Francesca Schettini1, Angela Riccio2, Luca Simione3, Giulia Liberati4, Mario Caruso5, Vittorio Frasca6, Barbara Calabrese7, Massimo Mecella5, Alessia Pizzimenti8, Maurizio Inghilleri6, Donatella Mattia9, Febo Cincotti10. 1. Neuroelectrical Imaging and BCI Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy; Department of Computer, Control, and Management Engineering Antonio Ruberti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: f.schettini@hsantalucia.it. 2. Neuroelectrical Imaging and BCI Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy; Department of Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 3. Neuroelectrical Imaging and BCI Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy; Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, CNR, Rome, Italy. 4. Neuroelectrical Imaging and BCI Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy; Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. 5. Department of Computer, Control, and Management Engineering Antonio Ruberti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 6. Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 7. Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. 8. Crossing Dialogues Association, Rome, Italy. 9. Neuroelectrical Imaging and BCI Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy. 10. Neuroelectrical Imaging and BCI Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy; Department of Computer, Control, and Management Engineering Antonio Ruberti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and usability of an assistive technology (AT) prototype designed to be operated with conventional/alternative input channels and a P300-based brain-computer interface (BCI) in order to provide users who have different degrees of muscular impairment resulting from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with communication and environmental control applications. DESIGN: Proof-of-principle study with a convenience sample. SETTING: An apartment-like space designed to be fully accessible by people with motor disabilities for occupational therapy, placed in a neurologic rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: End-users with ALS (N=8; 5 men, 3 women; mean age ± SD, 60 ± 12 y) recruited by a clinical team from an ALS center. INTERVENTIONS: Three experimental conditions based on (1) a widely validated P300-based BCI alone; (2) the AT prototype operated by a conventional/alternative input device tailored to the specific end-user's residual motor abilities; and (3) the AT prototype accessed by a P300-based BCI. These 3 conditions were presented to all participants in 3 different sessions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: System usability was evaluated in terms of effectiveness (accuracy), efficiency (written symbol rate, time for correct selection, workload), and end-user satisfaction (overall satisfaction) domains. A comparison of the data collected in the 3 conditions was performed. RESULTS: Effectiveness and end-user satisfaction did not significantly differ among the 3 experimental conditions. Condition III was less efficient than condition II as expressed by the longer time for correct selection. CONCLUSIONS: A BCI can be used as an input channel to access an AT by persons with ALS, with no significant reduction of usability.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and usability of an assistive technology (AT) prototype designed to be operated with conventional/alternative input channels and a P300-based brain-computer interface (BCI) in order to provide users who have different degrees of muscular impairment resulting from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with communication and environmental control applications. DESIGN: Proof-of-principle study with a convenience sample. SETTING: An apartment-like space designed to be fully accessible by people with motor disabilities for occupational therapy, placed in a neurologic rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: End-users with ALS (N=8; 5 men, 3 women; mean age ± SD, 60 ± 12 y) recruited by a clinical team from an ALS center. INTERVENTIONS: Three experimental conditions based on (1) a widely validated P300-based BCI alone; (2) the AT prototype operated by a conventional/alternative input device tailored to the specific end-user's residual motor abilities; and (3) the AT prototype accessed by a P300-based BCI. These 3 conditions were presented to all participants in 3 different sessions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: System usability was evaluated in terms of effectiveness (accuracy), efficiency (written symbol rate, time for correct selection, workload), and end-user satisfaction (overall satisfaction) domains. A comparison of the data collected in the 3 conditions was performed. RESULTS: Effectiveness and end-user satisfaction did not significantly differ among the 3 experimental conditions. Condition III was less efficient than condition II as expressed by the longer time for correct selection. CONCLUSIONS: A BCI can be used as an input channel to access an AT by persons with ALS, with no significant reduction of usability.
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