The Assistive Technology (AT) Open Platform supports people with disabilities, older people, and developers in co-creating new assistive products outside the business realm. To address dissatisfaction with and non-adoption of commercial assistive products, the National Rehabilitation Centre in South Korea created an AT Open Platform as an open-source AT sharing platform to research and develop appropriate assistive technology suitable for users' needs. The emerging concept of AT Open Platform is new for both assistive product users and developers in South Korea. The Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) was utilised to understand the factors influencing the adoption of the AT Open Platform and to gain further insights on its design and future use. Interviews were conducted with six potential AT Open Platform users to develop a questionnaire for predicting behavioural intention. Subsequently, we surveyed 175 potential users to validate the UTAUT2. The results revealed that behavioural intention was significantly predicted by social influence, performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, and hedonic motivation. The AT Open Platform should focus on both online and offline platforms to educate and facilitate the co-creation of ATs for assistive product users and makers. This study, which targeted assistive product users and developers, has significant implications for policymakers and future research in using and adopting the AT Open Platform as it reflects the actual voices of the platform's stakeholders.

Assistive technology plays an important role in facilitating independent living and a high quality of life for older adults and people with disabilities, who depend on the provision of customized assistive devices for various physical functions. Technological advances such as 3D printers have facilitated responses to some of these needs; however, the lack of relevant policies, information, and services makes proper use of these facilities difficult. Therefore, the National Rehabilitation Center established the AT Open Platform—an open-source sharing platform for AT. The AT Open Platform revitalized the customized assistive device industry by using appropriate advanced technologies. In the AT Open Platform, older adults and those with disabilities propose needs, developers develop solutions for these needs and share products as open sources, and manufacturers provide services for older adults and those with disabilities using open sources. Having these various stakeholders interacting on one platform requires high usability. In this study, the usability of open platforms was evaluated by categorizing each stakeholder (idea proposer, developer, and maker); efficiency was evaluated by thematic think-aloud analysis; effectiveness was evaluated by task analysis; and satisfaction was evaluated using the System Usability Scale and the e-government website UI/UX quality evaluation table. Additionally, the functions, content, and visual designs of the open platforms were evaluated. Through this investigation, we suggested ways to improve open-source assistive device websites to meet the needs of each stakeholder. We expect that this open platform with improved usability will improve user accessibility and make it easier to find and use assistive devices that are essential in daily life.

Assistive device use has increased in recent years in Korea following the expansion of disability categories, increase in acquired disabilities, and an aging society. Although assistive devices can improve the quality of life by aiding social participation and removing physical restrictions, some devices are simply not used after users receive them via public distribution projects. Understanding assistive device usage after distribution is crucial to improve their service and supported products by disability type. This study constructed an interview questionnaire and interview guide for investigating the reason for (not) using the assistive device, and the necessity of assistive devices according to time point after disability. The aim was to establish a foundation for accumulating systematic and in-depth data. The interview questionnaire was developed primarily for frequent device users across 15 physical disability types. The terms used in the questionnaire were systematically defined, and interview items were derived based on assistive device-related questionnaires from the extant literature. The final interview questionnaire and guide were then refined after pilot test (N = 4) and expert (N = 2) consultations. The data accumulated by utilizing the interview questionnaire and interview guide developed in this study can improve the service support system for assistive devices by disability type and improvements by assistive devices in the future. This can help improve users’ quality of life by providing a more appropriate and enhanced assistive device.

Background. People with disabilities face considerable obstacles when exercising, which precludes them from the social and health benefits of physical activity. Especially for individuals with paraplegia with spinal cord injuries, it is necessary to maintain continuous participation in physical activity even after discharge, as it helps to maintain mobility and daily living activities through upper body strength. However, the participation rate of people with disabilities in physical activity in Korea is still low, mainly due to the lack of exercise equipment and facilities. Objectives. The aim of this study is to identify aspects that can be improved for better accessibility to exercise equipment for individuals with paraplegia with spinal cord injuries and to reach a consensus on possible guidelines for accessible exercise equipment. Methods. This study reviews and evaluated the usability of four existing upper-body exercise equipment for individuals with paraplegia with spinal cord injuries. To assess usability, task performance scores and time were measured, and a survey was conducted on safety and satisfaction. Based on these results, areas for improvement were identified. Through literature review, usability results, and opinions from various stakeholders, eight requirements for universal accessibility were proposed. Results. It is necessary to consider how wheelchair users access the exercise equipment. The access method to the exercise area (facility regulations, auxiliary equipment to be provided, etc.) and placement of exercise equipment should also be considered. Information such as explanations of the exercise equipment and how to use it should be located within the wheelchair users field of vision. Considering the participation rate in sports for people with disabilities in Korea, it is necessary to explain the exact exercise equipment and exercise method. It is also necessary to consider how wheelchair users transfer from the wheelchair to the seat of the exercise equipment. Parts that require manipulation of each exercise equipment must be within the wheelchair users range of motion. Various supports or assistive devices that provide body support according to each piece of equipment are needed. In addition to the wheelchairs own brake, it is necessary to provide a fixing device so that the wheelchair does not move during the exercise. Conclusion. For people with spinal cord injuries, the arm ergometer, aerobic exercise equipment, showed higher scores in performance, stability, and satisfaction compared to other exercise equipment. Among the strength exercise equipment, shoulder press had an effect on performance, seated lat pull-down had an effect on stability, and seated chest press had an effect on satisfaction. Therefore, when selecting exercise equipment, it is necessary to recommend aerobic and strength exercise equipment according to the preferences of people with spinal cord injuries. When developing strength exercise equipment, it is necessary to consider usability evaluation factors for individuals with spinal cord injury.

This study aimed to explore the key factors to consider when developing and sharing open-source assistive technology (AAT). To this end, the sip-and-puff mouse was selected from development requests submitted to the Korean Assistive Technology Open Platform. In this study, the sip-and-puff mouse was developed, applied, and shared as an open-source AAT for individuals with disabilities. The research was conducted based on usability feedback collected from five participants through three usability evaluations. During the usability evaluations, task performance scores and time taken were measured, and questionnaires were completed. Following the second usability evaluation, a diary study on long-term usage was conducted. Descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, and paired t-tests were performed using SPSS 22.0. Thematic analysis was conducted using ATLAS.ti. Based on the integrated qualitative and quantitative findings, practical design directions for user-centered open-source assistive technology were identified, including user and environmental matching, customization, durability, supporting documentation, use-error management, and participatory development. The results of this study are expected to contribute to improving the usability of customized open-source assistive technology (AAT) through a participatory design approach. Highly usable open-source AATs will help to make AATs more widely utilized in the daily living activities of the elderly and people with disabilities.

Background/Objectives: Because function typically improves after stroke, the devices people need, and for how long, may change along the recovery trajectory. This exploratory study examined retrospective accounts of assistive device use, discontinuation, replacement, and nonpurchase across two post-onset stages, hospitalization and home and community reintegration. Methods: Ten community-dwelling adults with chronic stroke (mean disability duration 13.9 years) were interviewed twice at home, with caregivers contributing where present, and reconstructed their device histories from recall; the resulting accounts are treated as joint participant–caregiver reports. Instruments followed the Human–Activity–Assistive Technology (HAAT) model; field notes and completed device checklists were analyzed by inductive qualitative content analysis, and facilitators and barriers were classified with the World Health Organization people-centered assistive technology (5P) framework. Aggregate figures for the stroke subsample of the 2020 National Survey on Persons with Disabilities (n = 662) are reported as national context rather than as independent confirmation. Results: Participants reported having used a mean of 11.2 device types, yet named only 1.3 devices that were needed but not purchased. Discontinuation was concentrated among devices used during inpatient rehabilitation: standing frames (9/9), walkers (5/5), and manual wheelchairs (8/10) had been set aside. Functional improvement was the only reason recorded for walkers, but for standing frames and manual wheelchairs it was recorded alongside cost, bulk, replacement, and, in one case, continuing unmet need, so its independent contribution could not be established. A second cluster reflected the poor fit of body-worn devices to a changing hemiplegic limb (ankle-foot orthoses, 4/6). The nonpurchase barrier reported most often was inability to find a suitable product on the market. Conclusions: These retrospective accounts from ten participants cannot support policy conclusions. They generate hypotheses, requiring prospective testing, about whether ownership-based funding with fixed durability periods fits stage-limited need and whether rental provision, prescription-based provision for orthoses, and targeted product development would fit it better.