An independent shopping experience for wheelchair users through augmented reality and RFID

ABSTRACT

People with physical and mobility impairments continue to struggle to attain independence in the performance of routine activities and tasks. For example, browsing in a store and interacting with products located beyond an arm’s length may be impossible without the enabling intervention of a human assistant. This research article describes a study undertaken to design, develop, and evaluate potential interaction methods for motor-impaired individuals, specifically those who use wheelchairs. Our study includes a user-centered approach, and a categorization of wheelchair users based upon the severity of their disability and their individual needs. We designed and developed access solutions that utilize radio frequency identification (RFID), augmented reality (AR), and touchscreen technologies in order to help people who use wheelchairs to carry out certain tasks autonomously. In this way, they have been empowered to go shopping independently, free from reliance upon the assistance of others. A total of 18 wheelchair users participated in the completed study.

KEYWORDS:

• accessibility
• augmented reality (AR)
• human-centered computing
• radio frequency identification (RFID)
• wheelchair users

Acknowledgments

This research was partnered by Vigatans Residence for motor disabled people, Barcelona, Spain. The authors also acknowledge the valuable comments and support received by Dr. Joan Melià-Seguí and Prof. Enric Peig.

Funding

This work was partly funded by the Spanish Government through project TIN2012-34965 PIGALL, and by the Obra Social of “la Caixa”-ACUP through project 2011ACUP00261.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was partly funded by the Spanish Government through project TIN2012-34965 PIGALL, and by the Obra Social of “la Caixa”-ACUP through project 2011ACUP00261.