Development and Evaluation of Smart Secondary Controls Using iPad for People with Hemiplegic Disabilities

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate smart secondary controls using iPad for the drivers with physical disabilities in the driving simulator. Background: The physically disabled drivers face problems in the operation of secondary control devices that accept a control input from a driver for the purpose of operating the subsystems of a motor vehicle. Many of conventional secondary controls consist of small knobs or switches that physically disabled drivers have difficulties in grasping, pulling or twisting. Therefore, their use while driving might increase distraction and workload because of longer operation time. Method: We examined the operation time of conventional and smart secondary controls, such as hazard warning, turn signal, window, windshield wiper, headlights, automatic transmission and horn. The hardware of smart secondary control system was composed of iPad, wireless router, digital input/output module and relay switch. We used the STISim Drive3 software for driving test, customized Labview and Xcode programs for interface control of smart secondary system. Nine subjects were involved in the study for measuring operation time of secondary controls. Results: When the driver was in the stationary condition, the average operation time of smart secondary devices decreased 32.5% in the normal subjects (p Conclusion: The smart secondary devices using iPad for people with hemiplegic disabilities showed significant reduction of operation time compared with conventional secondary controls. Application: This study can be used to design secondary controls for adaptive vehicles and to improve the quality of life of the people with disabilities.