Dear members,

My survey will be expired at surveymonkey.com on SEP. 14th.

If you did not participate in yet, please make a time for it now.

Thanks

Dear SCI members,

My name is Jongbae Kim and I am a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Science. I am a quadriplegic member with SCI at C5 level and I use an electric wheelchair.

I want to invite you to a survey study through which I want to develop a convenient computing system for wheelchair users.  The purpose of this research study is to determine the needs of wheelchair users who will use wheelchair-based computing and the tele-health monitoring system on a daily basis.

We envision a wearable computer, worn on the electric powered wheelchair, which will provide a ubiquitous computing environment to people with mobility and manipulation limitations. The system will enhance diminished computing capabilities while adapting to the existing situation so that tasks are performed safely, reliably and graciously. This system would be incorporated into the wheelchair. This system will provide the wheelchair users the opportunity to use the personal computer and monitor their health condition whenever and wherever they want. It will allow people to independently perform valued and necessary activities so that they can fully participate in society.

Our vision for the UCSW is evident in the following scenario. A person who was studying in a graduate engineering school returns home following rehabilitation from a cervical spinal cord injury. The computing environment of an earlier time may now contain significant barriers. He needs to replace the computer desk with a wheelchair accessible, ergonomic design. Also, he needs to be evaluated for an adaptive pointing device and keyboarding system so that he can use this desktop computer despite limited upper extremity function. He always had carried a laptop computer in his backpack to school and other activities. The student also had enjoyed using this laptop computer while drinking his favorite cappuccino coffee at the Starbucks. Now he needs to ask his colleagues or someone else to take out his laptop from the backpack and to deploy it on his wheelchair tray at the class, meeting, library, and Starbucks. After he was injured, he became more dependent on the computer because he cannot pick up a book and turn the page well and he cannot write on the paper with a pen. He writes every document using word processor and reads every book in electronic format. Fortunately, the office of disability services in his university makes electric files of every textbook for him by scanning them. He was a good soccer player and avid bicycler. Instead, he now enjoys network games via the Internet. But he had to give up going to Starbucks and the library because of the inability to use the laptop without other’s help.

However, life changed dramatically since a wearable computing system was installed on his brand new and highly functional electric wheelchair. He needs to just push a button on the tray whenever and wherever he wants to use the computer and Internet services. Upon pressing the activating button, the thin LCD monitor, keyboard and small track ball rise up from the tray. These devices are folded down and their back forms a flat surface of the tray when he deactivates the system. He can use the tray for the usual tray purpose when he doesn’t use the computer. The CPU placed under the chair or behind of the back seat is connected to the high-capacity wheelchair battery. To the naked eye, one would not suspect the wheelchair contained a computer, but unlimited computing capability is available with the press of a button. The embedded wireless LAN and broadband wireless card enables him to also use the Internet based services everywhere, all the time. He can finally enjoy computing at Starbucks drinking his favorite cappuccino and moreover, his colleagues are jealous at his ubiquitous computing ability.

If you are a wheelchair user and older than 18 years, you are cordially invited to participate in this study. You can go to the internet survey page by clicking hear or copying and pasting following website address: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=NX5ctLG3gIJIuZZub5_2bDMw_3d_3d, Then you can fill out the interactive survey form on the website. You will be asked about your physical condition, work/education situation, wheelchair type, health maintenance, and computer usage. It will take 10 to 20 minutes to complete the survey.

During this study, all information will remain confidential and will only be used for this study. There is no personal information required, which means your results can never be traced to your name. This study is meant to give researchers a general idea of how to create a computer system that will be useful and beneficial to all wheelchair users. The purpose of our survey is to ensure that we are taking consumer input into consideration when designing the new technology. This is an entirely anonymous questionnaire and your responses will not be identifiable in any way. All responses are confidential, and results will be kept under lock and key.

Your participation is voluntary; you need not to complete the questions. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any point. There is no required consent for this survey because all participants are adults and, by reading this letter, you understand the purpose of the study and your rights as a participant. Participants will NOT be paid for completing the survey. There are no risks or benefits to you as a participant in this study.

You can reach me at 412-586-6909 and jbkim@... if you have any questions. I would like to thank you for taking the time to participate in our study.

Sincerely,

JongBae Kim, PhD
Dept of Rehabilitation Science and Technology
School of Health and Rehabilitation Science
University of Pittsburgh

2310 Jane Street, Suite 1300

Pittsburgh, PA 15203
tel: 412-586-6909
fax: 412-586-6910
jbkim@...
ibird486@...
http://www.shrs.pitt.edu/CMS/Departments/RSTSub.asp?id=160
http://www.qolt.org/People/Bio/Bio_Kim.html
http://www.rerctr.pitt.edu/RERC_TR_RD/RERC_TR_RD_R2/rerctr_RD_R2.html