Heuristic Evaluation of Compensations for a Wheelchair Mounted Robotic Arm

Abstract

For individuals who rely on assistive mobility technology (e.g. wheelchairs), functional dependence can often be augmented through supplementary technologies. One such technology is a wheelchair mounted robotic (WMRA), consisting of an arm portion that ends with a gripper or Certain perceptual, visual, and physical abilities have been shown to impact an individual's proficiency in completing simulated activities of daily living (ADLs) using the WMRA. However, the interfaces for traditional WMRAs have minimal adaptive capabilities to ameliorate any perceptual deficiencies of the user. Working with the UCF MANUS robot, a 6 degree of freedom device with a touch screen and 3-dimensional mouse controls, engineers implemented compensations, or interface adaptions, which are proposed to aid users who have limitations in spatial ability and working memory. The compensations include button highlighting to suggest the next move, true north indicator to aid in robot realignment, easier object detection whereby contrast between the object and its background is increased, and a text box reminder of the task at hand. In preparation for user testing, a heuristic evaluation was conducted using Nielsen's Heuristics (Nielsen, 1995). Heuristic violations were identified related to specific compensations as well as in the overall system and suggestions for improvements are provided. Future research will focus on implementing and evaluating compensations for the additional individual differences identified as contributing to performance in using a WMRA.