Investigations of Mental Workload during the Use of Lever Type Wheelchair

Abstract

The mental workload during the use of lever type wheelchair (Wijit) in terms of EEG and fluctuation of finger pulse were analyzed. In the analysis of mental workload with a view to EEG, it was observed that the power level of α wave was higher and β wave was lower in a use of Wijit than in a use of standard hand-limb type wheelchair. This means that the parasympathetic nervous system in a use of Wijit was more activated than in a use of standard hand-limb type wheelchair. The physical workload of arms and busts in terms of %MVC was also analyzed. It was clarified that the physical workload of arms during the use of Wijit is much lower than that during the use of normal hand-limb type wheelchair. It is possible to conclude that low physical workload at arms, meaning the operator does not have to grab the hand-limb tightly during the use of Wijit, is relevant to low mental workload for operating wheel chair.