Different wheelchairs designs influence emotional reactions from users and non-users?

Abstract

The emotional reactions caused during the interaction with a product interfered in the evaluation by the user. For the assistive technologies, like the wheelchairs, there is a range of emotional reactions associated with the image of disease, despite the importance of these products for the independence of the people. Many studies about wheelchairs focused in biomechanical and functional aspects, without emphasis in other aspects of the user experience with these products. In this context, the aim of this work is to evaluate if the wheelchair with different design features provoke different emotional reactions in users and non-users of this assistive technology. Geneva Emotional Wheel was applied to 30 people wheelchair users and 30 people wheelchair non-users during a video with two wheelchairs in a virtual environment 3D. The results indicate that a wheelchair with a modern design causes more positive emotional reactions than a wheelchair with traditional design. It is considered these results can cooperate with wheelchair designers, as well as in health services in the context of prescription of this assistive technology.