1.5 Use Case Survey
As a part of the Smart Wheelchair project a use case survey was done to evaluate the practical difficulties that were faced by the users of the patients. This proved to be a significant learning point for the implementation of features on to the wheelchair. A brief overview of the survey has been presented here to highlight the findings.
1.5.1 Disabilities faced by wheelchair users
Smart wheel chairs are designed to meet the requirements of various differently abled people who exhibit one or more of similar symptoms. Wheel chairs are designed to target population that can be grouped easily with one or more symptoms that are common. The requirement of visually impaired population however is totally different from people who have vision.
The various types of disabilities include:
- Alzheimer Disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Cerebral Palsy
- Stroke
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Multiple System Atrophy
- Parkinson Disease
- Progressive Supra Nuclear Palsy
- Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
- Spinal Cord Injury
1.5.2 Impairments with motored wheelchair
There are many impairments that affect and interfere with wheeled mobility. Some of them are :
- Ataxia – Lack of muscular coordination
- Dystonia – Abnormal movements or postures
- Fatigue or weakness
- Upper body physical impairment
- Spasticity- Contracted muscles resulting in stiffness
- Tremor
- Cognitive Impairment
- Agitation or impulsive control
- Deficits in executive reasoning
- Blindness
- Stiff neck
- Visual Field Loss
Smart powered wheel chair could be used by a user who may not be able to use manual wheel chair but would prefer powered wheel chair. Use of smart wheel chairs would depend on requirement basis. An estimated 2 million people aged 15 and above use powered wheel chairs. More than 60% of the individuals benefit at least some of the time by using smart wheel chair. Considering the cost and its affordability there is a slow and steady progress to ensure that smart wheel chairs are made more and more affordable that can benefit larger population. Investment in smart wheel chair research has a great potential hence, is likely to open greater marketability in future.
1.5.3 Requirements on a wheelchair
A survey was conducted among the wheelchair users about the most crucial requirements that users would like to have on any wheelchair. The following figure gives the analysis of the survey conducted on the technical requirements:
Figure 4: Technical requirements on a wheelchair
1.5.4 Expectations from a Smart Wheelchair
The concept of a Smart Wheelchair was explained to the various wheelchair users and these users were asked about their expectation from a smart wheelchair. The figure below shows what most users expect to have in a smart wheelchair:
Figure 5: Expectations from a smart wheelchair
1.5.5 Inferences from the Use Case Survey
The overall inference drawn from the survey analysis and its outcomes are as follows:
- Back cameras while reversing has been demanded by every person spoken to.
- Special mouse and pointers have been demanded by 85% of the differently abled.
- Internet access has been demanded by 40%. They appreciated the availability of internet access 24x7.
- Automatic dialing system has been demanded by 75% of them. It is more in demand by their care takers.
- Voice mail system has been appreciated by nearly 40% of the population.
- Portable joystick has been demanded by almost all.
- Almost all say urine bag indicator and reminder would be a boon to them.
- 80% of the differently abled appreciated the idea of pillows for bed sore.
- Air pressure/ level indicator could be useful to 55% of them.
- 75% of them require adjustable seats.
- Headset demand is a mere 20%.
- 50% said that a mobile charger equipped smart chair could ease out their search for a charging point every now and then.
- The idea of a renewable solar power panel has been appreciated by nearly 40%.
- A mobile tracker app has been demanded not only by them but also by their care takers in case of their absence.
- Voice activated speaker has been appreciated by 35% of the differently abled.
- Large button control has been demanded by about 40% of them.