TY - JOUR
T1 - Assistive device with conventional, alternative, and brain-computer interface inputs to enhance interaction with the environment for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
T2 - A feasibility and usability study
AU - Schettini, Francesca
AU - Riccio, Angela
AU - Simione, Luca
AU - Liberati, Giulia
AU - Caruso, Mario
AU - Frasca, Vittorio
AU - Calabrese, Barbara
AU - Mecella, Massimo
AU - Pizzimenti, Alessia
AU - Inghilleri, Maurizio
AU - Mattia, Donatella
AU - Cincotti, Febo
PY - 2015/3/1
Y1 - 2015/3/1
N2 - Objective To evaluate the feasibility and usability of an assistive technology (AT) prototype designed to be operated with conventional/alternative input channels and a P300-based brain-computer interface (BCI) in order to provide users who have different degrees of muscular impairment resulting from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with communication and environmental control applications. Design Proof-of-principle study with a convenience sample. Setting An apartment-like space designed to be fully accessible by people with motor disabilities for occupational therapy, placed in a neurologic rehabilitation hospital. Participants End-users with ALS (N=8; 5 men, 3 women; mean age ± SD, 60±12y) recruited by a clinical team from an ALS center. Interventions Three experimental conditions based on (1) a widely validated P300-based BCI alone; (2) the AT prototype operated by a conventional/alternative input device tailored to the specific end-user's residual motor abilities; and (3) the AT prototype accessed by a P300-based BCI. These 3 conditions were presented to all participants in 3 different sessions. Main Outcome Measures System usability was evaluated in terms of effectiveness (accuracy), efficiency (written symbol rate, time for correct selection, workload), and end-user satisfaction (overall satisfaction) domains. A comparison of the data collected in the 3 conditions was performed. Results Effectiveness and end-user satisfaction did not significantly differ among the 3 experimental conditions. Condition III was less efficient than condition II as expressed by the longer time for correct selection. Conclusions A BCI can be used as an input channel to access an AT by persons with ALS, with no significant reduction of usability.
AB - Objective To evaluate the feasibility and usability of an assistive technology (AT) prototype designed to be operated with conventional/alternative input channels and a P300-based brain-computer interface (BCI) in order to provide users who have different degrees of muscular impairment resulting from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with communication and environmental control applications. Design Proof-of-principle study with a convenience sample. Setting An apartment-like space designed to be fully accessible by people with motor disabilities for occupational therapy, placed in a neurologic rehabilitation hospital. Participants End-users with ALS (N=8; 5 men, 3 women; mean age ± SD, 60±12y) recruited by a clinical team from an ALS center. Interventions Three experimental conditions based on (1) a widely validated P300-based BCI alone; (2) the AT prototype operated by a conventional/alternative input device tailored to the specific end-user's residual motor abilities; and (3) the AT prototype accessed by a P300-based BCI. These 3 conditions were presented to all participants in 3 different sessions. Main Outcome Measures System usability was evaluated in terms of effectiveness (accuracy), efficiency (written symbol rate, time for correct selection, workload), and end-user satisfaction (overall satisfaction) domains. A comparison of the data collected in the 3 conditions was performed. Results Effectiveness and end-user satisfaction did not significantly differ among the 3 experimental conditions. Condition III was less efficient than condition II as expressed by the longer time for correct selection. Conclusions A BCI can be used as an input channel to access an AT by persons with ALS, with no significant reduction of usability.
KW - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
KW - Assistive technology
KW - Brain-computer interfaces Event-related potentials P300 Rehabilitation
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U2 - 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.05.027
DO - 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.05.027
M3 - Article
C2 - 25721547
AN - SCOPUS:84923326430
VL - 96
SP - S46-S53
JO - Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
JF - Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
SN - 0003-9993
IS - 3
ER -