Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 5 , Pages 996-1003 , May 2008

Development of a Wheelchair Virtual Driving Environment: Trials With Subjects With Traumatic Brain Injury

  • Donald M. Spaeth, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Human Engineering Research Laboratories, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Center of Excellence in Wheelchairs and Related Technology, VA Pittsburgh HealthCare System, Pittsburgh, PA.
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Donald M. Spaeth, PhD, Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh HealthCare System, 7180 Highland Dr, Bldg 4, 2nd Fl E, 151R1-H, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
    • ,
  • Harshal Mahajan, MS

      Affiliations

    • Human Engineering Research Laboratories, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Center of Excellence in Wheelchairs and Related Technology, VA Pittsburgh HealthCare System, Pittsburgh, PA.
    • ,
  • Amol Karmarkar, MS

      Affiliations

    • Human Engineering Research Laboratories, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Center of Excellence in Wheelchairs and Related Technology, VA Pittsburgh HealthCare System, Pittsburgh, PA.
    • ,
  • Diane Collins, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Human Engineering Research Laboratories, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Center of Excellence in Wheelchairs and Related Technology, VA Pittsburgh HealthCare System, Pittsburgh, PA.
    • ,
  • Rory A. Cooper, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Human Engineering Research Laboratories, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Center of Excellence in Wheelchairs and Related Technology, VA Pittsburgh HealthCare System, Pittsburgh, PA.
    • ,
  • Michael L. Boninger, MD

      Affiliations

    • Human Engineering Research Laboratories, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Center of Excellence in Wheelchairs and Related Technology, VA Pittsburgh HealthCare System, Pittsburgh, PA.

References 

  1. Kaye HS, Kang T, Laplante MP. Disability statistics report: mobility device use in the United States. Washington (DC): US Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; 2000;
  2. Fehr L, Langbein E, Skaar SB. Adequacy of power wheelchair control interfaces for persons with severe disabilities: a clinical survey. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2000;37:353–360
  3. Niniss H, Nadif A. Simulation of the behaviour of a powered wheelchair using virtual reality. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies. Sep 23-25; Alghero (Italy). 2000;p. 9–14
  4. Wu HS, Chen JJ, Chen WL, inventors; Taiwan Bicycle Industry R&D Center, assignee. Wheelchair training platform. US Patent 7004885. 2006 Feb 28.
  5. Victorien C, Erren-Wolters CV, van Dijk H, de Kort AC, IJzerman MJ, Jannink MJ. Virtual reality for mobility devices: training applications and clinical results: a review. Int J Rehabil Res. 2007;30:91–96
  6. Webster JS, McFarland PT, Rapport LJ, Morrill B, Roades LA, Abadee PS. Computer-assisted training for improving wheelchair mobility in unilateral neglect patients. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2001;6:769–775
  7. Harrison A, Derwent G, Enticknap F, Rose F, Attree A. The role of virtual reality technology in the assessment and training of inexperienced powered wheelchair users. Disabil Rehabil. 2002;24:599–606
  8. Cooper RA, Widman LM, Jones DK, Robertson RN. Force sensing control for electric powered wheelchairs. IEEE Trans Control Sys Techno. 2000;8:112–117
  9. Cooper RA, Jones DK, Fitzgerald S, Boninger ML, Albright SJ. Analysis of position and isometric joysticks for powered wheelchair driving. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2000;47:902–910
  10. Cooper RA, Spaeth DM, Jones DK, Boninger ML, Fitzgerald SG, Guo S. Comparison of virtual and real electric powered wheelchair driving using a position sensing joystick and an isometric joystick. Med Eng Phys. 2002;24:703–708
  11. Dicianno BE, Spaeth DM, Cooper RA, Fitzgerald SG, Boninger ML. Advancements in power wheelchair joystick technology: effects of isometric joysticks and signal conditioning on driving performance. [published erratum in: Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2006;85:861] Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2006;85:631–639
  12. Dicianno BE, Spaeth DM, Cooper RA, Fitzgerald SG, Boninger ML, Brown KW. Force control strategies while driving electric powered wheelchairs with isometric and movement-sensing joysticks. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2007;15:144–150
  13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rates of hospitalization related to traumatic brain injury—nine states 2003. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2007;56:167–170
  14. Thurman DJ, Averson C, Dunn KA, Guerrero J, Sniezek JE. Traumatic brain injury in the United States: a public health report. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 1999;14:602–615
  15. Mangus P, Clemmens D. A tale of two cities. Facets Magazine. 2006;26–27Fall/Winter
  16. Okie S. Traumatic brain injury in the war zone. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:2043–2047
  17. Spaeth DM, Brown K, Cooper R. Using miniature data loggers to characterize electric powered wheelchair performance. In: Proceedings of the 29th Annual RESNA Conference. Jun 22-26; Atlanta (GA). 2006;
  18. Kanyer B. Meeting the seating and mobility needs of the client with traumatic brain injury. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 1992;7:81–93
  19. Spaeth DM. Evaluation of an isometric joystick with control enhancing algorithms for improved driving of electric powered wheelchairs. [dissertation] Pittsburgh: Univ Pittsburgh; 2002;
  20. Cooper R, Spaeth D, Guo S. Variable compliance joystick with compensation algorithms. US patent 20050195166 pending.
  21. Bevly A, Spaeth D, Cooper R. Determining head position to assist electric-powered wheelchair operation for persons with traumatic brain injury. In: Proceedings of the 28th Annual RESNA Conference. Jun 25-27; Atlanta (GA). 2005;
  22. Zhai S, Woltjer R. Human movement performance in relation to path constraint—the law of steering in locomotion. In: Proceedings of the IEEE Virtual Reality Conference. Mar 22-26; Los Angeles (CA). 2003;
  23. Ewert J, Levin S, Watson M, Kalisky Z. Procedural memory during posttraumatic amnesia in survivors of severe closed head injury. Arch Neurol. 1989;46:911–916
  24. Cohen N, Squire L. Preserved learning and retention of pattern-analyzing skill in amnesia: dissociation of knowing how and knowing that. Science. 1980;210:207–210
  25. Glisky E, Schacter D. Extending the limits of complex learning in organic amnesia: computer training in a vocational domain. Neuropsychologia. 1989;27:107–120

 Supported by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education (grant no. H133A020502) and supported with resources and facilities by the Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(08)00084-1

doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2007.11.030

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 5 , Pages 996-1003 , May 2008

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