SIDEKICK: A Modular Worker Assistance System (WAS) for Configurable Work Instructions in Sheltered Workshops
Maite-Aileen Brandt, Thies Pfeiffer · Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI) · 2026
Supported work contexts such as sheltered workshops often require work instructions that can be adapted to individual abilities, tasks, and needs for supporting people with disabilities. A digital worker assistance system (WAS) can provide this worker guidance through step-by-step instructions and situated feedback during manual work. The system's practical use, however, also depends on whether instructions can be created, adapted, and maintained without extensive technical expertise. This demo presents SIDEKICK, a modular assistive workstation system for configurable digital work instructions. SIDEKICK combines a worker-facing step-by-step instruction interface with physical input and feedback components, such as buttons, ultrasonic sensors, and LED-based visual cues. Its current redesign separates instruction authoring, runtime guidance, and hardware communication. This enables the system to be more easily extendable with hardware components, making instructions more adaptable to work processes. The demonstration focuses on three core processes, explorable by participants: creating and adapting work instructions, pairing hardware devices to instruction events, and setting up and running task instructions at the workstation. Through the demo, we aim to discuss implementation approaches for systems to create assistive work instructions, while remaining configurable, with a focus on its usability in the sheltered workshop context. This addresses challenges impacting workshops' inclusivity and efficiency, respectively.