Advancing eHMI for powered wheelchairs beyond safety and communication: a pilot study on enriching social interaction through a co-design approach

IF 3.5 2区工程技术 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, APPLIED

Transportation Research Part F-Traffic Psychology and Behaviour Pub Date : 2025-06-05 DOI:10.1016/j.trf.2025.05.036

Mohsen Rasoulivalajoozi , Morteza Farhoudi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Enhancing safety and communication while minimizing unwanted attention is key for wheelchair external Human-Machine Interfaces (eHMIs). This study aims to introduce an interface to enhance eHMIs for powered wheelchairs, improve external communication, and enhance positive social interactions in challenging urban situations.

Methods

A co-design approach was adopted, centering wheelchair users (WUs) in a two-step methodology. First, data were collected through a qualitative survey to define criteria, which informed themes for focus group discussions. These themes guided the ideation process. Eighteen participants, including WUs and experts in cognitive psychology, physiotherapy, and design, were involved. Concepts developed in ideation sessions were analyzed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process. A prototype was then developed to be assessed by both WUs and pedestrians through a structured questionnaire.

Results

According to the analysis, four themes were identified: I. Streamlined Information in Interaction, II. User-Centric Safety Feedback, III. Harmonious and Minimalist Interaction Design, and IV. Effortless Integration and Production. Regarding these themes, a table with design suggestions and implications was introduced. Ultimately, five interface concepts were proposed, with Concept 2, ‘WheelSafe Illumina’ (41.3%), and Concept 1, ‘WheelGlow Assist’ (28.1%) emerging as top priorities, both featuring a shell structure. Concept 2 was developed for prototyping. The feedback from the experiences of both WUs and pedestrians indicate that the proposed eHMI may enhance perceived communication and safety without drawing negative attention.

Conclusion

Integrating eHMI into a shell structure improves functional communication while also minimizing unwanted attention toward WUs—an often-overlooked issue in previous research that our co-design approach identified and effectively addressed.

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推动电动轮椅的eHMI超越安全和通信：通过协同设计方法丰富社会互动的试点研究

增强安全性和沟通，同时尽量减少不必要的注意是轮椅外部人机界面（eHMIs）的关键。本研究旨在引入一种界面，以增强电动轮椅的eHMIs，改善外部沟通，并在具有挑战性的城市环境中增强积极的社会互动。方法采用协同设计方法，以轮椅使用者为中心，分两步进行。首先，通过定性调查收集数据，以确定标准，为焦点小组讨论的主题提供信息。这些主题指导了构思过程。共有18名参与者，包括WUs和认知心理学、物理治疗和设计方面的专家。在构思过程中形成的概念使用层次分析法进行分析。然后开发了一个原型，通过结构化问卷对WUs和行人进行评估。结果根据分析，确定了四个主题：1 .互动中的精简信息；以用户为中心的安全反馈，三。和谐简约的交互设计，以及四、轻松的整合和生产。针对这些主题，介绍了一个包含设计建议和含义的表格。最终，提出了五个接口概念，其中概念2“WheelSafe Illumina”（41.3%）和概念1“WheelGlow Assist”（28.1%）成为优先考虑的概念，两者都具有壳体结构。概念2是为原型而开发的。从wu和行人的经验反馈表明，拟议的eHMI可以增强感知通信和安全性，而不会引起负面注意。将eHMI集成到壳结构中可以改善功能通信，同时还可以最大限度地减少对wus的不必要关注，这是之前研究中经常被忽视的问题，我们的协同设计方法识别并有效解决了这一问题。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Transportation Research Part F-Traffic Psychology and Behaviour Multiple-

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

14.60%

发文量

239

审稿时长

71 days

期刊介绍： Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour focuses on the behavioural and psychological aspects of traffic and transport. The aim of the journal is to enhance theory development, improve the quality of empirical studies and to stimulate the application of research findings in practice. TRF provides a focus and a means of communication for the considerable amount of research activities that are now being carried out in this field. The journal provides a forum for transportation researchers, psychologists, ergonomists, engineers and policy-makers with an interest in traffic and transport psychology.