A Usability Evaluation Protocol for an Hybrid Brain-Computer Interface Aimed at Attention-Deficit Disorder Rehabilitation

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by inattention and hyperactivity, which are inadequate for their age and lead to social, family, and academic difficulties. The advance in technology allows offering neurofeedback tools based on brain-computer interface (BCI). Within a therapeutic approach, a BCI uses specific electroencephalographic signals and translates them into a command signal to control a device, with the purpose of inducing neural changes in the central nervous system. For the attention training of children and adolescents with ADHD, BCIs with serious games were developed. Since ADHD patients have hyperactivity patterns, BCIs with serious games were combined with manual commands, known as hybrid BCI (hBCI). Novel technology like hBCI should be assessed before translating it to the clinical environment. The purpose of this article is to present a protocol for a user-centered usability evaluation of an hBCI for ADHD rehabilitation. The protocol was based on ISO 9241-11 standard and comprised three phases. The first one consisted of collecting data from participants and assessing their motivation. The second phase was focused on using the hBCI under different experimental tasks and obtaining objective metrics. Finally, in the third phase, subjective measurements regarding the perceived ease of use of the hBCI, motivation, and workload supplemented with an effectiveness objective metric were proposed. The protocol described in this article contributed to the knowledge about the user-centered usability evaluation and intervention-related aspects of hBCI, which are important factors to consider for future usage of the hBCI technology in ADHD rehabilitation management.