SenseJoy, a pluggable solution for assessing user behavior during powered wheelchair driving tasks.
Olivier Rabreau, Sylvain Chevallier, Luc Chassagne and 1 others
PMID 31694645WHAT IT FOUND
A new plug-in device measures joystick movements without disassembling the wheelchair.
It matched direct measurements in tests with 13 users. This allows therapists to objectively assess driving skills and identify user profiles in real-world settings.
Key findings
01The SenseJoy system produces measurements statistically equivalent to direct joystick outputs.
02The device successfully identified distinct driving profiles for novices, experts, and users with cognitive impairment.
03The system is non-destructive and does not void the wheelchair warranty, unlike previous solutions requiring disassembly.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The device only works with standard joystick controls, not alternative interfaces like sip-and-puff or chin controls. Accuracy decreased during complex maneuvers where the wheelchair itself accelerated, as the system partially struggled to separate chair movement from hand movement. The study sample was small (13 people), and the device was thicker than standard grips, which may affect users with hand impairments. The system may not be suitable for users with significant spasticity or involuntary movements.
Declared interests
The authors declared no competing interests. The study was conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines, and participants gave informed consent.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this device works for all wheelchair users. It is only validated for joystick-driven electric wheelchairs and may fail to accurately record data for users with spasticity or those using alternative control interfaces.