Active back exosuits demonstrate positive usability perceptions that drive intention-to-use in the field among logistic warehouse workers.

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Title: Active back exosuits demonstrate positive usability perceptions that drive intention-to-use in the field among logistic warehouse workers.
Authors: Hess, Adam1,2, Jacobs, Jesse V.3, Sullivan, Sarah2, Roberts Williams, Dionna O.2, Awad, Lou N.4, Dalton, Diane4, Walsh, Conor J.1,2 walsh@seas.harvard.edu, Quirk, D. Adam1,2
Source: Applied Ergonomics. Jan2025, Vol. 122, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Work-related injuries, Back injuries, Musculoskeletal system abnormalities, Warehouse management, Human-machine relationship
Abstract: Back exosuits offer the potential to reduce occupational back injuries but require in-field acceptance and use to realize this potential. For this study, 146 employees trialed an active back exosuit in the field for 4 h, completing an acceptance usability survey. Comparing the 80% of employees willing to continue wearing this device (N = 117) to those who were not (N = 29) revealed that employees willing to wear this device for a longer-term study generally were more likely to perceive this back exosuit to be effective (helpful) and compatible (minimally disruptive) to their everyday work. Using an optimal tree approach, we demonstrate that intent-to-use could be predicted with 78% accuracy by interacting features of perceived exosuit effectiveness and work compatibility. This study reinforces the importance of task matching, noticeable relief, and unobtrusive design to facilitate short-term employee acceptance of industrial wearable robotic technology. • 80% of 146 employees had intent to use an active back exosuit after a field test. • 78% of employees found the device helpful, which promoted intent-to-use. • Up to 11% of employees noted device incompatibility, which lowered intent-to-use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Applied Ergonomics is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 180678905
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: Active back exosuits demonstrate positive usability perceptions that drive intention-to-use in the field among logistic warehouse workers.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Applied+Ergonomics%22">Applied Ergonomics</searchLink>. Jan2025, Vol. 122, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Work-related+injuries%22">Work-related injuries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Back+injuries%22">Back injuries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Musculoskeletal+system+abnormalities%22">Musculoskeletal system abnormalities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Warehouse+management%22">Warehouse management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human-machine+relationship%22">Human-machine relationship</searchLink>
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  Data: Back exosuits offer the potential to reduce occupational back injuries but require in-field acceptance and use to realize this potential. For this study, 146 employees trialed an active back exosuit in the field for 4 h, completing an acceptance usability survey. Comparing the 80% of employees willing to continue wearing this device (N = 117) to those who were not (N = 29) revealed that employees willing to wear this device for a longer-term study generally were more likely to perceive this back exosuit to be effective (helpful) and compatible (minimally disruptive) to their everyday work. Using an optimal tree approach, we demonstrate that intent-to-use could be predicted with 78% accuracy by interacting features of perceived exosuit effectiveness and work compatibility. This study reinforces the importance of task matching, noticeable relief, and unobtrusive design to facilitate short-term employee acceptance of industrial wearable robotic technology. • 80% of 146 employees had intent to use an active back exosuit after a field test. • 78% of employees found the device helpful, which promoted intent-to-use. • Up to 11% of employees noted device incompatibility, which lowered intent-to-use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Applied Ergonomics is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1016/j.apergo.2024.104400
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Back injuries
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      – SubjectFull: Musculoskeletal system abnormalities
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      – SubjectFull: Warehouse management
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      – SubjectFull: Human-machine relationship
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      – TitleFull: Active back exosuits demonstrate positive usability perceptions that drive intention-to-use in the field among logistic warehouse workers.
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              Text: Jan2025
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              Y: 2025
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