Development of a Lightweight Powered Wheelchair for Persons with Physical Disabilities Using a Participatory Action Design

Abstract

We developed a basic lightweight powered wheelchair model using a participatory action design (PAD). We conducted two types of research to identify users’ desires and satisfaction with wheelchairs: one focused on identifying the problems and needs of manual or powered wheelchair users through focus group interviews (FGIs), and the other focused on capturing users’ post-experience feedback with the developed prototypes through usability testing (UT). We structured scenario-based usability tests and questionnaires to capture the participants’ experiences and needs, with the results indicating that both manual and powered wheelchair users emphasized the product’s lightness, design, cost, and battery and motor performance. This user-focused development resulted in higher satisfaction and usability. The significance of this study lies in the active involvement of wheelchair users throughout the research process, incorporating the obstacles and terrains they encounter in real community environments into the development. Future research should assess the usability of the final lightweight powered wheelchair, aiming to improve its affordability to wheelchair users through public benefits.

Keywords

• assistive technology
• focus group interview
• lightweight powered wheelchair
• participatory action design
• usability testing