End user evaluation of a Kneeling Wheelchair with “on the fly” adjustable seating functions

Abstract

A "kneeling" ultralight wheelchair prototype has been developed that allows users to adjust seat position "on the fly" for different activities throughout the day. The wheelchair includes independent adjustment functions for rear seat height, front seat height ("kneeling") and backrest angle. Aim: This work aimed to gather feedback about the wheelchair's functionality and performance through end user evaluation trials. Methods: Eight manual wheelchair users evaluated the prototype Kneeling Wheelchair for a range of activities. User perspectives on parameters such as usability, comfort, stability and effectiveness were obtained through both open-ended and Likert-scale rating questions. Results: Results indicate several potential benefits of the adjustment functions of the Kneeling Wheelchair. Rear seat height adjustment may facilitate a number of activities of daily living, as well as provide benefits for comfort and social interactions. Back rest adjustment may increase comfort and stability on slopes. Front seat height adjustment may be beneficial for transfers and conducting sustained low-to-the-ground activities. While benefits of this adjustment function were described by many participants, some struggled with usability of the kneeling mechanism and rated this function less favourably than the other two. Conclusion: The findings of this study will inform future iterations of the Kneeling Wheelchair design and may spur future developments in wheeled mobility. In the long-term, it is anticipated that novel wheelchair solutions, such as the one described in this paper, may support improved health, quality of life and community participation for people with mobility impairments. Implications for rehabilitation Wheelchairs that allow users to easily adjust seat and backrest position "on the fly" to better suit different tasks throughout the day may provide benefits such as facilitating activities of daily living. A front seat height adjustment feature on a new wheelchair prototype may be beneficial for transfers and conducting sustained low-to-the ground activities. End user evaluations can provide valuable insight to direct future design modifications and innovation.

Identification of Challenges and Best Practices for Including Users with Disabilities in User-Based Testing

“…Providing enough time for completing the tasks Complete novelty, limited experience, or unfamiliarity may impact the results [54], as they affect the time needed to complete the tasks, especially in poor prioritization of testing objectives or unclear time constraints. In the case of including users with disabilities in the testing process, it is necessary to pay special attention to task completion time limits.…”

“…Providing controlled environment testing conditions comparable to those in the real environment When conducting user-based testing in a controlled lab setting, the conditions are carefully controlled to eliminate as many external factors as possible that could influence the test results to ensure reliable results. However, such a controlled lab setting may not always reflect the real-world conditions in which users will be using the product, and testing can provide results that significantly differ from those from real-world settings when users perform regular daily activities [54].…”