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COntext
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Our client is ANDREI, a 26 year old man. He is passionate about making music and art.
Andrei has limited muscle control across his body, but he is able to move his eyes and neck in a controlled way. He also struggles with spasms. Due to his, Andrei is supported by a wheelchair whenever he is out and about. He has also worked with university students that came before us, namely the team at ABILITYTECH.
To interact and communicate, he relies on his tablet called MYTOBII that utilizes eye-tracking. With this, he can accurately type out the things he wants to say, move his wheelchair around, as well as making art and music.
Our participant
Thesis esther
Our objective is to expand Andrei's sphere of access through augmentation of his wheelchair functionality.
Drawing upon the foundational work of Esther Nijweide's Bachelor's thesis, which examined the ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks surrounding wheelchair design, we aim to enhance the safety and utility of Andrei's wheelchair. Nijweide's research underscored the imperative for an emergency stop mechanism within the wheelchair system, a conclusion that serves as the basis for our current endeavors. Leveraging Nijweide's preliminary investigations into head movements and potential button placements, we seek to advance the design of this emergency button to offer additional functionalities.
"Our GOAL is to afford Andrei enhanced autonomy and versatility in his daily activities"
Literature research
To start our design challenge, research was done, during which we came across four useful research papers which shed light on both the TECHNICAL AND EMOTIONAL DIMENSIONSof wheelchair use. The first two papers detail the mechanics of eye and head-controlled wheelchairs, while the latter two delve into users' emotional experiences and societal perceptions. This examination underscores the complex relationship between technology and emotion within the wheelchair community.
Four research papers were examined, focusing on two different types of wheelchair systems.
The first two papers delved into the technical aspects of wheelchairs controlled by eye movements and head motions, respectively. They discussed details such as software, components, signals, power, image processing, and coding. The movements of the wheelchairs, including steering and angular adjustments, were also explored.
Both wheelchair systems offered similar directional movements, but the head motion-guided wheelchairs had an additional independent on/off switch. Despite some slight error signals, the head motion-based navigation showed better accuracy compared to eye-controlled systems. The components used in each wheelchair system varied, including batteries, motors, and filters.
The other two papers focused on the emotional aspects of wheelchair use, discussing feelings such as positivity, negativity, and emotional management. They highlighted the challenges faced by wheelchair users in dealing with societal attitudes and opinions. Additionally, issues like mobility, cognition, and health were addressed.
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH:
Some additional research was done on how being in a wheelchair affects the emotions of the wheelchair’s user, as well as the people around them and the communication between those two groups. Identifying the sources of these emotions can help us as designers to possibly counteract negative preconceived associations through ways of design.
Disabled individuals experience various forms of vulnerability, including inherent vulnerability stemming from their impairment, contingent vulnerabilities caused by societal attitudes and discrimination, and ascribed global vulnerabilities where assumptions about one aspect of their disability extend to other areas of their life. These vulnerabilities can lead to social disadvantages such as limited access to education and employment opportunities.
What's more, wheelchair users often face challenges when navigating public spaces due to feelings of embarrassment and the misconceptions surrounding their disability. These misconceptions can lead to both overestimation and underestimation of their abilities, resulting in feelings of anger and frustration. However, by embracing humor and dispelling embarrassment, they can help others understand and accept their disability.
Below is an example of the different feelings that can be evoked from both parties by changing the design of a wheelchair from a regular wheelchair often found in hospitals, to a modern, stylized one.
DESIGN 1
DESIGN 2
The design of a wheelchair matters, as is shown in the study. The way people feel about a wheelchair changes when the design is more modern, as well as the feelings of the person sitting in it. This can be viewed in images above. The modern wheelchair evokes more positive emotions, such as amazement, involvement and happiness, whereas the traditional design evoked mostly negative emotions like sadness, concern and spite.
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Through thematic analysis, three main conclusions emerge.
Firstly, humor is a common coping mechanisms for wheelchair users in embarrassing situations. Secondly, while they may resort to humor, it's not always their preferred choice but rather a coping strategy when they feel limited options. Finally, wheelchair users not only contend with their disability but also with societal perceptions and reactions, leading to significant emotional challenges.
CONCLUSIONS
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