Text input speed in persons with cervical spinal cord injury

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Assistive Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) significantly impacts motor function, affecting computer use.
• Optimizing text input speed (TIS) is crucial for the independence and quality of life of individuals with SCI.
• Previous research has not comprehensively analyzed TIS in relation to personal characteristics and access devices for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the text input speed (TIS) in individuals with cervical SCI.
• To investigate the influence of personal characteristics on TIS in cervical SCI.
• To assess the impact of different computer access devices on TIS for individuals with cervical SCI.

Main Methods:

• Prospective clinical study involving 35 participants with cervical SCI (C4-C8, Asia A/B) and 21 able-bodied controls.
• Participants performed a 10-minute text copying task using their usual computer access devices.
• Statistical analysis, including the Scheirer-Ray-Hare test, was employed to evaluate the relationship between participant characteristics, access device type, and TIS.

Main Results:

• Median TIS for individuals with cervical SCI was 11 w.p.m., compared to 19 w.p.m. for able-bodied participants (P=0.001).
• The type of computer access device was the only significant factor influencing TIS (P<0.05).
• Personal characteristics, including lesion level, did not significantly affect TIS in the cervical SCI group.

Conclusions:

• This study is the first to analyze TIS in a cohort with cervical SCI.
• The findings underscore that the choice of computer access device is a critical determinant of TIS for individuals with cervical SCI.
• Future interventions should focus on optimizing assistive technology to enhance computer usability for this population.