Evaluation of human-machine interaction based on affective responses of elderly people during smart walker-assisted...

Smart walkers and virtual reality (VR) have been proposed to assist elderly people with disabilities during physical rehabilitation. However, new technologies may impact affective responses (ARs) during rehabilitation sessions and, in turn, the participants' adherence.

This study aimed to evaluate the ARs of elderly people during smart walker-assisted gait in an immersive VR scenario.

Fourteen elderly (age = 66.29 ± 3.81 years; height = 1.63 ± 0.09 m; body mass = 71.26 ± 10.19 kg) performed a smart walker-assisted gait session (SWS) and smart walker-assisted gait session in an immersive VR scenario (VRS). The sessions lasted 10.5 min each (with a work-to-rest ratio of 90:90 s). Baseline, inter-stimulus, and post-exercise measurements were taken for the Feeling Scale (FS). Inter-stimulus and post-exercise measurements were also taken for Cognitive Load (CL) and Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE). Post-exercise measurements were performed for Self-efficacy (SE), Future Intention (FI), and System Usability Scale (SUS). Percentage of Maximum Heart Rate (%HRmax) achieved during rest and exercise was established.

showed no significant intra- or inter-group differences for FS, CL, or RPE, and no inter-group differences for SE, FI, or SUS (p > 0.05). Participants experienced low CL and high levels of FS, SE, FI, and SUS. Additionally, session intensity was classified as "very, very easy" to "easy" (RPE) and "very light" to "light" (%HRmax).

The smart walker-assisted gait session in an immersive VR scenario favored participants' ARs, demonstrating promise for enhancing elderly engagement.