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We propose a set of architectures directed toward an accompaniment service for the elderly and dependents based on a cloud service technological platform, supported by smart devices, natural language, and a specialized network that connects the elderly with their families, social, and health professionals.

PURPOSE: To evaluate client satisfaction with prosthetic and orthotic services in Sweden, determine if satisfaction differs between clients using different devices and identify factors which influence client satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used to survey 7318 clients. The survey included items related to demographics, quality of life, device comfort, device use, the extent to which clients' needs were met and satisfaction with services. Ethics approval was provided by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority. RESULTS: A total of 2925 surveys were returned reflecting a response rate of 41%. Mean OPUS-CSS point score was 61.9(SD 16.8) with differences observed between device categories (p < 0.001). Factors that were identified as most positively influencing client satisfaction were, being a limb prosthesis user and being under 65 years. When analysing scores for individual OPUS items breast prosthesis users scored higher than users of other devices. Clients were most satisfied with the level of respect they were shown by staff (mean = 2.72/3) and less satisfied with coordination of services with other therapists/doctors(mean = 1.88/3). CONCLUSIONS: Prosthetic and orthotic users are reasonably satisfied with the services they receive. Attention should be directed towards understanding why prosthetic users are more satisfied than orthotic users and why clients under 65 years report higher satisfaction scores.

The article aims to examine the state of the art concerning cognitive accessibility in the design and development of cybersecurity systems and services. The findings reveal that despite recommendations toward cognitive inclusion, consideration toward cognitive disabilities during the design and development of security functions is nonexistent.

With a few exceptions, media visibility and representation of people with disabilities is scarce. It is biased and anchored in stigma, distorting their image and hindering their full social participation. Paralympic sport is one of the social fields where the challenge of an objective representation of disability becomes particularly important due to the ever-increasing amount of television attention to the Paralympic Games as a global sports event and some persisting stereotypes in media representation of athletes with disabilities. Through an exploratory and interpretive research method, aimed at assessing media visibility of disability from the perspective of content production and its dissemination, the paper reviews the evolution of media representation of the Paralympic Games and athletes with disabilities during Sochi 2014, Rio 2016, and PyeongChang 2018 global sports events in the daily news programs from the National Spanish Broadcaster, RTVE. The effective inclusion of people with disabilities in the public sphere and a progressive removal of stereotypes and stigma depends to a great extent on the visibility and objective representation of disability in media., Depto. de Ingeniería de Software e Inteligencia Artificial (ISIA), Instituto de Tecnología del Conocimiento (ITC), TRUE, pub

Conventionally, the accessibility research community centers most of its efforts on designing assistive technologies and systems related to single categories of impairments. Although this approach has contributed to valuable progress and advancements in the field, there is a growing consensus among accessibility researchers that focusing on designing technologies for single impairments oversimplifies disability since this approach may fail to adequately address the real-world experiences of a significant population of users with complex needs. Despite challenges related to conducting research with users living with multiple, profound, or complex disabilities, it is essential in terms of future work that the accessibility research community adopts a more inclusive approach where users with lived experience of multiple disabilities are directly informing and shaping the design of assistive systems and accessible technologies. Therefore, we propose the 2nd International Workshop on Accessibility Research and Users with Multiple Disabilities or Complex Needs. The workshop will act as a forum for participants to share their perspectives related to challenges and opportunities in designing accessible systems that consider the multidimensional needs of users living with multiple disabilities. This workshop intends to challenge current paradigms in the accessibility field, share latest work and foster future collaborations.

Motor disability includes the lack of sensation, movement, or coordination, and Assistive Technologies (AT) can help overcome these challenges. Motor-disabled students need different ATs and configurations depending on courses and individual needs, and some solutions can be expensive. Some affordable AT has roots in gaming but can also be used for other purposes. However, there is little research on how they can be combined to define a personalized setting. Therefore, we performed a literature review to identify challenges and solutions to support students with motor disabilities in using information systems. The result defines a framework for identifying personalized settings. The usability of the result was demonstrated by performing a self-experimentation study of the first author, who has a motor disability. The results show its utility while learning process mining using the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and code-based tools. We identified challenges in using different User Interface (UI) elements, which can be used as a guideline for designers of process mining tools as well as other information systems to support diversity.

Sharing information related to Assistive technology (AT) is the only reliable approach to narrowing the gap in AT accessibility. In the modern world of telecommunication, the application of the internet was expected to fill in the gap but the gap persists. With all the effort made by world forums, it was expected to have no more problems related to AT accessibility, and cost. This study, therefore, analysed the requirement needed for the development of a reliable web-based forum that could provide a consistent linkage between AT consumers, donors, and vendors for ease of AT accessibility at affordable cost in Tanzania. The study was qualitative and employed questionnaires, observation, and interview methods to collect data from a total of 207 respondents who were purposefully selected, of whom 200 were AT consumers, 5 AT donors, and 2 vendors. Microsoft forms were used to analyze data and the presentation was done descriptively. The study disclosed nine requirements for the development of a web-based forum including location, product description, means of payment and goods transportation, time of delivering goods, types of disability, kind and quantity of AT, means of payment, and price. Having all that information centerd at one site will ensure a constant availability of AT and AT accessibility information among donors, vendors and consumers of AT in Tanzania.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence and natural language processing have led to the development of new assistive technologies for people with disabilities. This study builds on these advancements to investigate whether the AI-driven chatbot ChatGPT can assist individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in better comprehending and recalling written text. The study involved two groups of participants, one with ADHD and one without, who completed two reading comprehension tests, one with ChatGPT as a learning aid and the other without. Additionally, interviews were conducted with all participants to supplement the findings. Though our results showed a decrease in comprehension abilities across both groups when having access to ChatGPT, the participants who had used ChatGPT previously, in any form, had an increase in comprehension. The majority of participants were positive towards using ChatGPT in a similar way in the future. However, we believe that providing participants with a proper education on ChatGPT prior to testing, as well as conducting further testing with a larger sample size over a longer period of time, is necessary to provide a more accurate conclusion., Senaste framstegen inom artificiell intelligens och språkteknologi har lett till utveckling av nya hjälpmedel för personer med funktionshinder. Den här studien bygger på dessa framsteg för att undersöka om den AI-drivna chatbotten ChatGPT kan hjälpa personer med Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) att bättre förstå och minnas skriven text. Studien omfattade två grupper av deltagare, en med ADHD och en utan, som genomförde två läsförståelseprov, ett med ChatGPT som inlärningshjälpmedel och ett utan. Dessutom genomfördes intervjuer med alla deltagare för att komplettera resultaten. Trots att vårt resultat visade en minskning av läsförståelse kunskaper över båda grupperna när de hade tillgång till ChatGPT, de deltagare som hade använt ChatGPT tidigare, i någon form, hade en ökning i läsförståelse. Majoriteten av deltagarna var positiva till att använda ChatGPT på liknande sätt i framtiden. Vi anser dock att ge deltagarna en ordentlig introduktion till ChatGPT före testningen, samt att genomföra ytterligare tester med ett större urval under en längre tidsperiod, är nödvändigt för att ge en mer korrekt för att ge en mer precis slutsats.

Image editing tools can pose a challenge for motor impaired individuals who wish to perform image manipulation. The process includes many steps and can be difficult given a lack of tactile input such as mouse and keyboard. To increase the availability of image editing for motor impaired individuals, the potential for new tools and modalities have to be explored. In this project, a prototype was developed, which allows the user to edit images using eye tracking and deep learning models, specifically the DALL-E 2 model. This prototype was then tested on users who rated its functionality based on a set of human-computer interaction principles. The quality of the results varied a lot depending on the eye movements of the user, and the provided prompts. The results of the user testing found that there was potential for an editing tool implementing eye tracking and AI assistance, but that it requires further iteration and time to learn how to use. Most users enjoyed the experience of using the prototype and felt that continued experimentation would lead to improved results., Användandet av bildbehandlingsverktyg kan för någon med motoriska svårigheter, specifikt de utan möjlighet att använda sina händer, innebära flera svårigheter. Processen omfattas av många steg som kan vara särskilt besvärliga utan användningen av mus och tangentbord. För att öka tillgängligheten av dessa verktyg behöver nya system utforskas, till exempel sådana som använder AI system. I denna studie utvärderas ett sådant system, för vilken en prototyp utvecklades. Prototypen låter användaren redigera bilder med hjälp av eye tracking och maskininlärningsmodellen DALL-E 2. Deltagarna i studien utvärderade funktionaliteten baserat på utvalda människa-datorinteraktionsprinciper. Resultaten av utvärderingen skiljde sig en del, till stor del grundat i ögonrörelserna av användaren och den givna ändringsbeskrivningen. Resultaten visade på att det fanns potential för ett bildbehandlingsverktyg som implementerar både AI och eye tracking men att det krävs mer tid och iterering för användaren att lära sig modellen. Användare fann överlag ett nöje i att använda programmet och upplevde att de skulle kunna presterat bättre resultat om de fick mer tid att experimentera.

Purpose: Information and Communication Technologies have transformed our lives in different social areas, facilitating interpersonal relationships thanks to technological tools. In the specific case of people with disabilities, Assistive Technologies (ATs) break down barriers and increase opportunities to become active members of the society with equal opportunities. Materials and methods: This paper presents a systematic mapping study that analyzes the current state-of-the-art of ATs proposed in the literature to support the empowering of people with disability. Specifically, this paper focuses on (1) describing a global vision of the scientific literature published in the last 20 years about ATs in the computer science field and (2) identifying research needs, gaps, and trends. Results: For this purpose, an in-depth analysis of 389 primary studies is presented. The information obtained from the mapping process is also constrained. Concretely, 35 ATs versus 22 disabilities are compared, obtaining striking peaks for some disabilities described in the discussion. Conclusions: Finally, the findings show that several areas have been covered only lightly, revealing interesting future directions and challenges for junior researchers.

Objective: To assess the significance of assistive technologies in inclusive education for individuals with disabilities, emphasizing their role as essential tools for educational equality. Method: Theoretical analysis focused on the educational inclusion of individuals with disabilities, exploring the impact of assistive technologies from a legal and public policy perspective. It investigates the relationship between special educational needs, the selection of appropriate technologies, and the implementation of effective public policies. Results: Assistive technologies emerge as crucial elements in promoting inclusive education, enabling significant improvements in access to knowledge and active participation of students with disabilities. However, challenges remain, including the need for accurate identification of student needs and the selection of suitable technological resources. Conclusions: Assistive technologies represent a significant "lever" in the development of inclusive education, whose effectiveness depends on the proper identification of students' needs and the choice of appropriate technological resources. The importance of public policies in ensuring fundamental educational rights is highlighted, indicating that effective inclusion requires ongoing efforts in resource adaptation and the implementation of inclusive strategies., Objetivo: Avaliar a importância das tecnologias assistivas na educação inclusiva para pessoas com deficiências, destacando seu papel como ferramentas fundamentais para a igualdade educacional. Método: Análise teórica focada na inclusão educacional de pessoas com deficiências, explorando o impacto das tecnologias assistivas sob uma perspectiva legal e de políticas públicas. Investiga a relação entre as necessidades educacionais especiais, a seleção de tecnologias apropriadas e a implementação de políticas públicas eficazes. Resultados: As tecnologias assistivas emergem como elementos cruciais na promoção da educação inclusiva, possibilitando melhorias significativas no acesso ao conhecimento e na participação ativa de estudantes com deficiências. Contudo, desafios persistem, incluindo a necessidade de identificação precisa das necessidades dos alunos e a seleção de recursos tecnológicos adequados. Conclusões: As tecnologias assistivas representam uma "alavanca" significativa no desenvolvimento da educação inclusiva, cuja eficácia depende da identificação adequada das necessidades dos estudantes e da escolha de recursos tecnológicos apropriados. Ressalta-se a importância das políticas públicas na garantia dos direitos educacionais fundamentais, indicando que a inclusão efetiva exige esforços contínuos na adaptação de recursos e na implementação de estratégias inclusivas.

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.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the lifespan of people born with Down syndrome (DS) has increased. They now outlive their parents and rely on their relatives who usually sacrifice their own families to care for their disabled siblings. To reduce the pressure on families and the wider community, it is crucial to prepare DS people for independent life from early childhood. Emerging technologies can significantly support the process of acquiring the skills that are necessary for solving real-life problems at home and work. To assess their impact and estimate how much they are implemented in inclusive education, a review of 564 papers published after 2015 was done using the PRISMA review model. After gradual exclusion, 24 papers were used for the final review. Thematic analysis resulted in four themes with one common concept: variety. The results of examining the four research questions defined in the paper’s background confirm that the synergy of emerging assistive technologies and inclusive education has the potential of becoming a very effective strategy for creating an independent life for DS individuals. Many questions remain open, mainly related to a DS persons’ specific needs and capabilities. The acceptance of the proposed synergy will depend on them.

Text entry is one of the most commonly performed tasks on mobile devices, however, it still poses accessibility challenges. This dissertation investigates existing text entry techniques for tablet computers, smartphones, and smartwatches to identify accessibility issues with them, then designs, develops, and evaluates more inclusive text entry techniques to mitigate these problems. The first part of the dissertation presents Senorita — a novel two-thumb virtual chorded keyboard for sighted, low vision, and blind mobile users. The technique is design following the concept of inclusive design, using mainstream technology without any extramural devices. Results show that with Senorita blind users surpass their Qwerty entry speed by 32%. Besides, sighted users yield a comparative performance both on a smartphone and tablet. The second part of the dissertation explores a crown-based keyboard — a technique to enable text entry with one finger using the crown of a smartwatch for people with limited dexterity. It uses an iterative design process with multiple user studies. Results show that manual rotation is faster (4 vs. 6 wpm) and more accurate than automated for able-bodied people. A final study with ten people with limited dexterity reveal that both automated (2.3 wpm) and manual (2.6 wpm) the crown-based keyboards were faster and more accurate than the default Qwerty method on smartwatches. The third part of the dissertation presents SwipeRing — a novel keyboard that arranges the Qwerty layout around the bezel of a smartwatch divided into zones to enable gesture typing. These zones are optimized for usability and to maintain similarities between the gestures drawn on a mobile virtual Qwerty and a smartwatch to facilitate skill transfer. The comparison of SwipeRing with a similar method shows that SwipeRing yields a 33% faster entry speed (16.67 wpm) and a 56% lower error rate. Finally, the fourth part of the dissertation presents new action-level performance metrics

This paper presents the “Actional Model of Older people´s Coping with Health-Related Declines” to explain the use of a broad range of action alternatives of older persons for dealing with current or anticipated diseases, functional declines, activity limitations and participation restrictions. The general background is the action-theoretical model of intentional self-regulation of human development (e.g., Brandtstädter, 2006; Rothermund & Brandtstädter, 2019). Yet, our model provides an increased specification of major model components toward the situation of older people coping with current or anticipated health-related declines. The model development follows an adapted theory construction methodology (TCM) by Borsboom et al. (2021) and adapted principles for constructing practically useful theories by Berkman & Wilson (2021). Regarding content, we further draw on models of the use of assistive technologies (ATs) and medical services, qualitative studies on reasons for using ATs, and quantitative studies on health-related goals. The resulting model includes these components: (1) Discrepancies between perceived or anticipated and desired health-related development, (2) health-related discrepancy reduction and prevention goals, (3) action possibilities for reducing or preventing health-related discrepancies, (4) further motivating and demotivating goals, (5) beliefs about effective means for reaching the goals (2) and (4), (6) generation of the particular coping actions by goals (2) and (4) in combination with beliefs about effective means, (7) external context factors, and (8) modes of joint decision-making and decision-making on behalf of older people. The explanatory and practical value of the model are discussed as well as its implications for future research and geropsychology teaching.

Health-related declines are risk factors for autonomous living and quality of life of older people. Yet, they have various action possibilities (e.g., use of technical and personal support, health services, environmental adaptation) which may reduce these risks. Sadly, the use rates of these options are far from perfect, so that their positive effects are not sufficiently realized. With this in mind, the main goal of this dissertation was to gain a better understanding of the factors that influence older people's use of the various action possibilities to cope with illness, functional decline, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Five studies using different but complementary methods pursued this goal. Study I provided a systematic review of 12 empirical studies on the effectiveness and use of self-care assistive technologies (ATs). It found that self-care ATs are efficient with respect to reduced care hours and increased independence level. The use of such technologies was associated with three different kinds of factors including personal, contextual, technological device factors. Study II conducted a systematic review of 23 theoretical models of AT use from an action-theoretical perspective on lifespan development. It revealed that these models considered a limited range of internal and external context factors of AT use. None of them contained perceived discrepancies between the actual and desired developmental situation, goals to reduce these discrepancies, action alternatives to AT use, and decision-making about AT use by other persons or a joint decision-making. Study III contained a qualitative meta-synthesis of 7 qualitative studies on subjective reasons for the use or nonuse of ATs. It thus considered a branch of research that is independent from the ones covered by Study 1 and 2 and it used a different method. It found 25 subjective reasons referring to user’s beliefs and desires of which 18 were not contained in AT use models. However, t

Job opportunities allow the human being to develop in an integral way, even more so, in the case of people with disabilities, since this helps to reaffirm their self-esteem and professional fulfillment. According to Ecuadorian regulations, companies that have a minimum of twenty-five (25) workers are required to hire 4% of people with disabilities. The objective of this article is to identify the level of labor insertion of people with disabilities at the Salesian Polytechnic University of Guayaquil. A bibliometric review was carried out to find out the countries in which articles have been published in relation to the subject investigated. The descriptive cross-sectional research used as instruments the interview and an online questionnaire that allowed knowing relevant aspects of the labor insertion of people with disabilities, highlighting among them: the applied process, the analysis of the position with the required adjustments, the accessibility to the facilities, as well as the incorporation of assistive technologies. In this article, 100% compliance with the labor insertion of people with disabilities, including substitutes, was obtained as a result. It is recommended to continue with improvements in the accessibility of the facilities to promote real inclusion., Las oportunidades laborales permiten que el ser humano se desarrolle de forma integral, más aún, en el caso de las personas con discapacidad, ya que ello, contribuye a reafirmar su autoestima y realización profesional. Acorde a la normativa ecuatoriana las empresas que cuenten con mínimo veinticinco (25) trabajadores están obligadas a contratar el 4% de personas con discapacidad. Este artículo tiene como objetivo identificar el nivel de inserción laboral de personas con discapacidad en la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana sede Guayaquil. Se realizó una revisión bibliométrica para conocer los países en los que se han publicado artículos en relación con el tema investigado. La investigación descriptiva de corte transversal usó como instrumentos la entrevista y un cuestionario en línea que permitió conocer aspectos relevantes de la inserción laboral de las personas con discapacidad, destacando entre ellos: el proceso aplicado, el análisis del puesto con los ajustes requeridos, la accesibilidad física a las instalaciones, así como la incorporación de tecnologías asistivas. En el presente artículo se obtuvo como resultado el 100% de cumplimiento de inserción laboral de personas con discapacidad, incluido los sustitutos. Se recomienda continuar con mejoras en la accesibilidad de las instalaciones para favorecer una real inclusión.

This thesis aims to explore the perspectives of people with visual impairments about the internet and web accessibility. How the current status of web accessibility is and how people with visual impairments use the internet are important topics in a society that is more and more digitalized. Nine people with visual impairments were asked through semi-structured interviews. The questions covered what they do on the internet, what devices and assistive technologies they use, how web accessibility affects them and how they become digitally literate. This collected data from the interviews and literature, focused on digital disability divide, digital literacy and web accessibility, guided the analysis which was conducted following a qualitative approach. This thesis shows that, while web accessibility allows for many online actions nowadays, much more is required. More focus on the users and their needs related to technical access is needed and digital literacy should be promoted. The study also concludes that technology, digital literacy and web experience are interconnected, which could provide a framework for future research.

In this study we provide an in-depth review and analysis of the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) components and solutions that support the development of cutting-edge assistive technologies for children with special needs. Various disabilities are addressed and the most recent assistive technologies that enhance communication and education of disabled children, as well as the AI technologies that have enabled their development, are presented. The paper summarizes with an AI perspective on future assistive technologies and ethical concerns arising from the use of such cutting-edge communication and learning technologies for children with disabilities.

Historically, the accessibility community has focused on designing assistive technologies and systems related to single categories of impairments. While this approach is justifiable and contributes to the advancement of the field, many researchers argue that designing technologies for one impairment at a time contributes to an oversimplification of disability and does not reflect real-world experiences of a significant number of users who live with multiple impairments. How can the accessibility field leverage theories and concepts from other disciplines (e.g. disability studies, medical humanities, social work, engineering, education) to support more appropriate and inclusive technologies for users with complex needs How can future assistive technologies take into consideration a diverse combination of sensory, cognitive, and physical characteristics In this workshop, we invite researchers and practitioners from different disciplines to share their perspectives related to challenges and opportunities in designing accessible systems that consider the multidimensional and often complex needs of users living with multiple impairments.

Digital technologies provide numerous opportunities for intervention with people with disabilities, in particular for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Despite this, some people with ID are unable to harness their potential and use these, as assistive technologies, to call for help in emergencies. The objective of this work is to present the process of design and validation of the content of an application for mobile devices and a web page, to facilitate the emergency care of people with ID by the security and emergency forces. Its preparation has gone through two well differentiated phases: review and analysis of the scientific and documentary literature, and expert judgment using the Delphi method. Experts (n=26) from different profiles selected by calculating the coefficient of expert competence (Coefficient K) participated in this study, who evaluated the products based on three criteria: clarity, relevance and satisfaction. The results have been satisfactory for both products and have made it possible to refine the definitions of some of the sections of the application and expand the web, adding a catalogue of pictograms that offers the option of personalizing the messages and social stories it contains, as well as facilitating the processes of communication and learning., Las tecnologías digitales brindan numerosas oportunidades para la intervención con personas con discapacidad intelectual (DI). A pesar de ello, algunas personas con DI no pueden aprovechar su potencial y hacer uso de estas, como tecnologías de asistencia, para pedir ayuda en situaciones de emergencia. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar el proceso de diseño y validación del contenido de una aplicación para dispositivos móviles y una página web, para facilitar la atención de las personas con DI por parte de los cuerpos de seguridad y emergencias. Su elaboración ha pasado por dos fases bien diferenciadas: revisión y análisis de la literatura científica y documental, y juicio de expertos mediante el método Delphi. En este participaron expertos (n=26) de diferentes perfiles seleccionados mediante el cálculo del coeficiente de competencia experta (Coeficiente K), quienes valoraron los productos en base a los criterios de claridad, pertinencia y satisfacción. Los resultados han sido satisfactorios y han permitido perfilar las definiciones de algunos de los apartados de la aplicación y ampliar la web, añadiendo un catálogo de pictogramas que ofrece la opción de poder personalizar los mensajes y las historias sociales que contiene, así como facilitar los procesos de comunicación y aprendizaje

A Smart house is a special type of house that has automated services it offers to its residents to enhance their comfortability. Smart houses can implement for various purposes including luxury automation capability, entertainment, security, mitigation of disability, health, or medical reasons. In this paper, a special smart house design prototype for senior citizens is proposed. The design is proposed to have assistive technologies services easily added to or removed from the smart house. Depending on the need, a service could be added, modified, or removed with little effort. The complexity of service can be extended or limited based on the requirements of the subject senior citizen. Some of the service offerings in this house include; (a) security services, for instance in case of a fire, a fall detection, or a sharp rise in fever symptoms, an alert distress signal would be sent to the caregivers center; (b) action execution services, for example, automated preparation of bathwater, preparation of breakfast, preparation of dinner, switching lights on or off, etc.; (c) interactive services, for instance, remainders for medicine taking schedule, prompt of beverage choice, prompt to send distress signal when possible danger is detected by the system, etc. The comprehensive design would have four main modules: smart house automated services, assistive technologies services, privacy policy protocol, and security services. The design has been developed and would be implemented in the future. © 2022 IEEE.

Las tecnologías digitales brindan numerosas oportunidades para la intervención con personas con discapacidad intelectual (DI). A pesar de ello, algunas personas con DI no pueden aprovechar su potencial y hacer uso de estas, como tecnologías de asistencia, para pedir ayuda en situaciones de emergencia. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar el proceso de diseño y validación del contenido de una aplicación para dispositivos móviles y una página web, para facilitar la atención de las personas con DI por parte de los cuerpos de seguridad y emergencias. Su elaboración ha pasado por dos fases bien diferenciadas: revisión y análisis de la literatura científica y documental, y juicio de expertos mediante el método Delphi. En este participaron expertos (n=26) de diferentes perfiles seleccionados mediante el cálculo del coeficiente de competencia experta (Coeficiente K), quienes valoraron los productos en base a los criterios de claridad, pertinencia y satisfacción. Los resultados han sido satisfactorios y han permitido perfilar las definiciones de algunos de los apartados de la aplicación y ampliar la web, añadiendo un catálogo de pictogramas que ofrece la opción de poder personalizar los mensajes y las historias sociales que contiene, así como facilitar los procesos de comunicación y aprendizaje

[ES] Las personas con diversidad funcional motora encuentran con frecuencia dificultades a la hora de realizar las tareas domésticas más sencillas [1]. Esto provoca una situación de dependencia que empeora su calidad de vida y la de sus cuidadores. Las llamadas tecnologías de apoyo buscan proporcionar una ayuda adecuada para estas personas, que les permita ganar más autonomía en su día a día. Sin embargo, hoy en día, solamente una de cada diez personas que requieren algún producto de asistencia tiene acceso al mismo [2]. Esto es debido, en gran medida, al elevado coste de las soluciones diseñadas, que se debe, a su vez, a la necesidad de fabricar productos personalizados que cubran los requerimientos concretos de cada usuario. En el presente trabajo final de grado se pretende desarrollar un sistema de ayuda para per- sonas con diversidad funcional motora de bajo coste que les permita actuar sobre elementos de su entorno (alumbrado, persianas, calefacción, dispositivos, etc.) de manera fácil y adecuada a su con- dición. Así, se ha diseñado un prototipo basado en el miniordenador monoplaca Raspberry Pi. Se trata de un dispositivo móvil que ofrece una interfaz de usuario donde muestra una serie de opcio- nes de un menú gráfico, tales como encender la luz, subir la persiana o estirar de la cadena. Cuando se selecciona una acción, el dispositivo emitirá una orden por un sistema de comunicación inalámbrico y un receptor especial detectará la orden y activará el accionamiento adecuado. La interacción con la persona se basa, principalmente, en técnicas de visión artificial, de forma que, con una cámara, se pueden captar distintos gestos y movimientos que sean reconocidos por el sistema y transformados en órdenes. Estos se adaptarán a las posibilidades de cada usuario para ofrecer una solución versátil y económica., [CA] Les persones amb diversitat funcional motora troben amb freqüència dificultats a l'hora de realitzar les tasques domèstiques més senzilles [1]. Això provoca una situació de dependència que empitjora la seua qualitat de vida i la dels seus cuidadors. Les anomenades tecnologies de suport busquen proporcionar una ajuda adequada per a aquestes persones, que els permeta guanyar més autonomia en el seu dia a dia. No obstant això, hui dia solament una de cada deu persones que requereixen algun producte d'assistència té accés a aquest [2]. Això és degut principalment a l'elevat cost de les solucions dissenyades, que es deu, al seu torn, a la necessitat de fabricar productes personalitzats que cobrisquen els requeriments concrets de cada usuari. En el present treball de fi de grau es pretén desenvolupar un sistema d'ajuda per a persones amb diversitat funcional motora de baix cost que els permeta actuar sobre elements del seu entorn (enllumenat, persianes, calefacció, dispositius, etc.) de manera fàcil i adequada a la seua condició. Així, s'ha dissenyat un prototip basat en el miniordinador monoplaca Raspberry Pi. Es tracta d'un dispositiu mòbil que ofereix una interfície d'usuari on mostra una sèrie d'opcions d'un menú gràfic, com ara encendre la llum, pujar la persiana o estirar de la cadena. Quan es seleccione una acció, el dispositiu emetrà una ordre per un sistema de comunicació sense fil i un receptor especial detectarà l'ordre i activarà l'accionament adequat. La interacció amb la persona es basa, principalment, en tècniques de visió artificial, de manera que, amb una càmera, es poden captar diferents gestos i moviments que siguen reconeguts pel sistema i transformats en ordres. Aquests s'adaptaran a les possibilitats de cada usuari per a oferir una solució versàtil i econòmica., [EN] People with motor functional diversity often find it difficult to carry out the simplest do- mestic tasks [1]. This leads to a situation of dependency that worsens their quality of life and that of their caregivers. So-called assistive technologies aim to provide adequate support for these peo- ple, enabling them to gain more autonomy in their daily lives. However, today, only one in ten people who require an assistive product have access to it [2]. This is largely due to the high cost of the solutions designed, which is due, in turn, to the need to manufacture customised products that meet the specific requirements of each user. The aim of this final degree project is to develop a low-cost assistance system for people with motor functional diversity that allows them to act on elements of their environment (lighting, blinds, heating, devices, etc.) in an easy and appropriate way for their condition. Thus, a prototype has been designed based on the Raspberry Pi single-board mini-computer. It is a mobile device that offers a user interface where it displays a series of options from a graphical menu, such as turning on the light, raising the blind or pulling the chain. When an action is selected, the device will issue a command via a wireless communication system and a special receiver will detect the command and activate the appropriate actuation. The interaction with the person is mainly based on artificial vision techniques, so that, with a camera, different gestures and movements can be captured, recognised by the system and trans- formed into commands. These will be adapted to the possibilities of each user to offer a versatile and economical solution.

The project is about to develop a mobile application using the platform independent technologies. It supports all the types of platform like android, windows etc.When it comes to vehicle accidents, people are stressed out and overstrained, even if it is just a carbody damage and no one ishurt. They often lack adequate and immediate assistance and may worry about the lengthy and paper-based loss report to their insurance carrier. At the same time, it is crucial for insurance companies to receive early and detailed case circumstances in order to decrease costs and assist customers with value-added services.Weproposed tobuild a mobile application MATCH to meet the said objectives.MATCH will provide an easy mechanism to capture images of the damaged vehicle and immediately submit the first intimation report to the insurance company from a Smartphone. It will also display a map showing the nearby hospitals and towing assistance services along with their contact numbers.This application will be most useful in future to reducethe human effort and to claim using a single click from the application.

This research paper proposes a monitoring system and a prototype that has been developed for detecting if a when fever is present in senior citizens or any other specific groups of people requiring continuous care. With various issues affecting the health of senior citizens, it is imperative to continuously monitor their health status. The monitoring system is beneficial as it will make it feasible to enable the real time detection of fever and thus allowing for the early treatment. Delaying treatment can lead to the underlining health issue going beyond the remediable condition. Thus, quick detection is vital. There are various issues that might causes illness in people. Some of the issues include virus outbreak, seasonal infections, disease, and old age. In this paper our focus is mainly on old age. This group of people is much more at risk of getting ill or frequently need more attention. In this project, the presence of fever or illness has been detected by using artificial intelligence (AI). The AI technique that is utilized in this project is artificial neural networks. The computation is done by first training the system and then secondly validating the trained system. After the training, the system is supplied with a new set of data, with a known state, to validate that the training was successful. To validate the system, it is provided with sample data to test its efficiency. If the system is well trained the validation data would label that data correctly. That label is known before the validation test, as the sample data had known labels. These known labels were not given to training but not validation system. The system is function properly if its label matched the sample data label. The conducted experiment demonstrated a successful detection with an efficiency rate of 82 percent.

In many universities today, certain students cannot benefit fully from their educational programs due to learning disabilities. The research sought to understand the availability and roles of assistive technologies in libraries of Kogi State. Quantitative research methodology and survey design were adopted, an online questionnaire was structured with Google forms and administered to the Kogi State Library WhatsApp group and individual mails. The total of twenty-one questionnaire from a population size of seventy-eight (78) was returned fully completed. The study found emphasis was placed on certain assistive technologies like Computers and LCD projectors, while the majority of the assistive technologies were not present at the institutions. The study further found the provision of equal opportunity and rendering of library service to users with the use of these technologies were some of the roles of Assistive technology. The study recommendations; libraries and Library management to solicit funds from relevant stakeholders (NGOs and Government organizations) to aid purchase or acquisition of certain assistive technologies that are absent from the library holdings. Also, train the trainer workshops should be organized to teach librarians on how these technologies can be used, as it will enlighten them to educate users properly.

Computer vision-based assistive technology for the visually impaired is still a field of ongoing research. Its fundamental scope is to extend the frontiers of visually impaired by means of providing a greater degree of independence and autonomy in their daily living activities. Towards this direction, we present the “e-Vision”, a hybrid system that couples the convenience and the inherently seamless adoption of an external camera embedded within a pair of eyeglasses with the processing power of modern smartphone devices. The system consists of a pair of eyeglasses integrating a camera and a mobile application that encapsulates computer vision algorithms capable to enhance several daily living tasks for the visually impaired. The proposed system is a context-aware solution and builds upon three important day-to-day activities: visiting a super-market, going an outdoor walk and carrying out a work at a public service. Going one step further, the e-Vision also caters for social inclusion by providing social context and enhances overall experience by adopting soundscapes that allow users to perceive selected points of interest in an immersive acoustic way.

The identification and assistance of the gifted population during the school years, are demands that have increased in recent years, but there are still some myths and ideals of those students that do not correspond with reality and hinder both the identification process and the offering new services for this population aiming at improving their lifestyle and quality of life. The objective of the article is to verify the applicability of virtual reality technologies for this population, technologies that are applicable by the Physical Education teacher in his curricular planning. Five participants aged between 7 and 16 years old held an individual session with virtual reality technology and exergames for the Nintendo® Wii game console without prior knowledge. The study analyzed qualitatively the participants' reports. Participants reported factors that compromised the degree of immersion and involvement in the virtual reality technology, but were motivated by it to complete the tasks of the mini-games successfully. This study presented a systematization of activities with exergames using the Nintendo® Wii for students with high skills / giftedness, assisting Physical Education teachers to include this as a part of care for this population, contributing to promote an active lifestyle among these students., Introducción: La identificación y atención de la población con altas habilidades / superdotación en el período escolar, son demandas que se han incrementado en los últimos años, pero aún existen algunos mitos e ideales que no corresponden a la realidad y dificultan tanto el proceso de identificación como la oferta de servicios dirigidos a mejorar el estilo y la calidad de vida de este público. Objetivo: Verificar la aplicabilidad de las tecnologías de realidad virtual para esta población, tecnologías que el docente de Educación Física puede incluir en su planificación curricular. Metodología: Cinco participantes de 7 a 16 años realizaron una sesión individual con tecnología de realidad virtual y exergames para la consola de juegos Nintendo® Wii sin conocimiento previo. El estudio analizó cualitativamente los informes de los participantes. Resultados: los participantes relataron factores que comprometieron el grado de inmersión e involucramiento de la tecnología de realidad virtual, pero se sintieron motivados para completar con éxito las tareas de los minijuegos. Conclusión: Este estudio presentó una sistematización de actividades con exergames utilizando la Nintendo® Wii para estudiantes con altas habilidades / superdotación, contribuyendo a que los docentes de Educación Física utilicen este tipo de tecnología en su servicio a esta clientela, con el fin de promover un estilo de vida activo entre estos estudiantes.   &nbsp, A identificação e atendimento da população com altas habilidades/superdotação no período escolar, são demandas que têm aumentado nos últimos anos, mas ainda há alguns mitos e ideais que não correspondem à realidade, e dificultam tanto o processo de identificação, quanto a oferta de serviços que visem à melhoria do estilo e qualidade de vida deste público. O artigo objetiva verificar a aplicabilidade de tecnologias de realidade virtual para esta população. Tecnologias estas que o professor de Educação Física possa incluir no seu planejamento curricular. Cinco participantes com idade entre 7 e 16 anos realizaram uma sessão individual com tecnologia de realidade virtual e exergames para o console de jogos eletrônicos Nintendo® Wii sem ter conhecimento prévio. O estudo analisou qualitativamente os relatos dos participantes. Resultados: os participantes relataram que houve fatores que comprometeram o grau de imersão e envolvimento da tecnologia de realidade virtual, mas ficaram motivados para concluir as tarefas dos minijogos com êxito. Este estudo apresentou uma sistematização de atividades com exergames utilizando o Nintendo® Wii para educandos com altas habilidades/superdotação, contribuindo para que professores de Educação Física possam fazer uso desse tipo de tecnologia, de maneira a promover um estilo de vida ativo entre esses educandos.

This paper presents results on the use of assistive technology for the communication and participation of non-speaking children with multiple disabilities due to the Congenital Zika Virus Syndrome. The investigation addressed the conceptions of education professionals who worked with these children in 2019 and 2020. Data were collected during a Continuing Education Program through records on an online platform and training portfolios. To support the analysis, the references of the bioecological and systemic theory of human development by Uri Bronfenbrenner were used. The results showed, among other aspects, that the use of assistive technology resources favors the promotion of communication and, consequently, participation, and also the schooling of these children, provided that the necessary support and assistance are offered, whether at home or at school., Este artigo apresenta resultados sobre o uso de tecnologia assistiva para a comunicação e a participação de crianças com deficiência múltipla não oralizadas em decorrência da Síndrome Congênita do Zika Vírus (SCZV). A pesquisa abordou as concepções de profissionais da educação que atuaram com essas crianças nos anos de 2019 e 2020. Os dados foram coletados durante um Programa de Formação Continuada por meio de registros em plataforma online e portfólios formativos. Para fundar as análises, os referenciais da teoria bioecológica e sistêmica do desenvolvimento humano de Uri Bronfenbrenner foram empregados. Os resultados evidenciaram, entre outros aspectos, que usar recursos de tecnologia assistiva favorecem a promoção da comunicação e, consequentemente, da participação, e, também, a escolarização dessas crianças, desde que se ofereça o apoio necessário, seja em casa ou na escola., Este artículo presenta resultados sobre el uso de tecnología de asistencia para la comunicación y participación de niños no oralizados con discapacidades múltiples debido al síndrome congénito del virus del Zika (SCZV). La investigación abordó las concepciones las concepciones de los profesionales de la educación que trabajaron con estos niños en los años 2019 y 2020. Los datos fueron recolectados durante un Programa de Educación Continua a través de registros en una plataforma en línea y portafolios de capacitación. Para sustentar el análisis se utilizó como referencia la teoría bioecológica y sistémica del desarrollo humano de Uri Bronfenbrenner. Los resultados mostraron, entre otros aspectos, que el uso de recursos de tecnología de asistencia favorece la promoción de la comunicación y, consecuentemente, la participación, y también la escolarización de estos niños, siempre que se ofrezca el apoyo necesario, ya sea en casa o en la escuela.

In recent years, the development of assistive technologies has expanded significantly. Assistive technologies are usually understood as devices or equipment that allow people with disabilities to fully integrate and integrate into society. The aim of that paper is to describe of such technologies and providing assistance in using them for children with disabilities. The correct implementation and use of assistive technologies by such children contributes to the development of their independence in various activities, increase their self-confidence, improve the quality of life and ensure social integration and equal participation in various life situations. The use of these technologies contributes to social and educational processes, and is also transformative from a psychological point of view.

This paper is an account of a transformative psychopedagogical experience with the use of assistive technologies in a hospital class that is part of the PROBEX-UFPB extension project "Psychopedagogical assistance to hospitalized children and adolescents". The project has been carried out since 2001 at the Lauro Wanderley University Hospital (HULW), located in the city of João Pessoa - PB. The article aims to recognize the use of assistive technologies in psychopedagogical care, as well as inclusive pedagogical practices and their relevance for the autonomy and cognitive development of students/patients. The methodology joined bibliographic and observational research, built through a qualitative approach, using content analysis as the method of analysis. The observation revealed that technologies employed in the education of hospitalized children and adolescents have enabled proper conditions for learning, it also highlighted their importance within education and how much we need to fight for more inclusive education., O artigo corresponde a um relato de experiência psicopedagógica transformadora com a utilização de tecnologias assistivas numa classe hospitalar do projeto de extensão PROBEX-UFPB “Atendimento psicopedagógico à criança e ao adolescente hospitalizado”, projeto realizado desde 2001 no Hospital Universitário Lauro Wanderley (HULW), localizado na cidade de João Pessoa - PB. O objetivo é reconhecer o uso das tecnologias assistivas no atendimento psicopedagógico, assim como de práticas pedagógicas inclusivas e sua relevância para a autonomia e o desenvolvimento cognitivo de alunos/as pacientes. A metodologia envolveu pesquisa bibliográfica e observacional, construída por meio de uma abordagem qualitativa, tendo como método de análise a análise de conteúdo. Constata-se, através da observação, que as tecnologias na educação de crianças e adolescentes hospitalizados possibilitaram condições mais oportunas de aprendizado e sua importância dentro da educação e o quanto é necessário lutar pela educação, que é de todos/as.

Die plötzliche Umstellung auf das sog. Emergency Remote Teaching (Hodges et al. 2020) hat das Thema Ungleichheit in der Bildung auf die Tagesordnung gesetzt – auch an Hochschulen, wo die Studierendenschaft immer diverser wird. Digitalen Medien wird ein grosses Potential zugeschrieben, gleichberechtigte Teilhabe an Bildung zu unterstützen. Zwei Studien an der TU Dortmund widmen sich der Strukturkategorie Behinderung. Die Studien erheben die Erfahrungen von Studierenden mit Behinderungen mit digitalen Lehr- und Lernformaten sowie die Anforderungen, die Studierende mit und ohne Behinderungen an digitale Lehre stellen. Der vorliegende Artikel diskutiert auf Grundlage der Ergebnisse die Chancen und Handlungsfelder für eine inklusive digitale Hochschullehre auf der Grundlage des Continuums of Solutions aus Universal Design, Barrierefreiheit sowie angemessenen Vorkehrungen., The sudden transition to what is termed Emergency Remote Teaching (Hodges et al. 2020) has emphasized the relevance for the issue of inequality in education - including universities with an increasingly diverse student body. Digital media is considered to have great potential in supporting equal participation in education. At TU Dortmund University, two studies are addressing the structural category of “disability”. The studies assess the experiences with digital teaching and learning formats of students with disabilities as well as the needs that students with and without disabilities have in terms of digital teaching. Based on the findings of these studies, this article discusses the opportunities and the field of action for inclusive digital university teaching based on the continuum of solutions from universal design, accessibility, and reasonable accommodations.

[Resumen] Los dispositivos sensorizados en el ámbito de la rehabilitación física, proveen información cuantificable que le permiten al terapeuta conocer de forma objetiva el estado o evolución de la terapia del paciente. Para este estudio, fueron instrumentadas dos muletas de antebrazo que permitieron monitorear tres tipos de marcha de cinco sujetos sanos. Cada prototipo es capaz de medir la fuerza axial aplicada por las extremidades superiores a la muleta y la orientación y aceleración de la misma, para cada ciclo de marcha en un patrón preestablecido. Con los datos obtenidos se analizaron características críticas de la marcha que permitirían potencialmente cuantificar el desempeño de la marcha y determinar la evolución del paciente en un proceso de rehabilitación. Este sistema se presenta como una alternativa para el análisis de marcha con muletas y la individualización de la terapia, a través de la monitorización de los pacientes en su proceso de rehabilitación., [Abstract] Sensorized devices in physical rehabilitation provide quantifiable information that allows the therapist to objectively know the status or evolution of the patient’s therapy. For this study, two forearm crutches were instrumented that allowed monitoring three types of gait of five healthy subjects. Each prototype can measure the axial force applied by the upper extremities to the crutch and its orientation and position for each gait cycle within a pre-established pattern. The results obtained show critical characteristics to analyse and evaluate the gait evolution and determine possible errors in the user’s performance. This system is an alternative for gait analysis using crutches and a tool for individualising therapy through the monitoring of patients in their rehabilitation process.

Background: The worldwide increase in community-dwelling people with dementia underscores the need for innovative eHealth technologies that aim to provide support to both patients and their informal caregivers in the home setting. However, sustainable implementation of eHealth technologies within this target group can be difficult. Objective: The goal of this study was to gain a thorough understanding of why it is often difficult to implement eHealth technologies in practice, even though numerous technologies are designed to support people with dementia and their informal caregivers at home. In particular, our study aimed to (1) provide an overview of technologies that have been used and studied in the context of informal dementia care and (2) explore factors influencing the implementation of these technologies. Methods: Following an umbrella review design, five different databases were searched (PubMed, PsycINFO, Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane) for (systematic) reviews. Among 2205 reviews retrieved, 21 were included in our analysis based on our screening and selection procedure. A combination of deductive and inductive thematic analyses was performed, using the Nonadoption, Abandonment, Scale-Up, Spread, and Sustainability (NASSS) framework for organizing the findings. Results: We identified technologies designed to be used "by informal caregivers," "by people with dementia," and "with people with dementia." Within those groups, most of the represented technologies included, respectively: (i) devices for in-home monitoring of lifestyle, health, and safety; (ii) technologies for supporting memory, orientation, and day structure; and (iii) technologies to facilitate communication between the informal caregiver and person with dementia. Most of the identified factors influencing implementation related to the condition of dementia, characteristics of the technology, expected/perceived value of users, and characteristics of the informal caregiver. Considerably less infor

[Resumen] Objetivos: (1) Analizar la situación actual sobre la participación y necesidades en materia de sexualidad de las personas con enfermedades neurodegenerativas, (2) elaborar material práctico con los principales recursos e información relacionados con los productos de apoyo y la actividad sexual. Metodología: Estudio de metodología cuantitativa. Este diseño se ha desarrollado a través de un abordaje descriptivo, recolectando datos actualizados que describen la situación actual del tema y la población de estudio. Para ello se contó con 34 participantes, de los cuales todos tienen un diagnóstico de ELA o ENM o mantienen una relación de pareja con personas con este diagnóstico. Resultados: Los cuestionarios realizados permitieron identificar la falta de información y, a la vez, el interés que suscita la temática de los productos de apoyo destinados a la actividad sexual. Como resultado principal de este estudio se ha elaborado una guía que describe y analiza los principales productos de apoyo destinados a la actividad sexual, así como alguna otra información de interés relacionada con esta área. Conclusiones: Las oportunidades de participación en actividades sexuales por parte de esta población se ven disminuidas principalmente por la falta de formación e información, tanto de los usuarios como de los profesionales, así como de recursos que aborden esta temática. Para revertir esta situación, es necesario disponer de recursos de apoyo específicos, como pueden ser guías, libros o modelos de intervención con el fin de desmantelar los mitos que rodean la sexualidad de las personas con diversidad funcional, así como incorporarlos dentro de las intervenciones., [Resumo] Obxectivos: (1) Analizar a situación actual sobre a participación e necesidades en materia de sexualidade das persoas con enfermidades neurodexenerativas, (2) elaborar material práctico cos principais recursos e información relacionados cos produtos de apoio e a actividade sexual. Metodoloxía: Estudo de metodoloxía cuantitativa. Este deseño desenrolouse a través dun abordaxe descritivo, recolectando datos actualizados que describen a situación actual do tema e a poboación de estudio. Para iso, contouse con 34 participantes, dos cales todos teñen un diagnóstico de ELA ou ENM ou manteñen unha relación de parexa coas persoas con este diagnóstico. Resultados: Os cuestionarios realizados permitiron identificar a falta de información, e á vez, o interese que suscita a temática dos produtos de apoio destinados á actividade sexual. Como resultado principal deste estudo elaborouse unha guía que describe e analiza os principais produtos de apoio destinados á actividade sexual, así como algunha outra información de interese relacionada con esta área. Conclusións: As oportunidades de participación en actividades sexuais por parte desta poboación vense diminuídas principalmente pola falta de formación e información, tanto dos usuarios como dos profesionais, así como de recursos que aborden esta temática. Para reverter esta situación, é necesario dispoñer de recursos de apoio específicos, como poden ser guías, libros ou modelos de intervención co fin de desmantelar os mitos que rodean a sexualidade das persoas con diversidade funcional, así como incorporalas dentro das intervencións., [Abstract] Objectives: (1) To analyze the current situation in the participation and needs regarding sexuality of people with neurodegenerative diseases, (2) to prepare practical material with the main resources and information related to assistive technologies and sexual activity. Methodology: Quantitative methodology study. This design has been developed through a descriptive approach, collecting updated data that describes the current situation of the subject and the study population. For this, there were 34 participants, all of whom have a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Neuromuscular diseases, or maintain a couple relationship with people with this diagnosis. Results: The questionnaires carried out made it possible to identify the lack of information, and at the same time interest, that the subject of support products for sexual activity raises. As the main result of this study, a guide has been prepared that describes and analyzes the main assistive technologies for sexual activity, as well as some other information of interest related to this area. Conclusions: The opportunities for participation in sexual activities by this population are diminished mainly due to the lack of training and information, both for users and professionals, as well as for resources that address this issue. To reverse this situation, it is necessary to have specific support resources, such as guides, books or models of intervention in order to dismantle the myths surrounding the sexuality of people with functional diversity, as well as incorporate them into the interventions.

We developed a 3D-Enhanced Facility Management System for Indoors Navigation (3D-EFMS-IN) to assist visually impaired users (VIU). Additionally, the system aims to facilitate the management of estate property and provide support for future scenarios related to emergencies, security, and robotics devices. The system combines four main subsystems: Mapping, Navigation Paths, Indoor Localisation and Navigation, and a Visualisation. An integration of the subsystems has been done and a pretest with one VIU was performed to obtain feedback and tune the critical characteristics of our development. We observed that the system offers an acceptable preliminary user experience for VIU and future tests require to improve the latency of the system and usability. Shortly, we aim to obtain qualitative and quantitative measurements in a significant pool of users once the COVID lockdown ends.

This paper compares accessibility features of two popular platforms from a user perspective. The comparison is based on accessibility features for different kinds of disabilities such as vision, hearing or physically challenged users. A section on accessibility in mobile applications follows. According to a survey, the use of mobile platforms by people with disabilities is dramatically increasing. New accessibility features are introduced for each release of these platforms which makes them an affordable assistive technology.

Many older people suffer from functional declines and activity limitations, which reduce their autonomy and quality of life. Assistive technologies (ATs) could dampen such effects. However, many older people do not use ATs and it is important to understand, why they give away their benefits. In this article, we look at older peoples´ use of ATs from an action perspective on human development elaborated by Brandtstädter and colleagues. We review from this viewpoint models of AT use created mostly in information systems technology, business administration, and management sciences. The major focus is on the extent to which these models consider the relevant internal (mental) and external context of AT use, possible action alternatives, and autonomous, vicarious, and joint modes of decision-making about ATs use. Systematic literature searches in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar led us to 23 models. None of them contained as central variables any perceived discrepancies between the actual and desired developmental situation or any goals to reduce these discrepancies. No model included action alternatives to AT use beyond non-use such as trying harder on oneself, making environmental adaptations or using personal support. All models conceive of AT use as an act of the individual user, but neglected decision making about AT use by other persons on his or her behalf or a joint decision making of a potential user together with other persons (e.g., relatives). We discuss the background of these gaps, possibilities of a more comprehensive modeling of AT use, and practical implications (e.g., developmental counseling).

L’augmentation du nombre d’élèves handicapés ou en difficulté d’adaptation ou d’apprentissage au sein du système scolaire québécois rend nécessaire des pratiques plus inclusives, telle la conception universelle de l’apprentissage. En se basant sur cette conception, donner l’opportunité à tous les élèves en difficulté ou non d’utiliser une aide technologique à l’apprentissage, mesure d’adaptation actuellement réservée pour les élèves HDAA, pourrait donner les moyens à tous d’exploiter leur plein potentiel. En raison des difficultés marquées en orthographe grammaticale des jeunes du secondaire, mesurer les impacts d’un réviseur orthographique sur leurs compétences est une bonne avenue pour vérifier la concrétisation possible de cette hypothèse. Deux objectifs spécifiques en découlent, soit 1) identifier les impacts individuels de l’utilisation de l’outil sur les compétences grammaticales et 2) identifier les impacts intergroupes de l’utilisation du réviseur. La collecte de données s’est effectuée auprès d’un groupe-classe de 25 élèves de deuxième secondaire. Nous avons analysé les données à l’aide d’ANOVA mixtes (3 x 3) pour la compétence en orthographe grammaticale totale et pour cinq catégories grammaticales. Les résultats démontrent que le traitement quasi expérimental, soit l’intégration du réviseur à l’intérieur des activités d’écriture durant deux mois, a contribué à l’augmentation des performances à accorder un participe passé avec avoir de l’ensemble des participants. De plus, il a été davantage profitable aux groupes d’élèves avec difficultés majeures et avec difficulté mineures qu’au groupe sans difficulté. Ainsi, cela a réduit les écarts entre les élèves. Finalement, la valeur ajoutée de l’outil lors de son utilisation est positive pour l’ensemble des participants. Ce projet remet donc en question les critères de l’octroi des aides technologiques et pourrait ouvrir la voie à un accès universel dans le but de favoriser le développement du plein potentiel de

In the future, assistive social robots will collaborate with humans in a variety of settings. Robots will not only follow human orders but will likely also instruct users during certain tasks. Such robots will inevitably encounter user uncertainty and hesitations. They will continuously need to repair mismatches in common ground in their interactions with humans. In this work, we argue that social robots should instruct humans following the principle of least-collaborative-effort. Like humans do when instructing each other, robots should minimise information efficiency over the benefits of collaborative interactive behaviour. In this paper, we first introduce the concept of least-collaborative-effort in human communication and then discuss implications for design of instructions in human-robot collaboration., Funding: Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research project FACT [GMT14-0082]; Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research CouncilEuropean Commission [2016-00827]

The purpose of the study is to identify the sources provided by the universities of India to visually impaired persons to cater their educational requirements. There are 49 Central Universities in India, out of which 15 were selected for the study. The data from selected university libraries was collected using bilateral approach i.e. questionnaire and telephonic interview. It was found that central universities of India are not providing appropriate sources to their visually impaired users to fulfill their educational requirements. Though some universities had taken initiatives in providing the information resources and services, but still there are many aspects which should be looked upon for modification and improvisation. The present study is confined to the central universities of India as it would be difficult to identify each university in India who have started or are in urge to start the services to visually impaired users. It is anticipated that the study would be of immense importance not only for the academic institutions but also for the agencies/organizations working for this user community. The study thus puts light on the situations those are prevailing in academia allied to inclusive education for visually impaired persons and it also provides the way out to overcome such situations. The present study is devoted to particular user community and thus useful for professionals pursuing understanding about the library and information services for these users. Furthermore, the research highlights the present status regarding the availability of the library services for visually impaired users in central universities of India.

Introduction. The intensive development of adaptive information technologies leads to the active inclusion of adolescents with disabilities in Internet communications, expanding the possibilities of their social adaptation. At the same time, the limitation of opportunities for social interaction due to impaired psychophysical development is an additional factor in the uncontrolled involvement of adolescents in Internet communication and the risk of Problematic Internet Usage.The aim of this research is to study the degree and indicators of Internet addiction among adolescents with disabilities in conjunction with indicators of their social adaptability.Methodology and research methods. Theoretical and empirical study is based on the provisions of the psychological theory of activity and personality, culturalhistorical theory of L. S. Vygotsky, the ideas of domestic and foreign psychology about addictive behaviour including about risk and factors of Internet addictive behaviour normally developing adolescents and adolescents with disabilities. The study was carried out using empirical methods (questionnaires, psycho-diagnostic methods, survey methods); methods of quantitative analysis of empirical data, including methods of mathematical statistics: comparison of samples by the Mann-Whitney test; correlation analysis using the linear Pearson correlation coefficient. The calculations were performed using the Excel software package and using the SPSS 16.0 software package (Statistical Package for Social Science).Research results and scientific novelty. The general and specific features of the Internet usage among adolescents with disabilities are identified; personality traits are identified as a prerequisite for the Problematic Internet Usage in this category of adolescents. It has been determined that virtual communication acts for adolescents with disabilities as a kind of adaptation-compensatory resource that allows overcoming communicative difficulties. At the same, Введение. Интенсивно развивающиеся адаптивные информационные технологии, с одной стороны, позволяют людям с ограниченными возможностями здоровья (ОВЗ) активно включаться в дистанционные коммуникации, что существенно облегчает процессы их социальной адаптации. С другой стороны, неконтролируемое использование Интернета и нелимитированное общение в сети, особенно в подростковом возрасте, являются дополнительными факторами риска, возрастающего в случае нарушений психофизического развития. Цель представленной в статье работы – изучение проблемы интернет-зависимости старших школьников с ОВЗ в ее взаимосвязи с уровнем их социальной адаптированности. Методология и методики. Теоретико-эмпирическое исследование реализовано с опорой на положения культурно-исторической теории Л. С. Выготского и представления отечественной и зарубежной психологии о проблемном использовании Интернета и об интернет-аддикции у нормально развивающихся подростков и их сверстников с ОВЗ. В ходе изыскания использовались такие эмпирические методы, как анкетирование, психодиагностика и опрос; а также качественный и количественный виды анализа полученных данных, включая методы математической статистики (сравнение показателей выборок по критерию Манна-Уитни); корреляционный анализ с применением линейного коэффициента корреляции Пирсона. Вычисления проводились с помощью пакета программ «Excel» и SPSS 16.0 (Statistical Package for Social Science – Статистический пакет для социальных наук).Результаты и научная новизна. Установлены общие и специфические особенности поведения старших школьников с ОВЗ в сети Интернет. Выявлены качества личности, служащие предпосылками формирования интернет-зависимости у данной категории учащихся. Утверждается, что виртуальная коммуникация для подростков с ОВЗ выступает своего рода адаптационно-компенсаторным ресурсом, помогающим преодолевать коммуникативные сложности. В то же время недостаточная саморегуляция поведения затрудняет самоконтроль в периоды пребывания в сети, что уве

We present a study with seven blind participants using three different mobile OCR apps to find text posted in various indoor environments. The first app considered was Microsoft SeeingAI in its Short Text mode, which reads any text in sight with a minimalistic interface. The second app was Spot+OCR, a custom application that separates the task of text detection from OCR proper. Upon detection of text in the image, Spot+OCR generates a short vibration; as soon as the user stabilizes the phone, a high-resolution snapshot is taken and OCR-processed. The third app, Guided OCR, was designed to guide the user in taking several pictures in a 360° span at the maximum resolution available by the camera, with minimum overlap between pictures. Quantitative results (in terms of true positive ratios and traversal speed) were recorded. Along with the qualitative observation and outcomes from an exit survey, these results allow us to identify and assess the different strategies used by our participants, as well as the challenges of operating these systems without sight.

Background: Digital health interventions can fill gaps in mental healthcare provision. However, autonomous e-mental health (AEMH) systems also present challenges for effective risk management. To balance autonomy and safety, AEMH systems need to detect risk situations and act on these appropriately. One option is sending automatic alerts to carers, but such 'auto-referral' could lead to missed cases or false alerts. Requiring users to actively self-refer offers an alternative, but this can also be risky as it relies on their motivation to do so. This study set out with two objectives. Firstly, to develop guidelines for risk detection and auto-referral systems. Secondly, to understand how persuasive techniques, mediated by a virtual agent, can facilitate self-referral. Methods: In a formative phase, interviews with experts, alongside a literature review, were used to develop a risk detection protocol. Two referral protocols were developed - one involving auto-referral, the other motivating users to self-refer. This latter was tested via crowd-sourcing (n = 160). Participants were asked to imagine they had sleeping problems with differing severity and user stance on seeking help. They then chatted with a virtual agent, who either directly facilitated referral, tried to persuade the user, or accepted that they did not want help. After the conversation, participants rated their intention to self-refer, to chat with the agent again, and their feeling of being heard by the agent. Results: Whether the virtual agent facilitated, persuaded or accepted, influenced all of these measures. Users who were initially negative or doubtful about self-referral could be persuaded. For users who were initially positive about seeking human care, this persuasion did not affect their intentions, indicating that a simply facilitating referral without persuasion was sufficient. Conclusion: This paper presents a protocol that elucidates the steps and decisions involved in risk detection, s, Interactive Intelligence

The great technological advance that is taking place in the field of healthcare resources raises several questions about the relationship of these technologies with the affirmation of the dignity of people. From the Moral Philosophy, a review of the factual situation and some arguments that point to a double foundation of human dignity is made: on the one hand, attending to the special value of a life lived with au - tonomy, and on the other hand, attending to the radical vulnerability of people, particularly those with special needs. This vulnerability depends to a large extent on the degree of empowerment that we are able to develop with the help of the ethical community in which we are inserted. The recognition of the moral bond with this community is the key, in our opinion, to affirm the ethical obligation to provide universal access to assistive technologies, by promoting policies that are consistent with this recognition., El gran avance tecnológico que se está produciendo en el campo de los recursos asistenciales plantea diversos interrogantes acerca de la relación de estas tecnologías con la afirmación de la dignidad de las personas. Desde la Filosofía Moral, se hace una revisión de la situación fáctica y de algunos argumentos que apuntan a una doble fundamentación de la dignidad humana: por una parte, atendiendo al valor especial de una vida vivida con autonomía, y por otra parte, atendiendo a la radical vulnerabilidad de las personas, en particular de las que presentan necesidades especiales. Esta vulnerabilidad depende en gran medida del grado de empoderamiento que seamos capaces de desarrollar con ayuda de la comunidad ética en la que estamos insertos. El reconocimiento del vínculo moral con dicha comunidad es la clave, a nuestro juicio, para afirmar la obligación ética de proporcionar un acceso universal a las tecnologías asistenciales, promoviendo para ello las políticas que sean congruentes con este reconocimiento.

Technological innovation is seeing the convergence of haptic technologies with real-time 3D virtual environments and/or augmented reality technologies. Amongst the diverse applications of these innova- tions is their use as assistive technologies (ATs) for persons with devel - opmental and intellectual disabilities, or persons with cognitive deficits, such as dementia. This paper focuses on the question of informed consent in relation to researching and using these technologies (hereafter referred to simply as haptic suits). Informed consent is a standard requirement in research ethics, as well as in care scenarios, so it will be required for trials of haptic suits in general, and, when used as an ATs, will be required for use in care settings. Given the emphasis on involving persons with intellectual or de- velopmental disabilities (PIDD) in researching and designing ATs for their use, the question of informed consent is urgent., La innovación tecnológica está presenciando la convergencia de las tecnologías hápticas con los entornos virtuales 3D en tiempo real y/o las tecnologías de realidad aumentada. Entre las diversas aplicaciones de estas innovaciones se encuentra su uso como tecnologías asistenciales para personas con discapacidades de desarrollo e intelectuales, o personas con déficits cognitivos, como la demencia. Este artículo se centra en la cuestión del consentimiento informado en relación con la investigación y el uso de estas tecnologías (en lo sucesivo denominados simplemente trajes hápticos). El consentimiento informado es un requisito estándar en la ética de la investigación, así como en los escenarios de atención, por lo que será necesario para los ensayos con trajes hápticos en general y, cuando se utilicen como tecnología asistencial. Dado el énfasis en la participación de las personas con discapacidad intelectual o del desarrollo en la investigación y el diseño de las tecnologías asistenciales para su uso, la cuestión del consentimiento informado es apremiante.

La innovación tecnológica está presenciando la convergencia de las tecnologías hápticas con los entornos virtuales 3D en tiempo real y/o las tecnologías de realidad aumentada. Entre las diversas aplicaciones de estas innovaciones se encuentra su uso como tecnologías asistenciales para personas con discapacidades de desarrollo e intelectuales, o personas con déficits cognitivos, como la demencia. Este artículo se centra en la cuestión del consentimiento informado en relación con la investigación y el uso de estas tecnologías (en lo sucesivo denominados simplemente trajes hápticos). El consentimiento informado es un requisito estándar en la ética de la investigación, así como en los escenarios de atención, por lo que será necesario para los ensayos con trajes hápticos en general y, cuando se utilicen como tecnología asistencial. Dado el énfasis en la participación de las personas con discapacidad intelectual o del desarrollo en la investigación y el diseño de las tecnologías asistenciales para su uso, la cuestión del consentimiento informado es apremiante., Technological innovation is seeing the convergence of haptic technologies with real-time 3D virtual environments and/or augmented reality technologies. Amongst the diverse applications of these innova- tions is their use as assistive technologies (ATs) for persons with devel - opmental and intellectual disabilities, or persons with cognitive deficits, such as dementia. This paper focuses on the question of informed consent in relation to researching and using these technologies (hereafter referred to simply as haptic suits). Informed consent is a standard requirement in research ethics, as well as in care scenarios, so it will be required for trials of haptic suits in general, and, when used as an ATs, will be required for use in care settings. Given the emphasis on involving persons with intellectual or de- velopmental disabilities (PIDD) in researching and designing ATs for their use, the question of informed consent is urgent.