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Preliminary evaluation of a variable compliance joystick for people with multiple sclerosis. Harshal P. Mahajan, PhD; Donald M. Spaeth, PhD; Brad E. Dicianno, MD; Karl Brown, MS; Rory A. Cooper, PhD. Aim
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Preliminary evaluation of a variable compliance joystick for people with multiple sclerosis Harshal P. Mahajan, PhD; Donald M. Spaeth, PhD; Brad E. Dicianno, MD; Karl Brown, MS; Rory A. Cooper, PhD
Aim • Evaluate whether participants with multiple sclerosis (MS) can drive electrical powered wheelchairs better with a variable compliance joystick (VCJ) and customizable algorithms or with a conventional wheelchair joystick. • Relevance • Upper-limb fatigue may restrict people with MS from using their electrical powered wheelchair effectively and for long periods.
Method • 11 participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups. • To complete virtual wheelchair driving tasks, each group used either VCJ in compliant or noncompliant isometric mode and a: • Standard algorithm. • Personally fitted algorithm. • Personally fitted algorithm with fatigue adaptation running in background.
Results • Participants with MS showed better driving performance metrics while using customized algorithms than while using standard algorithm with VCJ.
Conclusion • Fatigue adaptation algorithms are especially beneficial in improving overall task performance while using VCJ in isometric mode. • VCJ, along with personally fitted algorithms and fatigue adaptation algorithms, is a potentially effective input interface for wheelchairs.