Improving manual skills in persons with disabilities (PWD) through a multimodal assistance system

Abstract

In this research work, we present a Multimodal Guidance System (MGS) whose aim is to provide dynamic assistance to persons with disabilities (PWD) while performing manual activities such as drawing, coloring in and foam-cutting tasks. The MGS provides robotic assistance in the execution of 2D tasks through haptic and sound interactions. Haptic technology provides the virtual path of 2D shapes through the point-based approach, while sound technology provides audio feedback inputs related to the hand’s velocity while sketching and filling or cutting operations. By combining this Multimodal System with the haptic assistance, we have created a new approach with possible applications to such diverse fields as physical rehabilitation, scientific investigation of sensorimotor learning and assessment of hand movements in PWD. The MGS has been tested by people with specific disorders affecting coordination, such as Down syndrome and developmental disabilities, under the supervision of their teachers and care assistants inside their learning environment. A Graphic User Interface has been designed for teachers and care assistants in order to provide training during the test sessions. Our results provide conclusive evidence that the effect of using the MGS increases the accuracy in the tasks operations.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• The Multimodal Guidance System (MGS) is an interface that offers haptic and sound feedback while performing manual tasks.

• Several studies demonstrated that the haptic guidance systems can help people in recovering cognitive function at different levels of complexity and impairment.

• The applications supported by our device could also have an important role in supporting physical therapist and cognitive psychologist in helping patients to recover motor and visuo-spatial abilities.

• Disabilities
• down syndrome
• haptic feedback
• manual tasks
• multimodal guidance device
• people without skills

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Emanuele Fedeli, instructor at Laboratorio Artimedia (Calolziocorte, Italy); Sarah Leveraro, Barbara Spreafico and Barbara Pandiani, instructors and teachers at Casa Dei Ragazzi Treves De Sanctis O.N.L.U.S., and Centro Diurno Disabili Di Barzanò for their support in the preliminary evaluation of the haptic guidance device and for giving us the opportunity to test the system.