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Title: Understanding the Preferences for Lower-Limb Prosthesis: A Think-Aloud Study during User-Guided Auto-Tuning
Prostheses help amputees to maintain physical health and quality of life. Prosthesis wearers’ satisfaction and adherence to the prosthesis are closely related to the preferences for prosthesis tuning settings. However, the underlying factors that contribute to the preferences were under-explored. In this study, two able-bodied participants were asked to change the robotic prosthesis settings to their preferred state and the think-aloud technique with a mixed-method approach was used to reveal the contributing factors of preferences. We found that physical perception (e.g., positions of the prosthetic foot, balance, and stability) and subjective feelings (e.g., comfortableness, satisfaction, confidence, and worries) were two major factors. Experiences with the intact leg and other profiles were used as anchors for their preference levels. Preferences may also differ with situational context such as walking speed. The saturation points were reached with no strong approach motivation. The implications for prosthesis design and research were discussed.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1926998
PAR ID:
10482756
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Sage Journals
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting
Volume:
66
Issue:
1
ISSN:
2169-5067
Page Range / eLocation ID:
2159 to 2163
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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