Design and implementation of an ontology-driven cyber–physical prosthesis service system for personalised and adaptive care

Abstract

As prosthetic technologies become increasingly data-rich and embedded in care systems, traditional human-centred approaches often fall short of addressing evolving use realities. This paper contributes an applied computing framework that enables semantic reasoning and data-driven adaptation within prosthesis aftercare. We present an ontology-driven, cyber–physical prosthesis service system designed to enable personalised and adaptive care. Implemented through the Adaptive Prosthesis Life-Cycle Service System (adProLiSS) framework and demonstrated via a smart prosthesis prototype, the system treats the prosthesis as a semi-autonomous actor within an emotionally responsive and semantically mediated ecosystem. The proposed architecture integrates sensor data acquisition, ontology-based knowledge representation, and semantic reasoning to enable context-aware decision support and adaptive personalisation. A layered cyber–physical infrastructure, comprising embedded sensors, semantic reasoning, and user feedback through a digital twin interface, supports personalised aftercare, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and reflective design engagement. Evaluation with 26 participants across clinical, engineering, and user groups confirmed the system’s value in enhancing functionality, reducing downtime, and supporting emotional well-being. By positioning ontologies as both computational enablers and design support mechanisms, this research contributes a practical and scalable model for prosthetic service systems that adapt across bodily, emotional, and ecological dimensions, advancing more responsive and consequenceaware care practices.