Comparative Usability Testing Between Lightweight Power Wheelchairs: Focused on People with Physical Disabilities in the Community

Abstract

AbstractThere have been studies on Lightweight Power Wheelchairs (LPW) that compensate for the disadvantages of large and heavy powered wheelchairs for the activities of the people with physical disabilities in the community, but there is a lack of research to understand usability. Accordingly, we compared the usability of LPWs developed in Korea for 5 wheelchair participants and caregivers to find out their effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction. As a result of the usability testing, there was a difference between the two LPWs in effectiveness and satisfaction. LPW1 was analyzed as grade B/’Good’ usability LPW2 was analyzed as grade A/’Best Imaginable’ usability. The usability of the heavier LPW2 was highly appreciated. This can be interpreted that users feel a sense of stability in the LPW with a certain amount of weight. In future studies, it is considered necessary to study the appropriate weight of LPW that users can feel stable.