proCover

Sensory Augmentation of Prosthetic Limbs Using Smart Textile Covers

 
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Project Overview

Today’s commercially available prosthetic limbs lack tactile sensation and feedback. proCover was a novel concept and prototype of a prosthetic-sensing wearable that offers a noninvasive, self-applicable and customizable approach for the sensory augmentation of present-day and future low to mid-range priced lower-limb prostheses. 

Approach

In this project, we built several prototypes of sensing-socks and knee guards for use on lower-limb prostheses. This prototyping was done in an iterative manner, based on insights gained in consultation with eight lower-limb amputees. By conducting a survey and interviews, we investigated the design space for prosthetic sensing-wearables. Based on this initial feedback, we created new versions which were then evaluated in a pilot-study. 

Results

The main contributions of proCover were as follows: 

  • A novel concept and prototype of a textile wearable that can be self-applied and retroactively used to augment a wide range of lower-limb prostheses with customized sensing capabilities, and which offers coverage beyond the plantar region of a prosthetic foot.
  • Novel interaction techniques that allow for the customization of the sensing capabilities for prosthetic limbs. This includes the ability to both dynamically create distinct sensing regions from a high-resolution matrix of sensors and map them to feedback actuators.
  • An outline of the design space for prosthetic sensing socks through extensive questionnaires and discussion with eight lower-limb amputees.
  • An early assessment of the design of sensing textile wearables and their applicability to real users in different scenarios in a final pilot-study conducted with four lower-limb amputees.

proCover Project Video. 

Paper Presentation of proCover. UIST 2016. Tokyo, Japan.

PUblicationS

J. Leong, P. Parzer, F. Perteneder, T. Babic, C. Rendl, A. Vogl, H. Egger, A. Olwal, and M. Haller, 2016. "proCover: Sensory Augmentation of Prosthetic Limbs Using Smart Textile Covers," in UIST16: 29th ACM User Interface Software and Technology Symposium, Tokyo, Japan, 2016, pp. 335-346.  [UIST 2016 Best Paper]

J. Leong, 2016. "proCover – Sensory Augmentation of Prosthetic Limbs Using Smart Textile Covers,"
Master Thesis, Interactive Media; FH Oberösterreich — Fakultät für Informatik, Kommunikation und Medien, Hagenberg, Austria, 2016. 

Themes

Accessibility, Smart Textiles, Sensory Feedback

Skills & Technologies

Physical Prototyping, FlexTiles, User Surveys, User Interviews, Pilot-Study, Information Visualization, Arduino, WPF/C#, Vibration Motors

    Press