Motor Dysfunction Simulation in Able-Bodied Participants for Usability Evaluation of Assistive Technology: A Research Proposal

The development of assistive technologies and guidelines for their accessibility is impeded by the limited access to disabled participants. As a consequence, performing disability simulations on able bodied participants is a common practice in usability evaluation of assistive technologies. However, still little is known about how disability simulation can influence the usability evaluation of assistive technologies by able-bodied participants. This research proposal explores the effect of a motor dysfunction simulation in able-bodied participants that impedes use of a mouse input, but supports gesture-based assistive technology. Results of this study may provide insights on how to improve, via the experimental design, the meaning and the validity of usability evaluation of assistive technologies by able-bodied participants.