Determining the usability and technology acceptance of a powered and automated cargo management system during ladder lifting tasks: A pilot study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Miguel Cruz, Antonio^{a; b; *} | Murphy, Jessica^a | Chohan, Avneet Kaur^a | Liu, Lili^c | Rios Rincon, Adriana Maria^a

Affiliations: [a] Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada | [b] Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, Canada | [c] Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Antonio Miguel Cruz, Assistant Lecturer. Department of Occupational Therapy. Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. University of Alberta. 2-64 Corbett Hall, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G4, Canada. Tel.: +1 780 492 5108; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Evidence for the adoption and acceptance of assistive devices for ladder lifting tasks by workers is scarce. OBJECTIVE:This study aims to investigate the technology acceptance and usability of a powered and automated cargo management system (RazerLift®) used by workers who need to lift ladders as part of their daily duties, as compared to mechanical cargo management systems (traditional). METHODS:We used a one-way repeated measures design in this study. Our primary outcome variable was a usability performance measurement measured as time (in seconds) for unloading and loading ladders using both systems. Our secondary outcome was technology acceptance, measured using questionnaires with a 5-point Likert scale: “strongly disagree (1)” to “strongly agree (5)”. RESULTS:The participants conducted the combined unloading and loading time using the powered and automated system (RazerLift®) 20.85 seconds faster than the traditional system (p-value = 0.000, t-value (df) = –5.730 (6), d = 2.713). Overall, the RazerLift® system (mean = 44.28, SD 5.58) had a higher technology acceptance compared to the traditional system (mean = 30.00, SD 7.91), (p = 0.041, t-value (df) = 6.589 (6), d = 4.60). CONCLUSIONS:The RazerLift® was more time efficient compared with the traditional system, and (2) the RazerLift® was superior in terms of technology acceptance compared to the traditional system.

Keywords: Technology acceptance, UTAUT model, ergonomics, human factors, prevention of work-related musculoskeletal injuries

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-213461

Journal: Work, vol. 69, no. 1, pp. 109-118, 2021