Assistive Device With Conventional, Alternative, and Brain-Computer Interface Inputs to Enhance Interaction With the Environment for People With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Feasibility and Usability Study

ObjectiveTo 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.DesignProof-of-principle study with a convenience sample.SettingAn apartment-like space designed to be fully accessible by people with motor disabilities for occupational therapy, placed in a neurologic rehabilitation hospital.ParticipantsEnd-users with ALS (N=8; 5 men, 3 women; mean age ± SD, 60±12y) recruited by a clinical team from an ALS center.InterventionsThree 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 MeasuresSystem 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.ResultsEffectiveness 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.ConclusionsA BCI can be used as an input channel to access an AT by persons with ALS, with no significant reduction of usability.