Quantifying Joystick Interactions and Movement Patterns of Toddlers With Disabilities Using Powered Mobility With an Instrumented Explorer Mini
Powered mobility technology can be a powerful tool to facilitate self-initiated exploration and play for toddlers with motor disabilities. The joystick-controlled Permobil Explorer Mini is currently the only commercially available powered mobility device for children ages 1-3 years in the United Sta...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IEEE
2025-01-01
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| Series: | IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10839087/ |
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| author | Kimberly A. Ingraham Nicole L. Zaino Claire Feddema Mia E. Hoffman Liesbeth Gijbels Alexis Sinclair Andrew N. Meltzoff Patricia K. Kuhl Heather A. Feldner Katherine M. Steele |
| author_facet | Kimberly A. Ingraham Nicole L. Zaino Claire Feddema Mia E. Hoffman Liesbeth Gijbels Alexis Sinclair Andrew N. Meltzoff Patricia K. Kuhl Heather A. Feldner Katherine M. Steele |
| author_sort | Kimberly A. Ingraham |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Powered mobility technology can be a powerful tool to facilitate self-initiated exploration and play for toddlers with motor disabilities. The joystick-controlled Permobil Explorer Mini is currently the only commercially available powered mobility device for children ages 1-3 years in the United States. However, many open questions persist regarding how joystick-based mobility technologies should be designed to optimally suit the developmental needs of toddlers. The purpose of this study was to quantify how toddlers with motor disabilities use the Explorer Mini during free exploration and play. For this work, we developed a custom-instrumented Explorer Mini with embedded sensors to measure joystick interactions and wheel rotations. Nine children with motor disabilities (ages 12-36 months) participated in 12 in-lab visits, and during each visit they engaged in two 15-20 minute play sessions. For each session, we calculated several quantitative outcome metrics, including the time spent using the joystick, distance traveled, and the number, duration, and complexity of joystick interactions. Every participant independently interacted with the joystick and moved the Explorer Mini during every session. Over 12 visits, participants significantly increased their distance traveled and the time spent with the joystick active. Surprisingly, we found that only 48% of joystick interactions resulted in device movement, which has important implications for learning. These results can serve as a benchmark for caregivers and clinicians to understand early device use patterns. Furthermore, this knowledge can be used to inform the design of new powered mobility technologies for toddlers with disabilities or support the refinement of existing devices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a064c04618f3405c9223f51f84fdf60a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1534-4320 1558-0210 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IEEE |
| record_format | Article |
| series | IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-a064c04618f3405c9223f51f84fdf60a2025-01-22T00:00:09ZengIEEEIEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering1534-43201558-02102025-01-013343144010.1109/TNSRE.2025.352845410839087Quantifying Joystick Interactions and Movement Patterns of Toddlers With Disabilities Using Powered Mobility With an Instrumented Explorer MiniKimberly A. Ingraham0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7695-0633Nicole L. Zaino1Claire Feddema2Mia E. Hoffman3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5836-5836Liesbeth Gijbels4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6524-3749Alexis Sinclair5Andrew N. Meltzoff6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8683-0547Patricia K. Kuhl7Heather A. Feldner8Katherine M. Steele9https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4128-9387Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USADepartment of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAInstitute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USADepartment of Psychology, Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USADepartment of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USADepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Physical Therapy, Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAPowered mobility technology can be a powerful tool to facilitate self-initiated exploration and play for toddlers with motor disabilities. The joystick-controlled Permobil Explorer Mini is currently the only commercially available powered mobility device for children ages 1-3 years in the United States. However, many open questions persist regarding how joystick-based mobility technologies should be designed to optimally suit the developmental needs of toddlers. The purpose of this study was to quantify how toddlers with motor disabilities use the Explorer Mini during free exploration and play. For this work, we developed a custom-instrumented Explorer Mini with embedded sensors to measure joystick interactions and wheel rotations. Nine children with motor disabilities (ages 12-36 months) participated in 12 in-lab visits, and during each visit they engaged in two 15-20 minute play sessions. For each session, we calculated several quantitative outcome metrics, including the time spent using the joystick, distance traveled, and the number, duration, and complexity of joystick interactions. Every participant independently interacted with the joystick and moved the Explorer Mini during every session. Over 12 visits, participants significantly increased their distance traveled and the time spent with the joystick active. Surprisingly, we found that only 48% of joystick interactions resulted in device movement, which has important implications for learning. These results can serve as a benchmark for caregivers and clinicians to understand early device use patterns. Furthermore, this knowledge can be used to inform the design of new powered mobility technologies for toddlers with disabilities or support the refinement of existing devices.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10839087/Childrendisabilityjoystickmobilitypowered wheelchair |
| spellingShingle | Kimberly A. Ingraham Nicole L. Zaino Claire Feddema Mia E. Hoffman Liesbeth Gijbels Alexis Sinclair Andrew N. Meltzoff Patricia K. Kuhl Heather A. Feldner Katherine M. Steele Quantifying Joystick Interactions and Movement Patterns of Toddlers With Disabilities Using Powered Mobility With an Instrumented Explorer Mini IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering Children disability joystick mobility powered wheelchair |
| title | Quantifying Joystick Interactions and Movement Patterns of Toddlers With Disabilities Using Powered Mobility With an Instrumented Explorer Mini |
| title_full | Quantifying Joystick Interactions and Movement Patterns of Toddlers With Disabilities Using Powered Mobility With an Instrumented Explorer Mini |
| title_fullStr | Quantifying Joystick Interactions and Movement Patterns of Toddlers With Disabilities Using Powered Mobility With an Instrumented Explorer Mini |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantifying Joystick Interactions and Movement Patterns of Toddlers With Disabilities Using Powered Mobility With an Instrumented Explorer Mini |
| title_short | Quantifying Joystick Interactions and Movement Patterns of Toddlers With Disabilities Using Powered Mobility With an Instrumented Explorer Mini |
| title_sort | quantifying joystick interactions and movement patterns of toddlers with disabilities using powered mobility with an instrumented explorer mini |
| topic | Children disability joystick mobility powered wheelchair |
| url | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10839087/ |
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