title: Intelligent single switch wheelchair navigation.
abstract: We have developed an intelligent single switch scanning interface and wheelchair navigation assistance system, called intelligent single switch wheelchair navigation (ISSWN), to improve driving safety, comfort and efficiency for individuals who rely on single switch scanning as a control method. ISSWN combines a standard powered wheelchair with a laser rangefinder, a single switch scanning interface and a computer. It provides the user with context sensitive and task specific scanning options that reduce driving effort based on an interpretation of sensor data together with user input. Trials performed by 9 able-bodied participants showed that the system significantly improved driving safety and efficiency in a navigation task by significantly reducing the number of switch presses to 43.5% of traditional single switch wheelchair navigation (p < 0.001). All participants made a significant improvement (39.1%; p < 0.001) in completion time after only two trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA. hyk21@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Hyun W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Ka
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Younghyun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012371:Robotics; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014910:Wheelchairs; D055815:Young Adult