Abstract
People with spinal cord injuries (SCI), and particularly with high level lesions, can potentially lose the ability to effectively operate computers. The Multimedia Authoring and Management using your Eyes and Mind (MAMEM) project aims to design and produce a novel assistive device to support computer use by individuals with SCI and other disabilities. The solution harnesses eye tracking and brain waves, as measured by encephalography (EEG), to manipulate common computer functions. This paper describes the first step in the project, during which we defined clinically related requirements of the assistive device. These definitions were based on data from three sources: (1) a narrative review; (2) a focus group of SCI rehabilitation professionals; and (3) structured questionnaires administrated to potential computer users with SCI, addressing computer-use habits, barriers, and needs. We describe both the collection of data from each source and the clinically related requirements extracted. The novel three-source requirement assessment method is discussed, and the advantages and disadvantages of each data source are reported. In conclusion, we suggest that this approach makes it possible to organize, discuss, and prioritize the requirements, and to create a work program while planning the device. This increases our level of certainty that the efficacy and adequacy of the assistive device will be maximized, in terms of the clinical needs of users.
Highlights
Loss of voluntary upper extremity control alongside preserved cognitive function is common in persons with high spinal cord injuries (SCI), and can result in difficulty operating computers [1, 2]
Since no article explicitly reported on clinically related requirements, these were extracted by contextual inference
This paper describes a method that was used to collect data relevant to clinically related requirements of assistive devices from three sources: questionnaires administrated to potential users with SCI, a focus group of experienced clinicians and health professionals, and a review of the relevant empirical literature
Summary
Loss of voluntary upper extremity control alongside preserved cognitive function is common in persons with high spinal cord injuries (SCI), and can result in difficulty operating computers [1, 2]. As computers play an important role in everyday life, and in social. Related requirements of a novel assistive device for people with a SCI analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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