Development and evaluation of applications for mobility assistive devices

移动辅助设备应用程序的开发和评估

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-04764
• 负责人: Archambault, Philippe
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: McGill University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=739707
• 关键词: Development; evaluation; applications; mobility; assistive; Development; evaluation; applications; mobility; assistive

Risks of manual wheelchair (MWC) use include falls and repetitive shoulder injury from long-term use, which can both be decreased through adequate training. Virtual reality (VR) can provide a safe and motivating environment to practice MWC skills. Further, VR can implement motor learning strategies, such as augmented feedback (information in addition to what is naturally perceived during the task) and error augmentation (amplifying performance error). However, effects of these motor learning strategies have been studied in the context of simple tasks, such as rapidly reaching to a target and not for ecological or complex tasks, such as MWC skills. Another question is the amount of VR realism necessary for learning to occur. Increased realis requires more complex and expensive hardware, while not necessarily needed for motor learning. Over the last 12 years, my research has focused on the development of the McGill Wheelchair Simulator (miWe). While initially developed for power wheelchair driving, the simulator has been extended to MWC. The manual miWe is low-cost, running on a standard computer interfaced with a custom-made haptic interface that provides force feedback (MWC). SA1. Determine the effects of VR realism on MWC balance skills learning We will first update the virtual avatar of the simulator by adding a body linked to the virtual MWC by a viscoelastic element, which will be controlled through the user's own trunk movements. Participants (healthy adults) will practice maintaining their balance in a virtual scenario consisting of forward and side slopes, while viewing the scene either through a head-mounted display or a regular computer screen. We will measure the effects of display type on learning of MWC balance skills, as well as retention (after 2 days) and transfer to real MWC balance skills. We will also compare the effects of postural information by comparing learning of balance skills in the low-cost miWe simulator, and a high-fidelity MWC simulator that will be built through CFI funding. SA2. Optimize MWC skill learning and retention through augmented feedback and error augmentation We will compare learning and retention of MWC propulsion/balance skills and 2-day retention in naïve, healthy adults, while they practice in the miWe simulator, as well as transfer to real world skills. We will evaluate the effects of different augmented feedback schedules (after every trial, with decreasing frequency or no feedback) as well as error augmentation on motor learning. This research program will allow the training of HQPs in a multidisciplinary environment (1 PhD, 4 MSc and 5 undergraduate students). Results will advance knowledge on the applicability of motor learning strategies and on the role of realism, in the context of complex skills in VR. Results will also validate the use of the simulator as a training tool for MWC propulsion and balance skills, as well as transfer of learning to real life situations.

手动轮椅（MWC）使用的风险包括长期使用的跌倒和重复的肩部损伤，这两者都可以通过足够的训练来改善。虚拟现实（VR）可以为练习MWC技能提供安全而激励的环境。此外，VR可以实施运动学习策略，例如增强反馈（除了在任务过程中自然感知的信息之外的信息）和误差增加（放大性能错误）。这些运动学习策略的效果已经在简单任务的背景下进行了研究，例如迅速实现目标，而不是针对生态或复杂的任务，例如MWC技能。另一个问题是学习发生所需的VR现实主义数量。 Realis的增加需要更复杂，更昂贵的硬件，而不一定需要进行运动学习。在过去的12年中，我的研究集中在麦吉尔轮椅模拟器（MIWE）的发展上。虽然最初是为电动轮椅驾驶开发的，但模拟器已扩展到MWC。手动MIWE是低成本的，在标准计算机接口上运行，具有定制的触觉接口，可提供力反馈（MWC）。 SA1。确定VR现实主义对MWC平衡技能学习的影响，我们将首先通过添加粘弹性元素链接到虚拟MWC的车身来更新模拟器的虚拟化身，该元素将通过用户自己的中继运动来控制。参与者（健康的成年人）将在由前槽和侧面插槽组成的虚拟场景中练习保持平衡，同时通过头部安装的显示器或常规的计算机屏幕查看场景。我们将衡量显示类型对学习MWC平衡技能以及保留（2天后）的影响，并转移到真正的MWC平衡技能。我们还将通过比较低成本MIWE模拟器中的平衡技能的学习以及将通过CFI资金构建的高保真MWC模拟器来比较姿势信息的效果。 SA2。通过增强反馈和增加错误来优化MWC技能学习和保留率，我们将比较MWC推进/平衡技能的学习和保留率，并在幼稚，健康的成年人中进行2天的保留，同时在MIWE模拟器中练习，并转移到现实世界中。我们将评估不同增强反馈时间表的影响（每次试验之后，频率下降或没有反馈）以及对运动学习的错误增加。该研究计划将允许在多学科环境中培训HQP（1博士学位，4个MSC和5名本科生）。在VR中复杂的技能的背景下，结果将提高有关运动学习策略和现实主义的作用的知识。结果还将验证使用模拟器作为MWC推进和平衡技能的培训工具，并将学习转移到现实生活中。