Applying human-centered design to rehabilitation device

Abstract

The current study investigated the patients' problems and needs during therapy process. The investigation results were transferred to the product requirements of the rehabilitation device. The features of the new rehabilitation device included the following: 1) a webcam that can provide patients to communicate with his/her families or doctors during the therapy process, 2) a visual display that provides patients the function to see their posture and is able to correct their actions immediately, 3) physiological data such as movement angle, strength, and exercise time which were provided for diagnosis application for the doctors and their families, and 4) the main operational was designed to be adjustable for different individuals including its height, angle, and direction. The current design obtained positive evaluation preliminary by the occupational therapists. The procedure, methods and design of this study can be used as a reference for rehabilitation product design. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.