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We conducted an online survey to gather opinions of outpatient nursing staff on the acceptance and benefits of assistive systems for fall prevention. The survey included 50 participants, predominantly women (74%), with the 50-59 age group most strongly represented (36%). The study aimed to incorporate care professionals' opinions into the development and evaluation of technical assistance systems to improve health and care provision. Results showed that nursing staff considered assistive technologies promising for fall prevention, with desired future use significantly higher than current use, particularly in mobility, safety, and movement monitoring. Despite a relatively high technology affinity, knowledge of specific technologies was limited. The participating caregivers showed a more positive attitude towards digital assistance systems compared to their perception of colleagues or care recipients. Objective measurements of physical parameters, especially gait and balance, were identified as top priorities for scientific research. The findings emphasize the importance of involving caregivers in developing and applying assistive technologies to reduce falls more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the use of Assistive Technologies (AT) among pupils with hearing and visual impairment in selected primary schools in Zanzibar. The study involved 127 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires, focus group discussions, and observation. Findings indicated that primary schools in Zanzibar had access to hearing aids, sign language interpreters, braille, and speech recognition software. However, the utilization of these technologies posed challenges for most pupils. While pupils with impairments perceived the positive impact of assistive technologies in learning and performance, they encountered several obstacles, including shortage of devices, insufficient training for both teachers and pupils, lack of qualified teachers for instructing pupils in their use, communication issues with hearing-impaired pupils, negative attitudes toward Assistive Technology, and inadequate quality of available devices. The study recommends that the government allocate substantial funds for the procurement and maintenance of assistive technologies and establish support systems and resource centers to enhance effective utilization of assistive technologies in primary schools. This will ultimately promote inclusivity and improve educational experiences of pupils with hearing and visual impairments in Zanzibar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Assistive technologies (ATs) enable persons with visual impairment (PwVI) to equitably benefit from public library resources and services as their sighted counterparts. However, the extent to which this facility is available and used at public libraries in less-developed countries remains largely unknown. Objectives: This study reports on the investigation done on the availability and use of ATs by PwVI at public libraries in the cities of Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg in South Africa. Method: The study used a multimethod and explanatory sequential design in which data were collected through questionnaires administered with 131 librarians and interviews held with 10 PwVI. Results: The findings of the study point towards inadequate availability of computers with internet services, audiotapes, screen magnifying and reading software, and these were used for, among others, leisure, research, job searching and communication. Conclusion: The study concludes that certain ATs were inadequately available and used by PwVI at some libraries in the cities of Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg. The study recommends training for PwVI on how to use ATs, marketing of available ATs, training of staff on how to render AT-based services as well as management availing adequate budget for the development of AT-based collection. Contribution: The study contributes to the understanding of the types of ATs available and used by PwVI in public libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Canadian Journal of Learning & Technology is the property of Canadian Network for Innovation in Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper examines the use of assistive technologies in libraries to enhance access to resources for individuals with visual impairments. Various types of assistive technologies including screen readers and text-to-speech software are discussed in terms of their features and applications. Implementation challenges and strategies are examined along with the positive impact of assistive technologies on accessing library resources. The importance of promoting awareness and providing training for library staff and users is emphasized. This paper highlights the significance of assistive technologies in creating inclusive library environments and provide framework of implementing assistive technologies in libraries and also future research suggestions. The impact of assistive technologies on access to library resources is examined showcasing research findings. The importance of promoting awareness and training programs for both library staff and users is emphasized. The paper concludes by summarizing the key findings and suggesting future research directions. By understanding the significance of assistive technologies in facilitating access to library resources, libraries can create inclusive environments that cater to the needs of visually impaired individuals promoting equal opportunities for information access and exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Assistive technologies (ATs) enable persons with visual impairment (PwVI) to equitably benefit from public library resources and services as their sighted counterparts. However, the extent to which this facility is available and used at public libraries in less-developed countries remains largely unknown. Objectives: This study reports on the investigation done on the availability and use of ATs by PwVI at public libraries in the cities of Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg in South Africa. Method: The study used a multimethod and explanatory sequential design in which data were collected through questionnaires administered with 131 librarians and interviews held with 10 PwVI. Results: The findings of the study point towards inadequate availability of computers with internet services, audiotapes, screen magnifying and reading software, and these were used for, among others, leisure, research, job searching and communication. Conclusion: The study concludes that certain ATs were inadequately available and used by PwVI at some libraries in the cities of Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg. The study recommends training for PwVI on how to use ATs, marketing of available ATs, training of staff on how to render AT-based services as well as management availing adequate budget for the development of AT-based collection. Contribution: The study contributes to the understanding of the types of ATs available and used by PwVI in public libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Based on recent researches on the use of natural language processing techniques for very early detection of cognitive decline and the benefits of cognitive stimulation for people with cognitive impairments, the Dementia Monitoring application (DMapp) is developed inside the Memento project. Aims: The aims of this work are: (1) to present DMapp; (2) to report the results of two preliminary studies on DMapp; (3) to describe the clinical and experimental potentiality of DMapp. Methods: Italian people with the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease or dementia due to Alzheimer's Disease with a Mini-Mental-State-Examination between 24 and 28 (inclusive) were involved in the DMapp development prototype during the Lab Trial (4 subjects) and Filed Trial (5 subjects) of the Memento project. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected to evaluate participants' opinions, the DMapp ability to perform the automatic analysis of the speech and participants' visible emotional state effective. Ad hoc interviews, the Observed Emotion Rating Scale and performance metrics to solve different tasks were used. The relation between cognitive measures (global cognitive measures) and linguistic indexes values was considered using Euclidean distances between the participants. Results: Linguistic indexes were calculated and seemed to classify the participants' performance as expected from cognitive measures. The DMapp was appreciated by people with cognitive impairment. Positive emotions were present. Conclusion: DMapp seems an interesting approach to monitor dementia symptoms progression and stimulate memory. Possible developments and open questions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Reliable functional electrical stimulation parameters assisted the drinking task; • Functional electrical stimulation parameters presented high to very high repeatability; • Upper limb kinematics presented moderate to very high repeatability. No specific guidelines for the management of functional electrical stimulation (FES) parameters in post stroke patients have been defined yet, despite its frequent use. The purpose of this study is to characterize the optimal FES parameters that assist the reaching phase of drinking task ("drinking task - reaching phase") on post stroke subjects and to analyze the related upper limb (UL) movement quality indicators repeatability. An observational study with a test and re-test design involving ten post stroke subjects with UL dysfunction was performed. End-point and joint kinematics of contralesional UL were assessed during the "drinking task - reaching phase" with FES through a test and retest design. FES parameters were adjusted to improve UL function according to a consensus between physiotherapists and patients' perspective. It was possible to establish reliable FES parameters that assisted the "drinking task - reaching phase". All FES parameters presented high to very high repeatability and led to moderate to very high repeatability in almost UL movement quality indicators during the "drinking task - reaching phase". These findings show that the main characteristics of FES parameters that improves patient perception of change are quite stable, which facilitate its implementation in clinical practice by allowing consistence between intervention sessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with special educational needs face difficulties in school and social activities during the day. Assistive technologies can be used in learning environments to overcome these difficulties. On the other hand, it is thought that the attitude towards the profession plays an important role in using assistive technologies. We examined the attitude toward using assistive technologies in special education teaching and the attitude towards the profession of special education teachers through different variables. We also looked at the relationship between them. A sequential explanatory mixed-method research approach was used, consisting of a quantitative phase in which the scale data are analyzed and a qualitative phase in which the interviews are conducted. As a result, it has been determined that male teacher candidates who choose the special education teaching profession consider the economic conditions, while female teacher candidates are mostly affected by emotional factors. The participants' desire to learn and their emotional closeness to the profession regressed over the years and the attitudes of pre-service teachers towards their profession have moved away from the pedagogical context over the years. On the other hand, it has been concluded that with the use of assistive technologies, productivity in education/teaching environments can increase. It has been observed that there can be positive developments in the life skills of children with assistive technologies. It has been determined that pre-service teachers' awareness of these technologies was low in the beginning, but increased in line with the lessons taken about assistive technologies in the following years. In addition, it has been determined that pre-service teachers who have a positive attitude towards the profession can be more successful in using assistive technologies effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Society is ageing at an unprecedented pace worldwide creating implications for the health and social care. Gerontechnology has been recognized as a solution that increases and supports the independency and well-being of older adults at home. This article aims to identify the most critical success factors effecting the adoption of an assistive gerontechnology by older adults in Poland. The object of the authors' interest was Rudy robot, an AI-enabled mobile solution helping users remain physically healthy, mentally sharp, and socially connected. The data was collected among Polish citizens using the CATI technique between November and December 2020. The number of returned questionnaires amounted to 824. The authors used Generalized Least Squares (GLS) of Structural Equation Modelling (GLS-SEM) to verify the hypotheses. The obtained results confirmed statistically significant relationships between the variables of perceived usefulness of Rudy robot and attitude reflecting the willingness to use this technology, as well as between perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of robot. However, relationship between perceived ease of use and inclination to use this technology in the future was not statistically significant. The conducted research confirmed that the functionality of the analysed Rudy robot for older-adult care positively influences their intension to use it in the future for their own needs or family members. The obtained results confirmed usefulness of robots as assistive technology helping older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Assistive technologies have the potential to facilitate everyday life of people with dementia and their families. Close collaboration with affected people and interdisciplinary research are essential to understand and address the needs of prospective users. In this study, we present the results of the evaluation of such an assistive system prototype. Aims: Challenges from the patient and caregiver side, technical and design problems and acceptance and usability with regard to our special target group were evaluated. Methods: MEMENTO, a system of two e-ink tablets and a smartwatch, was tested in the domestic environment of dementia patients. Thirty participants from Italy, Spain and Austria took part in a 3-month field trial and compared the MEMENTO system to traditional strategies in everyday life. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected and frequency of use of the system was monitored. Results: There were no significant changes in quantitative measurements, such as activities of daily living and caregiver burden over the duration of the 3-month field trial. More frequent usage was significantly correlated with positive attitude towards technology (r = 0.723, p < 0.05), but not with age. The design of the system was positively emphasized, reducing fear of the technology on the one hand and stigmatization on the other. Conclusion: We show that a positive attitude towards technology is the essential variable for successful implementation of such systems, regardless of age. Participants showed great interest in digital solutions and agreed that technological systems will help in maintaining independency of persons with cognitive dysfunction in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to give a brief about the services provided by libraries to disable library users using software and hardware technologies. In this era, the development of technologies, information and communication technologies, etc., is widespread and being disseminated and published globally. Usually, it is convenient for a library professional to differentiate between individuals in need of assistance. This paper emphasises specialised equipment, technologies, and services that provide a barrier-free environment to the disabled users in libraries and information centres, leading to many technological innovations and advancements for general and disabled persons. This study will be helpful for persons with disabilities, LIS specialists, and other professional communities to provide information about the situation and the variety of assistive technologies available in libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the factors that influence library usage by students with disabilities at United College of Education in Zimbabwe. The study employed a qualitative approach. Interviews were held with sixteen students with disabilities, the chief librarian, two library assistants, and one library intern. Data were also collected through observations. Results reveal that great effort has been made to provide inclusive library services to students with disabilities; however, challenges remain. These include: physical inaccessibility of the library to students living with disabilities, lack of infrastructure to support available assistive technologies, information resources that do not accommodate students living with disabilities, and staff that is not adequately trained to handle users with disabilities. The study contributes to global debate about provision of library services to people living with disabilities from a Zimbabwean perspective. The study's recommendations provide ideas that can be adopted by libraries to improve inclusivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we explore how enactive methods may support and enhance the design of mobile solutions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our project deals with supporting independent public transport and applies enactive methods in order to account for the interdependent nature of technology, disability, and environment. We staged three iterations of a bus workshop and one theatre workshop where real, everyday scenarios were acted out to gain tacit yet crucial insights. These enactive workshops and the prototype testing showed that transport activities are context dependent and unique to each individual. In our case, enactive methods revealed that independent public transport goes beyond a need for reminders, time management and communication, towards the management of unforeseen events. Our work shows how a closer realistic setting may provide more nuanced, personal, and detailed design insights that support emotional and situational understandings of user experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the strategies that academic libraries in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe could adopt to enhance the provision of assistive resources to patrons with visual impairment. The assessment grew out of the realisation that even though the introduction of assistive resources within academic libraries in the 20th century impacted positively on such libraries, their uptake in developing countries, including Zimbabwe, is inadequate, uninspiring, and fragmented. A qualitative research approach was adopted. The sample constituted five academic libraries that met the conceptual criteria of academic libraries in the study, 32 patrons with visual impairment, 12 library staff members, five lecturers who teach special needs education, four staff members from student services, and six Zimbabwe Library Association members who were purposively sampled. Questerviews, interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis were used to generate data for the study. The study established that the libraries faced varied challenges in providing assistive resources to the visually impaired patrons, which mostly included inadequate equipment and infrastructure, a lack of budget and financial resources, inadequate training and development, the attitude of library staff members, and a lack of national legislation. The study noted the need for the libraries to implement creative and unique solutions, which include sourcing for donations, undertaking crowdfunding initiatives or establishing public-private partnerships (PPPs). The study also underscored the need for the establishment of Disability Resource Centres in each library under study. In addition, library practitioners, through the Zimbabwe Library Association, should advocate for the establishment of national legislation that focuses on service provision to individuals with disabilities in academic institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To characterize the optimal functional electrical stimulation (FES) parameters that assist the turn on the light task (TOTL) on poststroke participants and to analyze the related upper limb (UL) kinematics repeatability. Cross-sectional study. Human movement research center. Poststroke individuals (N=11) with history of a single unilateral stroke that resulted in a motor control dysfunction of the contralesional UL. FES based on surface multifield technology applied to the contralesional wrist and finger extensors during the TOTL. FES outcome metrics (virtual electrodes, stimulation duration, intensity) and kinematic metrics (end-point kinematics [absolute and relative duration, mean and peak velocities, relative instant of peak velocity, index of curvature, number of movement units] and joint kinematics [shoulder, elbow, wrist end position and range of movement]). Outcome measures were assessed 2 times with a 72-hour maximum time interval. It was possible to establish reliable FES parameters that assisted the TOTL on poststroke participants. These stimulation parameters led to high to very high repeatability in terms of UL kinematics for most of the cases. • Reliable functional electrical stimulation parameters assisted the light task. • Functional electrical stimulation parameters presented high to very high repeatability. • Upper limb kinematics presented high to very high repeatability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, some developing countries are experiencing many problems regarding children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, including Indonesia. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a childhood-onset developmental disorder of the immature brain, which impairs social communication and social interactions in addition to persistent restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior or interests. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder need special treatments, such as therapy by professional and certified therapists. However, there are limitations to the number of therapists and the therapists have difficulty using therapeutic tools that require extra preparation time, also there are only a few applications that help therapists to carry out the therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder children, especially applications that are developed in Indonesian and have complete features. Therefore, in this study, we proposed Squizzy, which is an assistive technology application that specifically designed as educational software for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and developed in a tablet environment. During the development of Squizzy, we implemented Scrum methodology that will be explained in detail later. Based on the evaluation and discussion that conducted, Squizzy received many positive feedbacks from users, such as it helps therapists and parents to ease their therapy sessions by reducing the inconvenience of the therapeutic tool. Moreover, Squizzy successfully covered the cognitive part of children's therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID 19 (Coronavirus) pandemic has created surge demand for essential healthcare equipment, medicines along with the requirement for advance information technologies applications. Industry 4.0 is known as the fourth industrial revolution, which has the potential to fulfil customised requirement during COVID-19 crisis. This revolution has started with the applications of advance manufacturing and digital information technologies. A detailed review of the literature is done on the technologies of Industry 4.0 and their applications in the COVID-19 pandemic, using appropriate search words on the databases of PubMed, SCOPUS, Google Scholar and Research Gate. We found several useful technologies of Industry 4.0 which help for proper control and management of COVID-19 pandemic and these have been discussed in this paper. The available technologies of Industry 4.0 could also help the detection and diagnosis of COVID-19 and other related problems and symptoms. Industry 4.0 can fulfil the requirements of customised face masks, gloves, and collect information for healthcare systems for proper controlling and treating of COVID-19 patients. We have discussed ten major technologies of Industry 4.0 which help to solve the problems of this virus. It is useful to provide day to day update of an infected patient, area-wise, age-wise and state-wise with proper surveillance systems. We also believe that the proper implementation of these technologies would help to enhance education and communication regarding public health. These Industry 4.0 technologies could provide a lot of innovative ideas and solution for fighting local and global medical emergencies. • Technologies employed in the Industry 4.0 can help in proper isolation of the infected patient, thereby reducing the spread of disease. • These digital technologies create virtual clinic through the application of telemedicine consultations which reduce the physical crowding of the patients in the hospitals and clinics. • The available technologies of Industry 4.0 could also help the detection and diagnosis of COVID-19 and other related problems and symptoms. • Industry 4.0 provides an automated solution to various manufacturing challenges and can fulfil the customised requirements of face masks, gloves and other personal protection items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decades, the world has experienced major changes in the advancement of learning technologies which has enabled learners to engage in their learning activities anywhere. The penetration of mobile phone internet users in Tanzania has been increasing from 2 million in 2011 to 23mil in 2017 The adoption of mobile-based learning (M-learning) for students who are visually impaired in Tanzania has become a major bottleneck since most of the elearning contents assume that learners have sight and thus include a lot of visualizations. This causes visually impaired students in higher learning Institutions (HLIs) to face challenges such as technological knowledge gaps. Lack of skills and inaccessibility of online contents, which then lead to drop out of the university. The aim of this study is to determine the awareness and usage levels of existing mobile assistive technologies for visual impairment, and the remaining challenges that visually impaired students face, when using such tools on smartphones to access m-learning content from HLIs. in Tanzania. The research was conducted an observational and contextual inquiry study at three major HLIs. We found that 67% of respondents did not have knowledge of m-learning assistive technologies, and their technology barriers for visually impaired students. Also, knowledge, accessibility of Assistive technology and affordability can hinder the adoption of m-learning in Higher Learning Institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that is prevalence worldwide. Most autistic children have weak communication and social skills. This research aims to develop and test a mobile application, named MyVoice, which supports local autistic children. The proposed design and features are discussed, and a prototype is evaluated and tested by two therapists and an autistic child. Experimental results indicate positive feedback in terms of ease of use, aesthetic, and simplicity. Parents of the autistic child are satisfied with different features such as the alert notification. Results also indicate that autistic children need about one week to easily interact with MyVoice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An Internet connected assistive intervention for supporting the hypersensitive individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. • An electronic companion prototype for identification of environmental sensory stimuli. • FIS based system able to detect sensory information, making decision, transmit data over internet & generating alerts. Today, most of the individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have atypical sensory behaviors. The main aim of this study is to propose an assistive intervention for supporting the overloaded sensory responses in hypersensitive individuals with ASD. The vision, auditory, smell, and physical balance related multi-sensors based hardware prototype, namely Assistive Companion for Hypersensitive Individuals (ACHI) has been designed for individuals with ASD. The proposed ACHI prototype is an assistive-technology based companion for hypersensitive individuals with ASD which is able to 'fetch/detect the sensory information using electronic sensors', 'making the decision using fuzzy logic on the basis of fetched sensory information' and then, 'transmit the generated information over the internet through the Internet of Things (IoT)', and also able for 'generating alerts to caregivers'. The proposed design is also capable of providing audio & video feedback to calm down individuals with ASD. After testing, it is observed that 93% percent of the caregivers rated the proposed ACHI intervention on the scale of above average. The remarkable reduction in hyperactive states related triggering incidents in ASD has been found with the use of ACHI. The present work and the proposed prototype can identify and control the sensory overload triggers in ASD and it can guide the caregiver or clinicians to optimize the responsible surrounding causes of explosive behavior in ASD and would help the individuals with ASD to become calm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elderly population in the world is rising fast and the rise is even faster for India due to the continuous rise in life expectancy. Delivery of health services to the elderly Indian population in rural areas, which is about 80% of the total elderly Indians, is a big challenge. An effective solution to the problem lies in developing assistive systems and devices based on modern technologies and designed to support or assist the elderly persons in having healthy, comfortable and dignified life in the society. This paper presents major challenges of elderly people. Some of the major research works already carried out on assistive systems and devices are summarily reviewed. Some further assistive systems/ devices are proposed and desirable features for them are suggested. Novel concept of integrating the proposed assistive systems/devices into a single integrated system to serve the elderly users better is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction and evaluation of Braille-learning tools are not receiving attention despite the need for talking books and Braille reading materials. As the Braille learning tools are very limited in developing countries, newly introduced tools and technological solutions need to be properly evaluated for implementation with the required improvements. The current study evaluated a smartphone-based interactive application "mBRAILLE" for teaching early Braille-writing skills in English and Bangla. The mBRAILLE is developed to provide a cheap and affordable technology to the visually impaired (VI) students in Bangladesh. The application will help them learn Braille. A twostage evaluation was performed in Bangladesh to determine the effectiveness of the application. The first stage of evaluation was performed with five school-aged VI children and five teachers from a blind school to determine the satisfaction level of the users while interacting with the application. This evaluation focused on 5 usability criteria, namely, learnability, memorability, efficiency, error, and satisfaction. After using mBRAILLE, participants evaluated the interfaces of the application through a specific questionnaire. Evaluation results showed that mBRAILLE meets the considered usability criteria, indicating that the interaction between application and users was on a desired level of satisfaction. Additionally, teaching ability of the application was evaluated by 5 real users in the second stage of evaluation, with a positive result. Therefore, given that the application is an effective tool to learn and teach English and Bangla Braille, it can be implemented in Bangladesh to assist VI students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key challenge that Immersive applications have to overcome is cybersickness. Cybersickness is particularly prevalent in dynamic applications such as vehicles simulators. The work presented here aims to understand the cause of cybersickness symptoms in an assistive technology (AT) application, the virtual wheelchair training simulator. This evaluation is performed in terms of errors made during experience and post-experience Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). The performance metrics analyzed are time to complete the proposal task and number of collisions (errors/mistakes). The post-experience questionnaires (subjective measurements) collected the user's experience in terms of simulator sickness by applying the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) and immersion questions. The experiments were conducted with 10 participants. In terms of results, analysis of human factors reveals that the average cybersickness score is slightly higher for women compared to men. However, these differences were not statistically significant. There was an inverse correlation between cybersickness symptoms and task performance as well as between cybersickness symptoms and immersion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a review, which covers some findings of the accessibility research using virtual reality systems, ranging years from 1996 to 2017, and fields such as children, autism, motor rehabilitation, Parkinson disease, and inclusion for the impaired. After this initial review, authors present three of their studies on the latter subject, with the topics of structural accessibility system support for virtual reality (VR), evaluation of accessibility features with impaired audiences, and live theater accessibility services for the deaf and hard of hearing people. The text gives a comprehensive introduction on the VR accessibility theme, analyzing the profile of the technology and pointing out directions for future studies on the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract It is well known that clinical decisions, which include prescription of canes after stroke, should not only be based on biomechanical research. According to the principles of evidence-based medicine, patients' perceptions and preferences should also be investigated to help planning good clinical decisions. The purpose of this study was to comprehend how ambulatory people with stroke, naïve to the use of canes, perceive using a cane during walking. An exploratory, qualitative study was conducted. Twenty-four people, on average 6 years after a stroke, were included. Participants were categorized as slow (<0.4 m/s), intermediate (0.4–0.8 m/s), or fast walkers (>0.8 m/s), based on their baseline walking speed. Participants' spontaneous perceptions regarding the use of a cane were collected during a timed-walk test and analyzed, following standardized recommendations. The discourse of each participant was categorized into "positive perceptions" or "negative perceptions". Overall, the nature of the perceptions was both positive (i.e., improvements of mobility and/or independence, and improvement of safety/balance and/or reduced risk of falls) and negative (i.e., social stigmatisms, and interference with use of the non-paretic upper limb). However, participants' perceptions were diverse, depending on their walking ability. Participants categorized as slow walkers perceived the use of a cane as positive, but this positive perception decreased, as walking ability increased. The most positive perceptions came from individuals with severe and moderate walking limitations, who tended to believe that using a cane may be helpful for improving walking, safety, and promoting independence. Fast walkers provided negative perceptions, and may not choose to use canes for walking due to social stigmatisms or interference with use of the non-paretic upper limb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tongue machine interface (TMI) is a tongue-operated assistive technology enabling people with severe disabilities to control their environments using their tongue motion. In many disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or stroke, people can communicate with the external world in a limited degree. However, they may be disabled, while their mind is still intact. Various tongue–machine interface techniques has been developed to support these people by providing additional communication pathway. In this study, we aimed to develop a tongue–machine interface approach by investigating pattern of glossokinetic potential (GKP) signals using neural networks via simple right/left tongue touchings to the buccal walls for 1-D control and communication, named as GKP-based TMI. As can be known in the literature, the tongue is connected to the brain via hypoglossal cranial nerve. Therefore, it generally escapes from the severe damages, in spinal cord injuries and was slowly affected than limbs of persons suffering from many neuromuscular degenerative disorders. In this work, 8 male and 2 female naive healthy subjects, aged 22 to 34 years, participated. Multilayer neural network and probabilistic neural network were employed as classification algorithms with root-mean-square and power spectral density feature extraction operations. Then the greatest success rate achieved was 97.25%. This study may serve disabled people to control assistive devices in natural, unobtrusive, speedy and reliable manner. Moreover, it is expected that GKP-based TMI could be a collaboration channel for traditional electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain computer interfaces which have significant inadequacies arisen from the EEG signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a collaborative strategy shared by a rehabilitation center and a public university with a goal to improve the knowledge on assistive technology and rehabilitation research and development in Brazil. Here, we focus on the contributions, challenges and investigations performed so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades there has been a tremendous increase in demand for Assistive Technologies (AT) useful to overcome functional limitations of individuals and to improve their quality of life. As a consequence, different research papers addressing the development of assistive technologies have appeared into the literature pushing the need to organize and categorize them taking into account the application assistive aims. Several surveys address the categorization problem for works concerning a specific need, hence giving the overview on the state of the art technologies supporting the related function for the individual. Unfortunately, this “user-need oriented” way of categorization considers each technology as a whole and then a deep and critical explanation of the technical knowledge used to build the operative tasks as well as a discussion on their cross-contextual applicability is completely missing making thus existing surveys unlikely to be technically inspiring for functional improvements and to explore new technological frontiers. To overcome this critical drawback, in this paper an original “task oriented” way to categorize the state of the art of the AT works has been introduced: it relies on the split of the final assistive goals into tasks that are then used as pointers to the works in literature in which each of them has been used as a component. In particular this paper concentrates on a set of cross-application Computer Vision tasks that are set as the pivots to establish a categorization of the AT already used to assist some of the user’s needs. For each task the paper analyzes the Computer Vision algorithms recently involved in the development of AT and, finally, it tries to catch a glimpse of the possible paths in the short and medium term that could allow a real improvement of the assistive outcomes. The potential impact on the assessment of AT considering users, medical, economical and social perspective is also addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Independent mobility involves a number of challenges for people with visual impairment or blindness. In particular, in many countries the majority of traffic lights are still not equipped with acoustic signals. Recognizing traffic lights through the analysis of images acquired by a mobile device camera is a viable solution already experimented in scientific literature. However, there is a major issue: the recognition techniques should be robust under different illumination conditions. This contribution addresses the above problem with an effective solution: besides image processing and recognition, it proposes a robust setup for image capture that makes it possible to acquire clearly visible traffic light images regardless of daylight variability due to time and weather. The proposed recognition technique that adopts this approach is reliable (full precision and high recall), robust (works in different illumination conditions) and efficient (it can run several times a second on commercial smartphones). The experimental evaluation conducted with visual impaired subjects shows that the technique is also practical in supporting road crossing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A special needs individual is a broad term used to describe a person with a behavioural or emotional disorder, physical disability or learning disability. Many individuals with special needs are limited in verbal communication, or in many cases non-verbal, making communication and learning a challenging task. Additionally, new forms of communication based on technology aren't designed for them, making them increasingly isolated in social and educational terms. In spite of this, and fortunately, new forms of interaction do exist and they enable these particular users to access knowledge and provide them with the ability to interact with others, undertaking otherwise impossible. In this project the technology used will not be an end in itself but only a way to "drop" the mouse/keyboard paradigm making use of affordable devices available in the market that could be adopted by people with special needs that are unable to apply the traditional forms of interaction, thus assisting people in their education, integration and rehabilitation activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the existing library and information services, facilities and support available for the visually-impaired and blind students at the University of Khartoum in Sudan. It also highlighted the specific difficulties faced by these students in satisfying their information needs. The study sample consisted of 20 subjects out of a total population of 45 visually-impaired and blind students, constituting 44.44% of the study population. Literature review was also used to collect data about some aspects of the study topic, such as the different types of technologies available for enabling the visually-impaired and blind to benefit from library services. The study revealed that the services and facilities available at the University of Khartoum are inadequate. A number of recommendations that are expected to improve the situation are suggested, including the need of the visually impaired and blind students for more training on using the available assistive technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sometimes people look for freedom in the virtual world. However, not all have the possibility to interact with a computer in the same way. Nowadays, almost every job requires interaction with computerized systems, so people with physical impairments do not have the same freedom to control a mouse, a keyboard or a touchscreen. In the last years, some of the government programs to help people with reduced mobility suffered a lot with the global economic crisis and some of those programs were even cut down to reduce costs. This paper focuses on the development of a touchless human-computer interface, which allows anyone to control a computer without using a keyboard, mouse or touchscreen. By reusing Microsoft Kinect sensors from old videogames consoles, a cost-reduced, easy to use, and open-source interface was developed, allowing control of a computer using only the head, eyes or mouth movements, with the possibility of complementary sound commands. There are already available similar commercial solutions, but they are so expensive that their price tends to be a real obstacle in their purchase; on the other hand, free solutions usually do not offer the freedom that people with reduced mobility need. The present solution tries to address these drawbacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article briefly reviews the history of assistive technologies in American and Canadian postsecondary education starting in the 1990s, discusses the accessibility of e-learning and information and communication technologies (ICTs) currently popular in postsecondary education, and highlights emerging trends. Increasing use of universal design principles - in particular, ensuring the accessibility of digital technologies in the emerging stages, at the inception of development - continues to be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper suggests using mobile touchscreen devices to assist students with vision loss in working with data. It presents an integrated approach that combines current sonification methods with interactive multi-touch gesture-based exploration of data, designed to aid students in mental visualization and comprehension of data and function plots. This approach aims to help students with vision loss study independently of support centres, collaborate with their peers, and participate in group studies. Initial user study evaluating this approach and demonstrating its feasibility is presented; further research pathways are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responding to individual differences in classrooms in which there is increasing diversity is one of the challenges of inclusive education in Australia. The linking of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and assistive technologies (ATs) is one way in which this challenge can be addressed. This article describes an initiative, known as Planning for All Learners (PAL) of Independent Schools Queensland, in the state of Queensland, Australia. The PAL programme provides professional learning about UDL and ATs through workshops and ongoing support from the professional learning team. Based on the knowledge gained through the professional learning, the schools and teachers participating in the PAL programme develop year-long school- and/or classroom-based projects that involve the planning, design and implementation of units of work and lessons based on the integration of the principles of UDL and ATs. The professional learning and support offered as part of PAL is outlined, before case studies of two schools that participated in 2011 and 2012 respectively are provided. The case studies describe the literacy-related projects guided by the principles of UDL and using ATs that involved students with learning difficulties and disabilities in their inclusive classrooms. We also report on the factors that influenced the uptake and implementation of UDL and ATs. Finally we provide recommendations for educational authorities and school administrators related to professional learning and in-school projects that aim to improve the knowledge and skills of teachers and the learning of all students by employing the principles of UDL and ATs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of METU Journal of the Faculty of Architecture / Mimarlık Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of METU Journal of the Faculty of Architecture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Online learning has been growing at an exponential rate over the past decade, providing new opportunities for students seeking quality courses and programs offered through flexible formats. However, as higher education continues to expand online offerings, services must be expanded simultaneously to support all students. This article focuses on online student success and the importance of ensuring that accessibility is at the forefront of course design. Included are responses to 20 questions regarding disabilities and online student success. The article is interactive and provides readers with the opportunity to engage in simulations, to complete online assessments, and to watch/listen to demonstrations on assistive technologies. Recommended resources and strategies are provided that can be integrated into course design and faculty development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Assistive technology enables people to achieve independence when performing daily tasks and it enhances their overall quality of life. Visual information is the basis for most navigational tasks, so visually impaired individuals are at disadvantage due to the lack of sufficient information about their surrounding environment. With recent advances in inclusive technology it is possible to extend the support given to people with visual disabilities in terms of their mobility. In this context we propose and describe the Blavigator project, whose global objective is to assist visually impaired people in their navigation on indoor and outdoor environments. This paper is focused mainly on the Computer Vision module of the Blavigator prototype. We propose an object collision detection algorithm based on disparity images. The proposed algorithm uses a 2D Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition image optimization algorithm and a two layer disparity image segmentation to detect nearby objects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper we are going to present a set of 5 future scenarios that were developed within the eAccessibility2020 study. The study aims to explore and analyse the referred relationships between the emerging ICT landscape, in the societal and economic context and the development and provision of assistive technologies (AT) and eAccessibility, within a perspective of 10 years. The scenarios were developed after an initial trend analysis that the study team conducted based on data gathering. The scenarios were developed based on a methodology which defined a set of guides for scenario development and a set of visions for the future of eAccessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information technology has become a key technology for persons with disabilities, offering capabilities to overcome the multiple problems facing this category of users. On the other hand, European legislation and the national one, through the proposed programs and projects, highlights the necessity to create an information society, an open and democratic society, where "e-accessibility", "e-inclusion" and "design for all " concepts are found. These concepts are closely related to education and require the intensifying of research and development in assistive technologies based on ICT (Information and Communication Technology) standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The employment equity policies and implementation of technology-specific guidelines within the South African 'Code of Good Practice on the Employment of People with Disabilities', was created to encourage employment equity for employees with disabilities, by companies in Johannesburg. This study reports on the results of the investigation in assistive technologies in a workplace environment, and barriers for the employment of persons with disabilities in the South African environment. Method: Qualitative data, collected from two retail and service companies in the form of semi-structured individual and focus group interviews, was analysed using a constant comparative method, identifying major themes and sub-themes. Results: A surprisingly small number of persons with disabilities were found to be employed by participating companies, which tended not to focus on these people when formulating their policies and plans. In addition, technological aspects of the Code were largely unacknowledged, with little effort being made to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities. An even lower incidence of assistive technology usage was found, along with a large number of conceptual and perceived barriers that hinder the employment of persons with disabilities and the implementation of appropriate technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing countries face many obstacles in the process of implementing inclusive education (IE). Effective use of assistive technologies (AT) can help governments in developing countries achieve inclusive education by helping children with disabilities in schools. Despite the importance and positive impact of AT, prior research on the use of AT in inclusive education especially in developing countries is limited. To fill the research gap in this area, this paper investigates the research question of, How can AT be effectively used for IE in developing countries? To address this question, we conducted an in-depth case study of two developing countries, Bangladesh and Tanzania, and thoroughly reviewed existing IE projects around the world and other relevant literature. Three experts in the field and 18 informants of the two selected countries were interviewed in person, by phone or by email. The analysis of findings from interviews and literature review shows that obstacles to effective use of AT for IE come from three different levels – school, national, and network. Because AT is only part of the equation for a country to achieve IE, a high level national perspective is required and other related factors also need to be considered. We recommend governments in developing countries adopt a systematic approach in tackling obstacles at each level and pay attention to five management challenges: establishment and maintenance of professional networks: identification and maintenance of knowledge and expertise; funding management; coordination among ministries, and implementation, maintenance,and monitoring of a national program. Overall, governments are suggested to adopt a “network” approach that includes a constructive view of development drawing on incentives-based cooperation from all stakeholders. The results of this research shed light on the status quo of the use of AT for inclusive education in developing countries and provide useful guidance to parties who are interested in using assistive technologies to achieve inclusive education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Re(habilitar) - Revista da ESSA is the property of Escola Superior de Saude do Alcoitao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses a study on smart homes designed for older people and people with disabilities. The objective of the study is to provide service continuity within the living environment, both indoor and outdoor. The emergence of smart environment technologies faces a number of challenges including limited user adaptability and cost-effectiveness.

This book is an excellent guide for all those who want to explore the world of robotic assistive technologies, as it takes the reader from the basic concepts through different applications to ethical and social implications. It was written by specialists with substantial experience working on the specific topic of each chapter. In addition, care has been taken to ensure that the same terms and general ideas are used throughout, which sometimes does not occur in books with multiple authors. This common framework avoids confusion and makes reading easier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]