devices
Opportunities
Combination of all
design focus point

9. Wheelchair
Multiple
functions
Assistive on body devices
Opportunity
People need one
special wheelchair
for every need

10. Wheelchair
Manual vs.
electric
Assistive on body devices
The must-haves of electrical wheelchair Opportunities
Evolution of electric
Advantages of manual wheelchair: wheelchair
• Transport easy: small, light and often foldable
• Large variety (style, function, etc.)
• Looks less medical and fits people’s lifestyle
• BUT travel time is limited by strength in arm,
if strength is too little, then people MUST
use an electric wheelchair

11. Wheelchair
Opportunity
Assistive on body devices
Change body position Opportunities
Standing position for people
To reach higher objects, to be able to transfer from the without strength in legs
wheelchair to other places and to feel more included Carry-on luggage wheelchair
when at the same height as everybody else. Comfortable wheelchair
Not just a device
A wheelchair is vital and not simply a tool: current
versions are too big and heavy for normal carry-on
luggage.
(dis)comfort
It is used for many continuous hours, and every day of
people’s lives, the comfort of a wheelchair is of vital
importance.

12. Rollator
Categories
Assistive on body devices
Opportunity
A portable supporting
rollator which is styled
according to lifestyle
of user

13. Rollator
Stigmatising
rollator
Assistive on body devices
Opportunity
Rollator that fits the
lifestyle of the user

14. Rollator
Opportunity
Assistive on body devices
Travelling Opportunities
Go through customs
People need to hand in their rollator before customs/ independently
security, and are then transported or need to borrow a Preferably with own device
rollator from the airport. This not only takes away the
security of a familiar and personalised device, it also
increases dependence, and positions people as being a
person with special needs, or an illness.
Everyday tasks Opportunities
A rollator can become an obstacle in everyday life. Clearly understand how a
rollator affects everyday
Therefore the everyday tasks people perform and how a tasks
rollator normally affects these tasks needs to be clearly Design support instead of
obstruction
understood.

15. Stander
Categories
Assistive on body devices
LeapFrog
A concept design that
combines a stander
and a walker
not in production

16. Stander
Opportunity
Portability
Assistive on body devices Standers must be
transported by a second
person, are often very heavy
(made out of iron rather
than light material), and
very difficult to place in a
transportation device.
Stigmatising
Particularly for this aid, it is
very clear that these are
medical devices. People who
use them are very
dependent on the aid, and
feel it very strongly, due its
size and intrusive look.
Opportunities
Portable & outdoor stander
Styling that fits lifestyle

17. Stander
Categories
Assistive on body devices
Opportunities
Re-conceive the crutch
to not look cheap and
simple
Crutch that supports
everyday life, by
designing for frequent
user and producing for
short-term user

18. 3. Assistive environments

19. Traveling Opportunities
& transfer A system should exist in
which people can take
their own wheelchair
Assistive environments onboard, locking it safely
into a seat position.
A product and service could
be made that improves
travel conditions without
vastly changing the
airplanes themselves.
Opportunities
A way to decrease the
effort needed to transfer
from wheelchair to another
chair independently

20. Opportunities
Getting in or out of a train
Trains & should not have additional
planning tasks compared to other
passengers. It is an
uncomfortable and
Assistive environments potentially embarrassing
procedure now
An intelligent ramp: press
ramp button (not
wheelchair button) to
automatically unfold a low
angle ramp. No attention of
driver needed
Opportunities
On-the-go information to
avoid the need to plan an
entire trip ahead and
therefore restricting
freedom

21. Input mobile
devices
Assistive environments
Mobile device input Opportunities for input
Eye position tracking
Many people also experience problems with hand Brain activity
coordination and fine motor movements. This means Posture/gesture detection
that using a mobile device is difficult. Haptic bracelet (movement
detection)
In order to make mobile applications available for all Switch by infrared detection
motor disabled people, an unobtrusive input device for Silent voice
mobiles must be designed.
Augmented reality
An integrated solution for motor handicapped people:
meaning a usable device, with augmented reality for
navigation to points of interest for disabled people.

22. 4. Conclusions

23. Conclusions
• Living in a wheelchair: space between devices and
environments is an interesting product development
area.
• Connecting the dots: people need to constantly re-
discover accessibility; no consistent approach.
• Mobile input device: problems with fine motor
movements (necessary to use mobile devices); an
appropriate input device is needed.
• Electric wheelchair evolution: has not evolved
like manual wheelchairs; large and not flexible.
• Design what is needed, not what is possible:
research needs to focus more on needs, not solutions.

24. Credits &
Thank you
Thank you for your attention! Address
Via Cesare Battisti 15
Written by Rogier G. Kauw-A-Tjoe and edited by Erin 10123 Torino, Italy
O’Loughlin and Mark Vanderbeeken. T +39 011 812 9687
info@experientia.com
www.experientia.com
With extensive and valuable input from Gianni
Arduini, Isabella Tiziana Steffan, Michele Visciola and
Jan-Christoph Zoels.
ASSIST is an applied research project conducted on behalf of
Flanders in Shape in cooperation with Antrim, Centrum voor
Zorgtechnologie, In-HAM and Enthoven Associates (lead partner).