What Users Like and Don’t Like About Occupational Exoskeletons: Experiences and Implications From a Focus Group Study

Paper Title

What Users Like and Don’t Like About Occupational Exoskeletons: Experiences and Implications From a Focus Group Study

Publication Info

• Topic area: User experiences and design implications for occupational exoskeletons.
• Keywords: Occupational exoskeletons, user experience, human-computer interaction, embodied interaction, usability, sensory perception, design tensions, workplace ergonomics, qualitative study.

Background and Problem

• Problem / challenge: Despite the potential of occupational exoskeletons to reduce physical strain and prevent injuries, their adoption is hindered by user discomfort, limited usability, and insufficient understanding of embodied experiences.
• Significance: Addressing these challenges is critical to improving workplace ergonomics, enhancing user acceptance, and realizing the health benefits of exoskeletons.
• Motivation and related work: Prior research has focused on biomechanical effectiveness and physiological benefits but has largely neglected subjective user experiences, sensory perceptions, and the interplay of design features with task and social contexts. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring multisensory user feedback across diverse exoskeletons and work scenarios.

Solution

• Proposed approach: A qualitative focus group study involving hands-on trials of 16 occupational exoskeletons across various task scenarios, followed by in-depth discussions to capture user perceptions and design implications.
• Novelty:
  1. A multisensory account of how bodily sensations shape user experience with exoskeletons.
  2. An empirically grounded categorization of perception-related factors influencing comfort, effectiveness, and acceptance.
  3. Design implications addressing trade-offs between support, weight, movement integrity, appearance, and social acceptability.
• Procedure and key techniques:
  • Participants tested 16 exoskeleton models in a standardized task course simulating real-world activities (e.g., lifting, overhead work).
  • Focus groups captured reflections on sensory experiences, usability, and design preferences.
  • Qualitative content analysis identified recurring themes and tensions in user feedback.

Results

• Concrete findings:
  • Key sensory categories: sound perception, heat sensation, pressure/pain/relief, proprioception, physical support, usability, and appearance.
  • Participants reported discomfort from heat, pressure, and restricted movement, especially in rigid and active systems.
  • Bulky designs affected spatial awareness and social acceptability, while soft systems were preferred for comfort but lacked perceived support.
• Advantage over baselines: The study provides a comprehensive, cross-device perspective on user experiences, highlighting nuanced trade-offs and tensions not captured in single-device evaluations.
• Experiments / evaluation:
  • Participants (N=21) from diverse industries tested exoskeletons in logistics, assembly, and construction tasks.
  • Focus groups analyzed multisensory feedback and design preferences.
  • Categories were derived from 17,381 words of transcribed discussions.
• Limitations and future work:
  • Limited sample size and gender diversity.
  • Focus on short-term experiences; longitudinal studies are needed to explore adaptation and long-term use.
  • Future research should include more female participants and diverse occupational contexts, such as caregiving.

Summary

This study explores how bodily sensations shape user experiences with occupational exoskeletons, identifying key sensory categories and design tensions. Findings reveal that rigid and active systems often provide noticeable support but introduce discomfort, while soft systems enhance comfort but lack perceived effectiveness. The study emphasizes the importance of user-centered design to balance trade-offs between support, comfort, usability, and social acceptability. These insights inform the development of next-generation exoskeletons that better align with user needs and workplace demands.