Physical Agency

The feeling of control and ownership over physical actions and their effects in the world. In assistive technology contexts, physical agency refers to a users sense of directly controlling objects and receiving sensory confirmation of their actions. Traditional AT designs often prioritize functional outcomes while neglecting the sensory experience of using physical tools, which can leave users feeling disconnected from their interactions. Approaches like providing haptic feedback when controlling devices through alternative input methods (facial expressions, eye gaze, brain-computer interfaces) aim to restore a sense of physical agency by creating tangible confirmation of user actions.