Mini projet de recherche fait dans le Institut polytechnique de Grenoble, domaine "conception de produit pour des enfants handicapés".

1. Which use of video analysis software for users-products
correlation?
RODRIGUEZ PEREZ Samuel
Tutor: GUILLAUME Thomann
Grenoble Institute of Technology
ENSGI - Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Génie Industriel
46, Avenue Félix Viallet - 38031 Grenoble cedex 1, France.
Keywords: video annotation, observation, analysis, disabled children
1 Introduction
1.1 Context
The article presents the case of 7 children with disabilities (with psychometric difficulties) who
are undergoing rehabilitation and learning within Ninon Vallin Institute of Rehabilitation. The
proposal comes from the expressive activities of children and their ability to enjoy any activity in
this case: the manipulation of an electric vehicle using a standard remote control, which is not
usable to them due to their physical capacities.
1.2 Problem Tackled
The aim of this study is to participate in the design of a new remote control panel that can be
used by disabled children: to control a toy electric vehicle that can be found on the market. This
new control panel has to be used by 7 children. To do this, we have the possibility to observe how
these selected children used standard handle remote control (they were filmed in the Ninon Vallin
institute). We have to assess their skills and ergonomic capabilities. From the analysis of these
data, we firstly propose some ways to initiate, if possible, the design of a common prototype, and
we also enrich the design methodology used in the case of user centered product.
2 Bibliography
Within of the field of ergonomics, for optimal choice of both tools and objects (that serve the
manipulation by any operator or user), it is necessary to know the reference measurements that
characterize most of the human population [1].
Thanks to discussion with specialists, we know that these measures can not be applied in the
case of disabled persons. However, based on them, we define important limitations to give us a
better understanding of the movements made by children.
We focus on design studies based on different contexts, such as collaborative design and user-
centred design (UCD). This last methodology constitutes an important theoretical basis. It allows
organizing the collection of information focused on the process design with respect to the end user.

2. UCD processes focus on users through the planning, design and development of a product. The
idea of developing usable products and services always pushed the design approaches toward
placing the user in the design process [2].
There exist different types of software’s that offer a great support for the analysis of videos
(VideoGraph windows platform, Actogram, Kronos, ANVIL, etc.). Many design observation
studies are published on various subjects such as: design Communications [3], knowledge
interaction [4, 5], and design education [6, 7]. Video recordings provide maximal data on the
subject and the situation. It can be replayed and reinterpreted, and give access to behaviors and
interactions that could have been missed by direct observation. It can reduce observers’ bias and
corroborate better the results [8, 9] .
Based in [10], the ANVIL software was selected to undertake this study. The reason is simple: it
is easy to use software for those that begin in the field of video analysis. Using the same article as a
reference shows a favorable critique to this software: « The graphical user interface of Anvil is
user friendly and it’s quite easy to perform”. “Annotations through guide windows once the
specification file is written. Anvil is a convenient tool for video annotation.
This software, still under development, is very useful. With it, we will make an intensive and
detailed analysis of the videos. It is possible to have real information of every movements and
activities made by children. This analysis will give us detailed records of information about each
movement. Moreover, it will provide to make graphics with the aim to help us to understand the
similar actions between each child. Thus it may be possible to propose a coherent and common
solution to their needs.
3 Research Questions
1. - Is it necessary to propose as much control panels solutions as children? On an other way, if
we conclude to no large differences in the disabilities, is it possible to adapt less products than
numbers of disabled children?
2. - How reliable is the analysis of videos with ANVIL software in product design?
3. - Can we propose the use of this tool as a standard one for further design projects?
4 Methodology
The kids have been filmed using the current remote control panel of the electric vehicle Form a
first view of each video, from the literature, and from an initial proposition of a solution usable by
the children; we propose an analyzing coding shape (composed of tracks and attributes defining
each tacks – see section 3 for details). Thus, the first step is to analyze each video record using
video analysis adapted software and this common coding shape. Statistics of each video can be
done concerning each track of the software configuration. Comparison of the statistics of each
video can give us some date to choice a new categorization of the children. From this
categorization, it is possible to propose:
- Modification of the initial solution for one or more disabled children,
- A new and completely different solution for the others.
5 Plan
Our plan will be firstly to apply the proposed methodology. In the next section, I explain the
chosen configuration: the analyzing coding shape of the ANVIL software. Then, after the

3. observation of the videos, I'll show graphs and compare the results. At the end, I will answer our
research questions and try to show our ideal solution.
6 Application of the Methodology
Seven use cases haves been analyzed from the manipulation of the remote control bearing by 7
kids. To understand if the children will be able to manipulate any type of remote control, two
important criteria defined by the designer are: the concentration inside the activity and the attempt
of taking remote control. We have observed that 3 of the children are not able to realizing any of
these two criteria; therefore for our study, we have decided to focus on the case of four disabled
children.
Already we identify the remaining videos that we will analyze with the ANVIL software. In the
first step, we create the different tracks: we identify the body capabilities that the majority of the
children use naturally when manipulating the remote control and which children will be able to
communicate with the remote control. It will serve us as standard reference between every video
analysis. We identify 7 tracks: sight, head, right hand, left hand, right arm, left arm, and gestures.
And for each one we find the following attributes (see table 1):
Sight Arms (R&L) Hands (R&L) Gestures
Remote control To push To close Controlled
Car To return To open Uncontrolled
View Lost To lift To Hold Smile
Displacement
to right
Displacement
to left
Table 1. - List of tracks and attributes that constitute the coding shape used
Each of these tracks is constituted of different attributes that represent the realized movements.
The parameters of observation of the head of the children have not been exploited since these us
will not be useful inside the solution that we have imagined.
The figure (1) shows ANVIL'S print screen.
(1) Control window.
(2) Display window of the video.
It shows us the analyzed video.
(3) Specification windows for (1) (2) (3)
tracks and attributes.
(4) Annotations window. Here
they prove to be organized every
track, and the times for every
attribute. (4)
(5) Attributes edition window.
To give value to the attributes. (5)
Figure 1. - Print screen of the ANVIL software

4. After analysis, exportation of the results gives excel files that contain details of times and
capacities of the movements of the children. From the excel files, it is then possible to draw
graphics.
The next graphs, demonstrate 2 important points inside our analysis. The graph (1) shows the
enjoyment of the activity: we study the gestures realized by the children according to his
expression we will know if he is able to know the activity that he realizes and know if he enjoys.
The graphs (2) shows concentration when the position of the sight studies.
Gestures Sight
100 80
smile 60 Remote control
Time
Time
50 controlled 40 car
uncontrolled 20 lost
0 0
child 1 child 2 child 3 child 4 child 1 child 2 child 3 child 4
Graph 1. - Though it is minimal the time of Graph 2. - The 4 children observe during
his smiles here exists, 4 children enjoy the most of the time the remote control and
activity. the car, this demonstrates that the 4
children understand the activity that they
realize.
In the Table (2) we describe the characteristics of every child according to the valuation,
discussion and evaluation of the information that we obtained from the analysis with ANVIL.
Child 1 Child 2 Child 3 Child 4
View He observes more the Concentrated in the Most of the time he Most of the
remote control car sees the remote time
control concentrated
in the car.
Right He can push and lift He can to do all the Uncontrolled Without
arm slowly movements perfectly movements, with movement
help he can control
Left arm He can to lift, he He can to do all the Uncontrolled He can to do
displaces slowly in both movements perfectly movements, with all the
sides, with help he can help he can control movements
to push. perfectly
Right he can open and close he can open and close he can open and Without
hand easily but he can’t to perfectly and he can close without movement
hold hold control but he can
hold
Left Without movement he can open and close he can open and he can open
hand perfectly and he can close without and close
hold control but he can perfectly and
hold he can hold
Gestures Majority of gestures are Majority of gestures Majority of Without
uncontrolled but his are uncontrolled and gestures are movement
smile exists. he smile all the time uncontrolled but his
smile exists
Table 2. - Description of the characteristics of each child

5. 7 Results
1. In our analysis and basing in our table we conclude that there won’t be necessary the design
of 4 different control panels. We have identified similar movements, which we can exploit for the
development of an only remote control for 4 children.
This control will have to satisfy the following requirements: a) To be functional, adapted to the
child and to its difficulties of movement, b) To be educational: the child will have to learn at the
same time he plays, dominating the necessary movements to the movement of the car, c) To be
easy to using and of the interest of the child: allowing that the child should not get bored rapidly.
The remote control panel, according to our proposition of solution, will have to be a remote
control of the only piece; we know that the 4 children manage to use at least one of his arms. So it
would be constituted of only one lever, this one might enter and be fixed in the main hand of the
child and he would realize all the movements: from advancing the car to moving back and to turn.
This way the child will have a major control, will not lose of sight the car and he will be able to
exploit the activity to the maximum.
2. ANVIL is very adapted software for the analysis of videos. If the analysis is realized using
the pertinent points (a pertinent selection of tracks and attributes) the results will be highly reliable.
It will be very useful to have discussions in group to evaluate and to identify the tracks and
necessary attributes that give course for effective result. If we mistake when choosing attribute in
the beginning all the work will be in risk.
ANVIL is a simple facilitator of information, the most important thing is to be able to evaluate
and think about the possible results
3 Our methodology can be applied inside of the project that wishes an analysis of video: it is
highly reliable if we exploit it correctly. the ANVIL software is usable in any area that wishes a
detailed analysis from some working place inside a line of production to the hospital areas. And
multiple form more of utilization.
8 Conclusion
In this article, we have worked on a technical problem under an aspect centered in user.
Our methodology has been a very important point, which allowed us to develop and solution the
initial problem (remote control panel of an electrical vehicle) and to answer the following research
questions:
- The necessity to propose as much control panels solutions as children
- The reliability of the video analysis with ANVIL software in product design
- The use of this tool as a standard one for further design projects
We know that this methodology can be criticized, especially for the preparation of the
configuration and the results analysis methods. That's why, for the choice of the tracks and
attributes, it’s very important the exchange opinions. Bad choices can have consequences to our
analysis and can cause erroneous solutions.
I precise to take care of specific points when using this methodology and the adapted software
for video analysis:
- Having an adapted observation of the situation (video taken by the designer) is important for
the well identify and exploitation of each movement
- The key point of our study has been the observation. A precise observation correlated with a
pertinent coding shape is normally sufficient to be able to propose an adapted solution.

6. 9 Bibliography
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