Tweet
IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng
. 2020 Oct 2;PP.
doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2020.3028327. Online ahead of print.
Evaluation of the NinoŽ Two-wheeled Power Mobility Device: A Pilot Study
Johanne Mattie, Jazzmin Tavares, Bryn Matheson, Emma Smith, Ian Denison, William C Miller, Jaimie Borisoff
Novel technologies such as the NinoŽ two-wheeled powered mobility device are promoted as offering an intuitive improved experience compared to conventional wheelchair mobility use. The NinoŽ has a smaller footprint than a power wheelchair, a zero-degree turning radius, tiller-based steering, and relies on the user leaning forwards and back to move and brake. This study aimed to evaluate manual wheelchair users' ability to use the NinoŽ to complete a variety of wheelchair skills, and also investigated task demand, user confidence, and user perceptions.
Twelve participants with a mean of 22 years of experience using a wheelchair completed the study; most had spinal cord injuries and one had multiple sclerosis. Our findings indicate that Wheelchair Skills Test scores were significantly higher for individuals in their manual wheelchair than in the NinoŽ. Results from the Wheelchair Use Confidence Scale showed that confidence scores increased significantly after completing NinoŽ training, and that participants were significantly more confident using their manual chair than the NinoŽ. Cognitive workload, as measured by the NASA-Task Load Index, was significantly higher in the NinoŽ than in participants' manual wheelchairs.
Findings from qualitative interviews suggest that the NinoŽ is unlikely to be suitable as a functional replacement of an individual's manual wheelchair. Most participants felt unsafe during braking. Other perceptions included that the Nino may be a good alternative for use as a recreational outdoor mobility device, a powered mobility option to help prevent upper extremity overuse injuries, have a positive impact on social interactions, but that a high degree of focus was required during use. In addition to needing to address safety, usability, and functional concerns, the data suggests a clinical focus on training individuals to use these new devices may be necessary for effective community use.
NINO-2-350x350@2x.jpg
. 2020 Oct 2;PP.
doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2020.3028327. Online ahead of print.
Evaluation of the NinoŽ Two-wheeled Power Mobility Device: A Pilot Study
Johanne Mattie, Jazzmin Tavares, Bryn Matheson, Emma Smith, Ian Denison, William C Miller, Jaimie Borisoff
- PMID: 33006931
- DOI: 10.1109/TNSRE.2020.3028327
Novel technologies such as the NinoŽ two-wheeled powered mobility device are promoted as offering an intuitive improved experience compared to conventional wheelchair mobility use. The NinoŽ has a smaller footprint than a power wheelchair, a zero-degree turning radius, tiller-based steering, and relies on the user leaning forwards and back to move and brake. This study aimed to evaluate manual wheelchair users' ability to use the NinoŽ to complete a variety of wheelchair skills, and also investigated task demand, user confidence, and user perceptions.
Twelve participants with a mean of 22 years of experience using a wheelchair completed the study; most had spinal cord injuries and one had multiple sclerosis. Our findings indicate that Wheelchair Skills Test scores were significantly higher for individuals in their manual wheelchair than in the NinoŽ. Results from the Wheelchair Use Confidence Scale showed that confidence scores increased significantly after completing NinoŽ training, and that participants were significantly more confident using their manual chair than the NinoŽ. Cognitive workload, as measured by the NASA-Task Load Index, was significantly higher in the NinoŽ than in participants' manual wheelchairs.
Findings from qualitative interviews suggest that the NinoŽ is unlikely to be suitable as a functional replacement of an individual's manual wheelchair. Most participants felt unsafe during braking. Other perceptions included that the Nino may be a good alternative for use as a recreational outdoor mobility device, a powered mobility option to help prevent upper extremity overuse injuries, have a positive impact on social interactions, but that a high degree of focus was required during use. In addition to needing to address safety, usability, and functional concerns, the data suggests a clinical focus on training individuals to use these new devices may be necessary for effective community use.
NINO-2-350x350@2x.jpg