Perspectives on the future of technological devices that aid mobility for people with chronic neurological conditions

Abstract

Individuals with mobility difficulties often rely on various devices to navigate their daily lives and maintain their independence. Assistive technology, encompassing a wide range of devices, plays an important role in supporting these individuals by enhancing their functionality, mobility and autonomy. This research explores the perspectives of stakeholders on the future of technological devices that aid mobility for people with chronic neurological conditions. The study addresses two key research questions: (a) What are the perceptions of stakeholders on innovative technological devices that aid mobility for people with chronic neurological conditions? and (b) What innovative features or functions should be implemented for these individuals? Guided by the Human Activity Assistive Technology (HAAT) framework, this inductive qualitative research involved 13 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, and this included a photo-elicitation exercise. The photo-elicitation exercise motivated respondents to think about the future of mobility devices. Five key themes related to the perceptions and needs of stakeholders emerged from the findings. These are: innovation, usefulness, adaptability and acceptance, accessibility and useability. The results of this research suggest that stakeholders generally find assistive technology useful, however, major barriers still exist, and these ought to be considered when designing new, innovative devices. These barriers include issues related to accessibility, cost, and maintenance. Stakeholders emphasised their use of assistive devices according to their current needs, and therefore, customisation and cognitive abilities ought to be considered in the design of innovative futuristic products. Few respondents were able to shift their thinking towards innovative devices that aid mobility. Some respondents suggested that adding features or improvements to their existing devices would be preferable rather than having to switch to completely new devices. These insights highlight the importance of a user-centered approach in the continued development of any futuristic innovative assistive technology for people with chronic neurological conditions.