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BACKGROUND: Vision impairments affect the ability to navigate environments and gain spatial perception of one's surroundings. Existing navigation aids typically provide close-range information, but not feedback on farther distances (i.e., beyond 5 m from the user). OBJECTIVE: To address this gap, the OptiBand, a custom assistive device, was previously designed with a stakeholder who is blind. The OptiBand uses Lidar sensing and haptic feedback to relay information on objects up to 15 m away. In this paper, we sought to evaluate the efficacy of the OptiBand with an in situ user study. METHODS: N = 9 participants (eight blind and one low-vision) used the OptiBand for a period of three months. Users periodically rated spatial perception workload and trust of their assistive navigation aids (at first as a baseline without the OptiBand, and then with the OptiBand). RESULTS: The OptiBand tended to yield lower workload requirements and similar trust levels compared to existing navigation aids. Interview data demonstrated the usefulness of the OptiBand in selected day-to-day tasks such as navigating outdoors and maintaining appropriate interpersonal spacing. CONCLUSIONS: This work provides evidence on benefits of and potential uses of assistive navigation aids like the OptiBand. Researchers interested in similar devices can benefit from our efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a growing ageing population and the advent of interactive TV (iTV), understanding how older people use iTV services is a timely and important task. Working towards this end, this paper reports on in situ conversations of, and observations with, almost 400 older people, with different levels of educational attainment and experience with ICTs, while talking about and using online video portals and similar interactive systems in Spain, Brazil and Denmark. The results show more similarities than differences in their reasons for adopting online video portals and patterns of use. All our participants used these portals for keeping or remaining in touch with people they trusted. The results also show that privacy online was a common concern to all the participants. Differences in the acceptance of e-government services and the type of content that drove most of their interactions were also found. Implications for designing more accessible and meaningful iTV services are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Individuals lacking or having impaired vision face serious difficulties during autonomous locomotion. Sensory substitution devices can contribute to alleviate such difficulties, significantly (and measurably) reducing anxiety. OBJECTIVE: The present paper evaluates a device - the Tactile Radar (TR) - that can detect obstacles at a certain distance from the user and generate meaningful and unobtrusive tactile stimuli.METHODS: We evaluate the impact of its use on the degree of anxiety that autonomous locomotion usually trigger on people who are blind.RESULTS: Decreased anxiety as well as increased sense of safety and independence was observed on the tested subjects, through subjective (semi-structured interviews) and objective assessments (STAI inventories).CONCLUSIONS: This device seems promising. More experimentation is needed to evaluate the capacity of the TR to enhance indoor localization and body placement with respect to walls and obstacles, as well as evaluation of the device in real life situations including outdoors. Last but not least, we need to consider ways of moving from a prototyping to a real production phase - of an affordable yet reliable device that can reach as soon as possible the interested population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: This paper presents the results of an evaluation of a technology-supported leisure game for people with dementia in relation to the stimulation of social behavior. OBJECTIVE: In this study we explore the additional impact of technology-supported leisure activities on behavioral outcomes of people with dementia in a nursing home and daycare setting in comparison to a traditional leisure activity. The technology-supported game aims to stimulate social behavior and interaction among participants via its design features, including a TV, radio, telephone and treasure box. METHODS: A mixed-method research design was applied. Observations of participants (n=10, multiple rounds of observations), were conducted using the Oshkosh Social Behavior Coding scale. The bootstrapping method was used for statistical analysis, differentiating for different subgroups of participants. In addition, interviews with the activity facilitators were conducted. RESULTS: Social behavior was found to occur more often than non-social behavior during the sessions, in particular, due to commenting during the game. Participants with a low MMSE score, scored higher for non-social and non-verbal behavior. Female participants scored higher for social behavior than males. Activity facilitators stated that the technology-supported leisure activity helps them with their professional tasks. CONCLUSION: A technology-supported game can stimulate communication and social behavior among players with dementia. Moreover, it helps activity facilitators in making activities more person-centered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings on the role of online traveller information services in regional public transport for older people and people with functional limitations. An explanatory mixed methods design was used. A quantitative questionnaire study of the target group's need of traveller information and use of online traveller information services provided the basis for a qualitative focus group study of their attitudes towards online traveller information services in public transport and their perceptions of traveller information's role in their travel habits. The key findings suggest that the essential influence of access to traveller information through online traveller information services on the travel of older people and people with functional limitations is the reassurance that these services offer. This results in confidence that enables secure travel which in turn enables the older traveller or traveller with functional limitations to cope with possible difficulties during the journey. Thus there is a point in offering high quality traveller information to such people through online traveller information services. The point however, is not necessarily that they should undertake more journeys by public transport, but rather that when they travel they can do so confidently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Service robots may offer an innovative assistive solution to improve the quality of life of frail elderly people, by assisting them in specific situations identified as relevant to maintain independence. Objective: This paper describes the results of a qualitative and quantitative research based on a user-centered methodology carried out within the EU-funded project "Multi-Role Shadow Robotic System for Independent Living" (SRS), aiming to generate user requirements and realistic usage scenarios maximizing the alignment with users' needs, perceptions, feelings and rights. Methods: A qualitative and quantitative research - based on focus groups (59 participants) and questionnaires (129 respondents) - was carried out in three countries: Italy, Spain and Germany. The survey involved prospective end-users (elderly people and family members who care for them), caregivers, and geriatric experts. Results: Results show that despite elderly people encounter difficulties in many activities of daily life, a semi-autonomous remotely-controlled and self-learning service robot has been judged an interesting solution only in some circumstances. Monitoring and managing emergency situations, helping with reaching, fetching and carrying objects that are too heavy or positioned in unreachable places: these are tasks for which robotic support has been widely accepted, while tasks involving direct physical contact between the person and the robot are not appreciated instead. Relatives of the elderly could act as remote operators; however, family psychological burden and time restrictions should be considered too. Conclusions: A tele-operated robotic system may be of help for frail elderly people. In certain cases this solution may be effective only in conjunction with a 24-hour professional Service Centre able to manage tele-operation when relatives are not available. This survey adds further tokens of knowledge to previous literature studies on this subject; it compares the potential users' and the professionals' views; it helps identifying potentially successful applications of tele-operated robots in the care of elderly people living at home. The results obtained by the present study, generated specific requirements and the first versions of concrete usage scenarios, enabling designers and technologists to start with a first development phase of the SRS concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Usability and accessibility are key design characteristics that enable consumers with disabilities to effectively and safely interact with mainstream products as they pursue independent living. This product usability study examines experiences of consumers with hand function limitations regarding the quality and value of a commercially available automatic jar opener. The product was designed for use by people with diverse hand functions and its development process included continuous consumer input. Findings from this longitudinal case study include high ratings of the jar opener on usability and other indicators of quality. Consumers' reported value of the product remained consistently high throughout the study. Product use was consistent during the trial period evidencing high consumer satisfaction and product acceptance. This study attests to the potential benefits of involving consumers with disabilities in the development of products not only as a strategy to integrate inclusive design features, but also to broaden their market value. The paper also highlights the methodology and key concepts underlying the investigation of quality and value for products designed through this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]