One-Dimensional Motion Tailoring for the Disabled:A User Study

Abstract

The Tailor project allows physically disabled users to provide real-time analog input to computer applications. We use a Polhemus™ tracking device and create a custom tailored mapping from each user's best range and type of motion into the analog control signal. The application is a simple video game based on Pong, where the analog input controls the position of the player's paddle. A group of able-bodied subjects was able to correctly hit the ball with the paddle 77% of the time, and a comparison group of children with cerebral palsy performed at the 50% level. More than half the disabled users were able to perform at a higher level than the worst able-bodied user.