Adam de Eyto

XoSoft : a vision for a soft modular lower limb exoskeleton

XoSoft is an EU project that proposes the development of a modular soft lower-limb exoskeleton to assist people with mobility impairments. It aims to be user friendly and comfortable to wear, with a significant impact on the person’s mobility and health, on their independence and quality of life. Being a modular system, it comprises of ankle, knee and hip elements, which can be used individually or combined and used unilaterally or bilaterally.

Technology Acceptance and User-Centred Design of Assistive Exoskeletons for Older Adults: A Commentary

Assistive robots are emerging as technologies that enable older adults to perform activities of daily living with autonomy. Exoskeletons are a subset of assistive robots that can support mobility. Perceptions and acceptance of these technologies require understanding in a user-centred design context to ensure optimum experience and adoption by as broad a spectrum of older adults as possible. The adoption and use of assistive robots for activities of daily living (ADL) by older adults is poorly understood. Older adult acceptance of technology is affected by numerous factors, such as perceptions and stigma associated with dependency and ageing. Assistive technology (AT) models provide theoretical frameworks that inform decision-making in relation to assistive devices for people with disabilities. However, technology acceptance models (TAMs) are theoretical explanations of factors that influence why users adopt some technologies and not others. Recent models have emerged specifically describing technology acceptance by older adults. In the context of exoskeleton design, these models could influence design approaches. This article will discuss a selection of TAMs, displaying a chronology that highlights their evolution, and two prioritised TAMs—Almere and the senior technology acceptance model (STAM)—that merit consideration when attempting to understand acceptance and use of assistive robots by older adults.

Health futures lab : transdisciplinary development of T shaped professionals through 'wicked problem' challenges

It is clear that differences in approach and enquiry are apparent between the established disciplines of Design, Engineering, Business and Health Sciences. The attempt to tackle Wicked Problems (Rittel and Webber 1973) is a challenge for universities and policy makers yet we are only beginning to appreciate the potential of transdisciplinary collaboration. This paper outlines a case study in a transdisciplinary education model which addressed some of the wicked problems of health and wellbeing of urban citizens, using Limerick city, Ireland as a test bed. The Health Futures Lab [HFL] was a pilot initiative that brought recent graduates of Interactive Media, Engineering, Product Design, Architecture, Economics, Marketing and Health Sciences together to apply their professional skills in a transdisciplinary manner. The lab ran for a five week period in the summer of 2014 and was situated in the city core. Facilitation and expert mentoring was given by university faculty, and a range of community advocates. This case study examines the benefits and challenges of transdisciplinary labs as a method for addressing complex social problems and provides an example of how graduates can use their specialist knowledge whilst collaborating across disciplines for maximum effect.

Ensuring Rigor in Qualitative Data Analysis: A Design Research Approach to Coding Combining NVivo With Traditional Material Methods

Deep and insightful interactions with the data are a prerequisite for qualitative data interpretation, in particular, in the generation of grounded theory. The researcher must also employ imaginative insight as they attempt to make sense of the data and generate understanding and theory. Design research is also dependent upon the researchers’ creative interpretation of the data. To support the research process, designers surround themselves with data, both as a source of empirical information and inspiration to trigger imaginative insights. Constant interaction with the data is integral to design research methodology. This article explores a design researchers approach to qualitative data analysis, in particular, the use of traditional tools such as colored pens, paper, and sticky notes with the CAQDAS software, NVivo for analysis, and the associated implications for rigor. A design researchers’ approach which is grounded in a practice which maximizes researcher data interaction in a variety of learning modalities ensures the analysis process is rigorous and productive. Reflection on the authors’ research analysis process, combined with consultation with the literature, would suggest digital analysis software packages such as NVivo do not fully scaffold the analysis process. They do, however, provide excellent data management and retrieval facilities that support analysis and write-up. This research finds that coding using traditional tools such as colored pens, paper, and sticky notes supporting data analysis combined with digital software packages such as NVivo supporting data management offer a valid and tested analysis method for grounded theory generation. Insights developed from exploring a design researchers approach may benefit researchers from other disciplines engaged in qualitative analysis.

Application of a User-Centered Design Approach to the Development of XoSoft – A Lower Body Soft Exoskeleton

The objective of this research was to apply a user-centered design approach to the development of a soft exoskeleton for lower limb assistance. There has been a clear shift from hard to soft robotic exoskeletons in recent years. Soft exoskeleton technologies typically comprise sensors and actuators embedded in fabric/technical textiles. This approach to physical assistance offers benefits in usability for wearers, but also presents challenges e.g. how the concepts are put on/off and worn for long durations considering the personal needs of the wearer. Presented is a structured three-cycle development approach which considers user-centered design principles, but also a participatory user-driven design-test-redesign methodology. Target users for the concept (older adults, individuals post-stroke or incomplete spinal cord injury) were involved in concurrent design evaluation and development throughout the design process.