A Comprehensive Review of Current Assistive Technology Research for Paralyzed People

Loss of mobility and interaction reduces and, in some cases, eliminates participation in desired activities. The isolation caused by paralysis introduces severe mental health issues. Rehabilitation solutions through smart devices such as wheelchairs, gloves, surgical implants in brain, gaming devices, eye tracking, Skii equipment, exoskeletons, etc. have provided significant opportunities to access enabled meaningful participation in society. Currently, several prototypes are being put through clinical trials for acceptance and regulation. This paper identifies and investigates assistive technology research areas and discusses respective evaluations at length. Each research area is explored in detail. The experimental settings, technologies used along with results are highlighted. Finally, conclusions, future directions and implications are presented.