Frontiers in Robotics and AI (Oct 2023)

A novel socially assistive robotic platform for cognitive-motor exercises for individuals with Parkinson's Disease: a participatory-design study from conception to feasibility testing with end users

  • Dor Raz,
  • Shirel Barkan-Slater,
  • Ilanit Baum-Cohen,
  • Gal Vissel,
  • Yeela Lahav-Raz,
  • Amir Shapiro,
  • Shelly Levy-Tzedek,
  • Shelly Levy-Tzedek,
  • Shelly Levy-Tzedek

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/frobt.2023.1267458
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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The potential of socially assistive robots (SAR) to assist in rehabilitation has been demonstrated in contexts such as stroke and cardiac rehabilitation. Our objective was to design and test a platform that addresses specific cognitive-motor training needs of individuals with Parkinson’s disease (IwPD). We used the participatory design approach, and collected input from a total of 62 stakeholders (IwPD, their family members and clinicians) in interviews, brainstorming sessions and in-lab feasibility testing of the resulting prototypes. The platform we developed includes two custom-made mobile desktop robots, which engage users in concurrent cognitive and motor tasks. IwPD (n = 16) reported high levels of enjoyment when using the platform (median = 5/5) and willingness to use the platform in the long term (median = 4.5/5). We report the specifics of the hardware and software design as well as the detailed input from the stakeholders.

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