Remote Co-Creation of Upper Limb Prostheses: Insights from a Feasibility Study

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• Upper-limb prostheses aim to restore hand function but often fall short of user expectations.
• Lack of sensory feedback is a key limitation, hindering users' ability to perceive contact and force.
• Traditional user input methods (interviews, lab activities) provide limited insights for user-centered design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of remote co-creation for developing upper-limb prostheses with sensory feedback.
• To explore a user-centered Internet of Things (IoT) approach for prosthesis development.
• To identify user preferences and needs regarding sensory feedback in prosthetic devices.

Main Methods:

• Employed a user-centric Internet of Things (IoT) approach for remote co-creation.
• Collected user input on preferences and needs for sensory feedback.
• Documented technical and communication challenges encountered during the remote process.

Main Results:

• Remote co-creation offers potential for enhancing prosthesis functionality and user satisfaction.
• Identified specific user preferences and needs for sensory feedback mechanisms.
• Encountered significant hurdles, including limited user participation and technical complexities.

Conclusions:

• Remote co-creation is a promising avenue for developing advanced upper-limb prostheses.
• Overcoming technical and participation challenges is crucial for effective remote collaboration.
• Further development of robust systems and processes is needed to facilitate remote co-creation in this field.