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Improvement and Validation of a Usability Evaluation Toolbox for Wearable Robotic Assistive Technology
To simplify and streamline the evaluation of wearable robotic devices, a beta-version of a usability evaluation toolbox was developed (https://www.relab-usability-toolbox.ch) by the RELab. This follow-up project aims to further improve the functions of the toolbox and to validate its use.
Usability is a key aspect for the technology acceptance of assistive devices for people with neuromotor deficits. The understanding and integration of target users’ requirements and needs is crucial to develop useful devices for daily life applications. A lack of tools for the assessment of usage context and collection of prior user experience currently limits such data collection, comparison, and integration into device development. Consequentially, many research projects fail to perform and assist in real-world environments, clinics or user’s homes due to lacking user-centred development (UCD) approaches. Apart from the end-users with neuromotor deficits, different stages and processes during the use of wearable robots involve other stakeholders such as therapists or caregivers. A user-centered design approach should therefore consider all stakeholders involved and investigate their perception of usefulness towards the device.
To simplify and streamline the evaluation of robotic assistive devices, a beta-version of a usability evaluation toolbox was developed (https://www.relab-usability-toolbox.ch).
This follow-up project aims to further improve the functions of the toolbox and to validate its use for the developer of wearable robotic assistive technology.
Usability is a key aspect for the technology acceptance of assistive devices for people with neuromotor deficits. The understanding and integration of target users’ requirements and needs is crucial to develop useful devices for daily life applications. A lack of tools for the assessment of usage context and collection of prior user experience currently limits such data collection, comparison, and integration into device development. Consequentially, many research projects fail to perform and assist in real-world environments, clinics or user’s homes due to lacking user-centred development (UCD) approaches. Apart from the end-users with neuromotor deficits, different stages and processes during the use of wearable robots involve other stakeholders such as therapists or caregivers. A user-centered design approach should therefore consider all stakeholders involved and investigate their perception of usefulness towards the device. To simplify and streamline the evaluation of robotic assistive devices, a beta-version of a usability evaluation toolbox was developed (https://www.relab-usability-toolbox.ch). This follow-up project aims to further improve the functions of the toolbox and to validate its use for the developer of wearable robotic assistive technology.
1. Investigate common practice, existing standards and recommendations in user experience and usability evaluation of wearable robotic assistive technologies and include information of usability toolbox website.
2. Integrate data collected from a survey on usability evaluation into the database that drives the toolbox
3. Develop a learning algorithm to train the toolbox through use and feedback of its users
4. Validate the usability toolbox with different developers and experts working on varying contexts of use in wearable robotics
1. Investigate common practice, existing standards and recommendations in user experience and usability evaluation of wearable robotic assistive technologies and include information of usability toolbox website. 2. Integrate data collected from a survey on usability evaluation into the database that drives the toolbox 3. Develop a learning algorithm to train the toolbox through use and feedback of its users 4. Validate the usability toolbox with different developers and experts working on varying contexts of use in wearable robotics
- 10% Literature review of user experience and usability evaluation standards
- 50% Back-end and front-end development of the usability toolbox
- 25% Validation of the toolbox approach with a specific context of use
- 10% Prepare presentations and a final report of the project
- 10% Literature review of user experience and usability evaluation standards - 50% Back-end and front-end development of the usability toolbox - 25% Validation of the toolbox approach with a specific context of use - 10% Prepare presentations and a final report of the project
- Interest in user experience research, user-centred design, and usability testing
- Strong knowledge and enthusiasm in programming with Python, HTML, JavaScript, and CSS
- Interest in website design and database handling
- Ability to work and independently, organizational talent, and strong team spirit
- Interest in user experience research, user-centred design, and usability testing - Strong knowledge and enthusiasm in programming with Python, HTML, JavaScript, and CSS - Interest in website design and database handling - Ability to work and independently, organizational talent, and strong team spirit
Jan T. Meyer
MSc Medical Technology, ETH Zürich
Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, ETH Zurich
jan.meyer@hest.ethz.ch
Jan T. Meyer MSc Medical Technology, ETH Zürich Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, ETH Zurich jan.meyer@hest.ethz.ch