Wearable computing promises to gain efficiency improvements in industrial applications due to augmentation of the device as well as improved interaction between the user and the device. In this paper, we present the results of a study with focus on utilization of wearable computing in industrial service applications. Our study consisted of a preliminary market scan with regard to wearable compu...

OBJECTIVE This article describes the methods occupational therapists use to teach bathing and dressing device use to older patients in rehabilitation programs. The relationship of three patient characteristics to five aspects of assistive device instruction was examined. METHOD The study sample included 86 patients and 19 occupational therapists who provided the assistive device training. Pat...

BACKGROUND Spinal dysraphism is a common birth defect that causes different kinds of secondary impairments, including joint deformities, reduced mobility, and bowel/bladder dysfunction. Due to the diversity in terminology, cultural/ethnic differences, and medical policies, prior study results cannot be generalized to all populations. Therefore, we performed this study to define the characterist...

The coupling of human movement dynamics with the function and design of wearable assistive devices is vital to better understand the interaction between the two. Advanced neuromuscular models and optimal control formulations provide the possibility to study and improve this interaction. In addition, optimal control can also be used to generate predictive simulations that generate novel movement...

In today’s world, wearable electronics and devices are becoming of interest in multiple contexts– from the perspective of aesthetics, health and medical monitoring, assistive devices, and connectivity on-the-go. While technology has thus far been focused on computational productivity, feature expansion, and small form-factor, absorption of such technology by the consumer market is strongly limi...

This paper discusses the design of a smart mobility aid for frail, visuallyimpaired people. The device is based on the concept of a walker or rollator a walking frame with wheels. The device, which is called the PAMAID (Personal Adaptive Mobility Aid) has two modes of operation – manual and assistive. In manual mode the device behaves very much like a normal walker. In assistive mode, the PAMAI...

Swarms of robots will revolutionize many industrial applications, from targeted material delivery to precision farming. Controlling the motion and behavior of these swarms presents unique challenges for human operators, who cannot yet effectively convey their highlevel intentions to a group of robots in application. This work proposes a new human-swarm interface based on novel wearable gesture-...

Electrocardiography has added value to automatically detect seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients. The wired hospital system is not suited for a long-term seizure detection system at home. To address this need, the performance of two wearable devices, based on electrocardiography (ECG) and photoplethysmography (PPG), are compared with hospital ECG using an existing seizure detection...

STUDY DESIGN Controlled study, measuring head repositioning error (HRE) using an electrogoniometric device. OBJECTIVE To compare HRE in neutral position, axial rotation and complex postures of patients with whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) to that of control subjects. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA The presence of kinesthetic alterations in patients with WAD is controversial. METHODS In 26...

This study projects prosthetic- and assistive-device costs for veterans with limb loss from Vietnam and injured servicemembers returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) to inform the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for these veterans' future care. The 2005 Medicare prosthetic device component prices were applied to current prosthetic and assistive-dev...