Research

Participatory design in the development of the wheelchair convoy system

Vinod Sharma¹ , Richard C Simpson^1,2,3 , Edmund F LoPresti⁴ , Casimir Mostowy⁴ , Joseph Olson^2,3 , Jeremy Puhlman³ , Steve Hayashi³ , Rory A Cooper^1,2,3 , Ed Konarski⁵ and Barry Kerley⁵

¹  Department of Bioengineering; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA, USA

²  Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA, USA

³  Human Engineering Research Labs; VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System; Pittsburgh, PA, USA

⁴  AT Sciences; Pittsburgh, PA, USA

⁵  J. Iverson Riddle Development Center; Morganton, NC, USA

author email corresponding author email

Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 2008, 5:1doi:10.1186/1743-0003-5-1

Published:	2 January 2008

Abstract

Background

In long-term care environments, residents who have severe mobility deficits are typically transported by having another person push the individual in a manual wheelchair. This practice is inefficient and encourages staff to hurry to complete the process, thereby setting the stage for unsafe practices. Furthermore, the time involved in assembling multiple individuals with disabilities often deters their participation in group activities.

Methods

The Wheelchair Convoy System (WCS) is being developed to allow a single caregiver to move multiple individuals without removing them from their wheelchairs. The WCS will consist of a processor, and a flexible cord linking each wheelchair to the wheelchair in front of it. A Participatory Design approach – in which several iterations of design, fabrication and evaluation are used to elicit feedback from users – was used.

Results

An iterative cycle of development and evaluation was followed through five prototypes of the device. The third and fourth prototypes were evaluated in unmanned field trials at J. Iverson Riddle Development Center. The prototypes were used to form a convoy of three wheelchairs that successfully completed a series of navigation tasks.

Conclusion

A Participatory Design approach to the project allowed the design of the WCS to quickly evolve towards a viable solution. The design that emerged by the end of the fifth development cycle bore little resemblance to the initial design, but successfully met the project's design criteria. Additional development and testing is planned to further refine the system.