Search

This groundbreaking book explores the power of collaborative AI in amplifying human creativity and expertise. Written by two seasoned experts in data analytics, AI, and machine learning, the book offers a comprehensive overview of the creative process behind AI-powered content generation. It takes the reader through a unique collaborative process between human authors and various AI-based topic experts, created, prompted, and fine-tuned by the authors.This book features a comprehensive list of prompts that readers can use to create their own ChatGPT-powered topic experts. By following these expertly crafted prompts, individuals and businesses alike can harness the power of AI, tailoring it to their specific needs and fostering a fruitful collaboration between humans and machines. With real-world use cases and deep insights into the foundations of generative AI, the book showcases how humans and machines can work together to achieve better business outcomes and tackle complex challenges. Social and ethical implications of collaborative AI are covered and how it may impact the future of work and employment. Through reading the book, readers will gain a deep understanding of the latest advancements in AI and how they can shape our world.Converging Minds: The Creative Potential of Collaborative AI is essential reading for anyone interested in the transformative potential of AI-powered content generation and human-AI collaboration. It will appeal to data scientists, machine learning architects, prompt engineers, general computer scientists, and engineers in the fields of generative AI and deep learning.Chapter 1 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons [Attribution- No Derivatives (CC-BY -ND)] 4.0 license.

This book provides a thorough introduction to the many facets of designing technologies for autism, with a particular focus on optimizing visual attention frameworks. This book is designed to provide a detailed overview of several aspects of technology for autism. Each Chapter illustrates different parts of the Sensory Accommodation Framework and provides examples of relevant available technologies. The books first discusses a variety of skills that make up human development as well as a history of autism as a diagnosis and the birth of the neurodiversity movement. It goes on to detail individual types of therapy and how they interact with autism. The systems involved in sensory processing and their specific relation to autism are then explored, including through technologies that have addressed these areas and applications for designers. Readers will learn about designing sensory environments and sensory interactions, such as through virtual reality. This book places a needed emphasis on the hierarchy of information in technology development by exploring visual attention in neurodivergent conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. It also delves into the relationship between sensory perception and nonverbal communication, the bridge between sensory input and social behavior, and dynamic information. The discussion is rounded out with examinations of temporal processing as and multisensory integration as complicating factors that have existing technological solutions. Finally, the book closes with a summary of the sensory accommodation framework in respect to how each layer offers different user experience goals and specific mechanisms to promote those goals. Readers from a variety of research backgrounds will find this book informative and useful, while designers will learn essential skills for effectively designing autism technologies.

'Libraries hoping to make their services and programs fully accessible will want to check out this useful and thoughtful guide. Highly recommended.'-Library JournalLibraries have an ethical, and usually a legal, obligation to make their services accessible to disabled patrons and employees. Making the Library Accessible for All is a single-source guide that librarians can refer to when planning, remediating, or evaluating accessibility. With a unique holistic approach, it emphasizes the perception of people with disabilities as partners in meeting a common goal rather than as a population to be “served.” Topics addressed and updated in this second edition include:Multiple interviews with librarians and other experts in the field about proven accessibility strategies for libraries, personal experiences, and cutting-edge innovations; Innovations in providing assistive digital technology, many of which are free or built into common programs;An overview of changes coming to accessibility guidelines for digital content;Up-to-date information on legislation that may affect some or all libraries;An evaluation of how the COVID pandemic has changed both library services and patron needs

The book “Applied Assistive Technologies and Informatics for Students with Disabilities” provides a comprehensive guide to assist students with learning disabilities in higher education via modern assistive technologies and informatics. This book will take us on a tour of the various modern assistive technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, computer vision (CV), text analytics (TA), the metaverse, human-computer interaction (HCI), digital twins (DT), and federated learning (FL), and how they support higher education students with learning disabilities. This book is intended for students with learning disabilities, scientists and researchers, lecturers and teachers, academic and corporate libraries, practitioners, and professionals who are interested in providing inclusive education to students with learning disabilities through the application of modern assistive technologies and informatics. This book is ideal for readers who are new to the subject and knowledgeable about the principles of inclusive education. In addition, it is a fantastic resource for teachers and parents assisting students with learning disabilities. This book can be a powerful tool to educate more students about learning disabilities, which can help eradicate the bullying of these students.

Everyone deserves to use the Internet. An estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. That's 16percent of the world's population, or one in six of us. At the same time, over 96 percent of the one million most popular websites have an accessibility issue. Add to this the massive rise in legal cases around sites not being accessible, including Beyoncé, Disney, and Netflix, and you have an important topic that more and more people are starting to engage with.In this updated and revamped second edition of the Amazon technology chart-topping Practical Web Accessibility, you'll be guided through a broad range of disabilities and access needs. You'll understand the ways these users typically engage with the web, the barriers they often face, and practical advice on how your websites and content can be compliant, but more than that, inclusive and enjoyable to use. There's also a new chapter on “Outsourcing Accessibility,” exploring third party “bolt-on” tools, “build your own website” platforms like Wix, and popular design systems. You‘ll explore whether they're helpful or detrimental in the fight to make the web more accessible.Throughout this book you'll learn to test for, spot, and fix web accessibility issues for a wide range of physical and mental impairments. Featuring content from the latest compliance frameworks, including the newly released WCAG 2.2 and exploratory concepts in WCAG 3, you'll see how to go beyond the basic requirements in order to help your users. You'll also learn that an accessible approach won't just help people with disabilities, it will improve your website for everyone.This book comes complete with practical examples you can use in your own sites, along with a brand-new approach to auditing and improving a website's accessibility, and a team's approach to it, based on tools created by the author and refined over years as a consultant — The FAIR framework and ACCESS checklist. With these tools, you can set up processes for yourself and your team that will drastically improve the accessibility of your sites and, importantly, keep them that way in the future. Suitable for those of any profession or experience level, Practical Web Accessibility gives you all the information you need to ensure that your sites are truly accessible for the modern, inclusive web. If you would like to learn about web accessibility in a clear and actionable way, this book is for you.What You Will LearnA greater understanding of a vast range of disabilities that have online access needs, and the issues they typically face accessing content online.Ways to apply the practical steps required to cater for those needs.How to take your sites, and colleagues, on a journey from being inaccessible to accessible.The importance of accessibility in your designs, code, content, and more.The best ways to test andimprove your sites, so you can be compliant, and truly accessible. Who This Book Is For Anyone, regardless of what they do, who wants to learn how to make websites and their content more accessible for those with disabilities. In the world of web, the book has been used by front and backend developers, designers, product and project managers, team and business leaders.

We're all familiar with smart TVs making suggestions on our future watching, real-world exercise data being transferred into stats and infographics on our workout apps and turning up our home heating before we start our commute – but how does this world of technological interfaces affect our actions and perceptions of self?When society relies on computer models and their interfaces to explain and predict everything from love to geopolitical conflicts, our own behaviour and choices are artificially changed. Zachary Kaiser explores the harmful social consequences of this idea - balanced against speed and ease for the user - and how design practice and education can respond positively. - Concepts of freedom vs convenience - Smart objects and manipulation - Real world information transformed into data - Technology's decisions made on our behalf

This book experiences the future of patient-centered healthcare and dives into the latest advancements and transformative technologies that are revolutionizing the well-being of individuals around the globe. The readers can join authors on an engaging journey as the authors explore the captivating realm of ambient assisted living and unlock its immense potential for improving healthcare outcomes. This book goes beyond mere exploration; it invites readers to embark on a voyage of discovery as authors unveil the outcomes of groundbreaking research ideas. With a diverse range of applications, from deep learning in healthcare to cutting-edge models, the authors offer a comprehensive view of the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Whether you're a healthcare professional, an academic seeking the latest insights, or a researcher delving into the realms of ambient assistive technology, biomedical engineering, or computational intelligence, this book is an invaluable resource. Additionally, postgraduate students pursuing data engineering systems find it to be an essential guide. Each chapter stands independently, providing a comprehensive overview of problem formulation and its tangible outcomes. The readers can immerse themselves in the world of patient-centered healthcare today and become part of the forefront of innovation.

This book explores the practical application of recent improvements in technology for people living with dementia and highlights the positive outcomes on care, quality of life, and services on patients through exploration of 15 research projects to redefine the future of dementia care. Using research compiled in collaboration with leading universities and organisations across Europe, this book demonstrates how INDUCT's (Interdisciplinary Network for Dementia Utilising Current Technology's) findings resulted in implications for practical cognitive and social factors to improve the usability of technology, evaluating the effectiveness of specific contemporary technology, and tracing facilitators and barriers for implementation of technology in dementia care. Featuring a unique training programme along with a wide range of patient-public involvement, this state-of-the-art volume will be essential reading for researchers, academics and scholars in the fields of dementia and mental health research, gerontology, psychology and nursing.

'The objective of this book project would be to highlight innovative AT projects that provide better educational outcomes for students with disabilities. The book could be used in higher education to provide guidance in methods courses for AT implementation. The book could also be used in K-12 to provide special education teachers resources to help students in the classroom. Many areas of ability will be addressed with technological and practical practices in the field'--

Computer Assistive Technologies for Physically and Cognitively Challenged Users focuses on the technologies and devices that assist individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities. These technologies facilitate independent activity and participation, serving to improve daily functional capabilities. The book features nine chapters that cover a wide range of computer assistive technologies that give readers an in-depth understanding of the available resources to help the elderly or individuals with disabilities. The topics covered in the book include 1) The category and ontology of assistive devices, 2) Web accessibility and ICT accessibility for persons with disability (PWD), 3) Assistive technologies for blind and visually impaired people, 4) Assistive technologies for home comfort and care, 5) Assistive technologies for hearing impaired people using Indian sign language synthetic animations, 6) Augmentative and alternative communication/hearing impairments, 7) Accessibility innovations to help physically disabled users, 8) Adhesive tactile walking surface indicators for elderly and visually impaired people mobility, 9) future of assistive technologies. This book serves as a textbook resource for students undertaking modular courses that require learning material on computer assistive technology. It also serves as a reference for graduate level courses in disability studies, human-computer interaction, gerontology and rehabilitation engineering. Researchers working in the allied fields intersecting computer science, medicine and psychology will also benefit from the information provided in the book.

This book outlines the development of the Trace R&D Center as an institution for furthering accessible and assistive technologies. The book walks readers through the Center's nascent attempts to solve individual challenges with augmentative communication devices through contemporary efforts to establish global frameworks and infrastructures for accessibility. This book is premised on the Center's mission to maximize the potential of people with disabilities by harnessing evolving technologies while at the same time dismantling the barriers created by those same technological advancements. Readers will learn how this has been done in the past and why this practice should be a fundamental and integrated feature in new technology planning and implementation. The book touches on pre-internet technologies before exploring the huge implications of, first, the personal computer and, second, the Internet. In parallel with the massive growth in scale rendered by the launch of the Web, the book traces the expansion of the Center's focus from the individual to the universal, particularly in working to establish accessibility standards and infrastructures. Learning from the successes and failures of the Center, the book outlines many past challenges and future directions for the development of technologies for people with disabilities from the research and industry perspectives.

'The more we know about smart and intelligent systems and their use, the more productive organizations can become, and the more quality of life will improve.'—Gavriel Salvendy, President Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida, University Distinguished Professor University of Central Florida''Robots, drones, self-driving cars, and personal assistants are only some of the ‘intelligent'and ‘smart'systems which are populating our world and changing the way we use technology to carry out our everyday activities, bringing about both exciting opportunities for human-technology symbiosis, as well as compelling design and development challenges. Through a carefully selected choice of chapters, authored by top scientists in the field, this book, edited by Abbas Moallem, sheds light on fundamental aspects of intelligent and smart systems, investigating the role and impact of affective and psychophysiological computing, machine learning, cybersecurity, agent transparency, and human-agent teaming in the shaping of this new interaction paradigm, as well as the human factors involved in their application in critical domains such as health, education, and manufacturing in the emerging technological landscape.'—Constantine Stephanidis, Professor of Computer Science, University of Crete, Distinguished member of Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH) In today's digital world, the words'smart'and intelligent'are now used to label devices, machinery, systems, and even environments. What is a'smart'system? Is'smart'synonymous with'intelligent'? If not, what does an'intelligent system'mean? Are all smart systems intelligent? This book tries to answer these questions by summarizing the existing research in various areas and providing new research findings. Smart and Intelligent Systems: The Human Elements in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Cybersecurity presents new areas of smart and intelligent system design. It defines smart and intelligent systems, offers a human factors approach, discusses networking applications, and combines the human element with smart and intelligent systems.This book is perfect for engineering students in data sciences and artificial intelligence and practitioners at all levels in the fields of human factors and ergonomics, systems engineering, computer science, software engineering, and robotics.

This book provides an in-depth review of the historical and state-of-the-art use of technology by and for individuals with autism. The design, development, deployment, and evaluation of interactive technologies for use by and with individuals with autism have been rapidly increasing over the last few decades. There is great promise for the use of these technologies to enrich lives, improve the experience of interventions, help with learning, facilitate communication, support data collection, and promote understanding. Emerging technologies in this area also have the potential to enhance assessment and diagnosis of autism, to understand the nature and lived experience of autism, and to help researchers conduct basic and applied research. The intention of this book is to give readers a comprehensive background for understanding what work has already been completed and its impact as well as what promises and challenges lie ahead. A large majority of existing technologieshave been designed for autistic children, there is increased interest in technology's intersection with the lived experiences of autistic adults. By providing a classification scheme and general review, this book can help technology designers, researchers, autistic people, and their advocates better understand how technologies have been successful or unsuccessful, what problems remain open, and where innovations can further address challenges and opportunities for individuals with autism and the variety of stakeholders connected to them.

There is much evidence to show that digital technologies greatly impact children's lives through the use of computers, laptops and mobile devices. Children's uses of digital technologies are, therefore, currently of huge concern to academics, teachers and parents.Disabled Children and Digital Technologies investigates disabled children's learning with digital technologies within the context of inclusive education. Sue Cranmer explores the potential benefits of using digital technologies to support disabled children's learning whilst recognising that these technologies also have the potential to act as a barrier to inclusion. Cranmer provides a critical overview of how digital technologies are being used in contemporary classrooms for learning. The book includes detailed analysis of a recent study carried out with disabled children with visual impairments aged between 13 – 17 years old in mainstream secondary schools. The chapters consider the use of digital technologies in relation to access, engagement, attitudes, and skills, including safety and risk. These perspectives are complemented by interviews with teachers to explore how digital technologies can support disabled children's learning and inclusion in mainstream settings more effectively.

Access to and participation in education are critical issues in contemporary South Africa. Awareness of inclusiveness and equality is not recent, having possibly first been described in the dawn of the millennium by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Drawing from the current framings in the SADC education systems the contributors argue that ICT has a key role to play in transformation, Africanisation and decolonisation of education. Contributors are: Skye Adams, Najma Agherdien, Andrew Crouch, Andries Du Plessis, Nazira Hoosen, Katijah Khoza-Shangase, Mhulaheni Maguvhe, Khetsiwe Masuku, Sharon Moonsamy, Munyane Mophosho, Nomfundo Moroe, Ramashego Shila Mphahlele, Ndileleni Mudzielwana, Shonisani Mulovhedzi, Anniah Mupawose, Mapula Ngoepe, Moshe Phoshoko, Dhanashree Pillay, Roshni Pillay, Ben Sebothoma and Susan Thuketana.

This state-of-the-art volume covers recent developments in research on audio description, the professional practice dedicated to making audiovisual products, artistic artefacts and performances accessible to those with supplementary visual and cognitive needs. Harnessing the power of the spoken word, the projects covered in this book illustrate the value of audiovisual content descriptions not only in relation to the role of breaking down physical, cognitive and emotional barriers to entertainment, but also in informing broader media practices such as video archive retrieval, video gaming development and application software creation. The first section maps out the field, discusses key concepts in relation to new developments and illustrates their application; the second part focuses on new audiences for AD, whilst the third part covers the impact of new technologies. Throughout this book contributors focus on methodological innovation, regarding audio description as an opportunity to engage in multi-dimensional linguistic and user-experience analysis, as it intersects with and contributes to a range of other research disciplines. This book is key reading for researchers, advanced students and practitioners of audiovisual translation, media, film and performance studies, as well as those in related fields including cognition, narratology, computer vision and artificial intelligence.

In higher education systems, equal importance must be given to differently abled students. However, not all educational institutions have infrastructure and facilities to admit these students even though accessibility and support for these students is growing. There are many schemes, facilities, services, and financial assistance available to these students along with new assistive technologies that are making teaching and learning processes more effective. While using new technologies in education systems such as e-learning and blended learning, these students need special attention as well as some advanced training and additional features in the technology itself that better help them become familiar with it. Understanding the demands and requirements of differently abled students is the best way to provide them with quality education. Assistive Technologies for Differently Abled Students explores how to implement effective assistive technologies and other related services for providing differently abled students an education that is high quality and equal to their peers, enabling them to go on and excel in their field and obtain employment. Topics that are highlighted within this book include an overview for the different types of diverse assistive technologies for all types of students including students with visual impairments, learning disabilities, physical challenges, and more. This book is ideal for school administrators, researchers of higher educational institutes, non-governmental organizations, assistive technology experts, IT professionals, social workers, inservice and preservice teachers, teacher educators, practitioners, researchers, academicians, and students looking for information on the types of assistive technologies being employed in education for all types of differently abled students.

Groundbreaking innovations have paved the way for new assistive approaches to support students with special needs. New technological innovations such as smart mobile devices and apps, wearable devices, web-based monitoring and support systems, artificial intelligence, and more are changing the way in which care and support can be given to students with special needs. These technologies range from encouraging self-care and independent living to supporting the completion of academic work, accommodating cognitive disabilities, or even supporting communication and socialization. The applications of assistive technologies are widespread and diverse in the ways in which the technology itself can be utilized and the people it can support. The increasing developments in technology are bringing in a new way of interventions for all types of students with diverse special needs in the modern educational atmosphere. Technology-Supported Interventions for Students With Special Needs in the 21st Century covers effective assistive modern technologies for overcoming specific challenges encountered by students with special needs for promoting their learning and development, educational attainment, social engagement, self-sufficiency, and quality of life. This book presents an overview of contemporary assistive tools and approaches integrated with digital technologies for students with special needs; shares findings of cutting-edge research on using digital technologies; provides evidence-based digital technology-facilitated tools and strategies for effective diagnosis, treatment, educational intervention, and care of students with special needs; and identifies promising areas and directions for future innovations, applications, and research. It is ideal for classroom teachers, special educators, educational technologists, intervention specialists, medical professionals, caregivers, administrators, policymakers, teacher educators, researchers, academicians, and students interested in the use of assistive technologies for students with special needs in the digital era.

When digital content and technologies are designed in a way that is inaccessible for persons with disabilities, they are locked out of commerce, education, employment, and access to government information. In developing areas of the world, as new technical infrastructures are being built, it is especially important to ensure that accessibility is a key design goal. Unfortunately, nearly all research on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility and innovation for persons with disabilities-whether from the legal, technical, or development fields-has focused on developed countries, with very little being written about developing world initiatives. Accessible Technology and the Developing World aims to change this, by bringing increased attention to ICT accessibility in developing areas. This book brings together a unique combination of contributors with diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including authors from well-known non-governmental organizations, significant United Nations entities, and universities in both the developing and developed world. Together, they present a unique and much needed review of this critical and growing area of work, and primarily address three core themes - the lack of attention given to innovations taking place in the developing world, the need to ensure that infrastructures in the Global South do not present barriers to people with disabilities, and the need to exercise caution when applying techniques from the Global North to the Global South that won't transfer effectively. This book will be of use to researchers in the fields of civil rights, development studies, disability rights, disability studies, human-computer interaction and accessibility, human rights, international law, political science, and universal design.

This book presents the state of the art of Internet of Things (IoT) from the perspective of healthcare and Ambient Assisted Living (AAL). It discusses the emerging technologies in healthcare services used for healthcare professionals and patients for enhanced living environments and public health. The topics covered in this book include emerging eHealth IoT applications, Internet of Medical Things, health sensors, and wearable sensors for pervasive and personalized healthcare, and smart homes applications for enhanced health and well-being. The book also presents various ideas for the design and development of IoT solutions for healthcare and AAL. It will be useful for bioengineers and professionals working in the areas of healthcare as well as health informatics.

This groundbreaking report looks at patenting and technology trends in innovation in assistive technology. It identifies the prominent technologies, top players and markets for patent protection across seven domains – mobility, cognition, communication, hearing, the built environment, self-care and vision. Using a scale of technology readiness, it reveals which of the identified assistive products filed for patent protection are closest to commercialization.

This groundbreaking report looks at patenting and technology trends in innovation in assistive technology. It identifies the prominent technologies, top players and markets for patent protection across seven domains – mobility, cognition, communication, hearing, the built environment, self-care and vision. Using a scale of technology readiness, it reveals which of the identified assistive products filed for patent protection are closest to commercialization.

This groundbreaking report looks at patenting and technology trends in innovation in assistive technology. It identifies the prominent technologies, top players and markets for patent protection across seven domains – mobility, cognition, communication, hearing, the built environment, self-care and vision. Using a scale of technology readiness, it reveals which of the identified assistive products filed for patent protection are closest to commercialization.

Disability interactions (DIX) is a new approach to combining cross-disciplinary methods and theories from Human Computer Interaction (HCI), disability studies, assistive technology, and social development to co-create new technologies, experiences, and ways of working with disabled people. DIX focuses on the interactions people have with their technologies and the interactions which result because of technology use. A central theme of the approach is to tackle complex issues where disability problems are part of a system that does not have a simple solution. Therefore, DIX pushes researchers and practitioners to take a challenge-based approach, which enables both applied and basic research to happen alongside one another. DIX complements other frameworks and approaches that have been developed within HCI research and beyond. Traditional accessibility approaches are likely to focus on specific aspects of technology design and use without considering how features of large-scale assistivetechnology systems might influence the experiences of people with disabilities. DIX aims to embrace complexity from the start, to better translate the work of accessibility and assistive technology research into the real world. DIX also has a stronger focus on user-centered and participatory approaches across the whole value chain of technology, ensuring we design with the full system of technology in mind (from conceptualization and development to large-scale distribution and access). DIX also helps to acknowledge that solutions and approaches are often non-binary and that technologies and interactions that deliver value to disabled people in one situation can become a hindrance in a different context. Therefore, it offers a more nuanced guide to designing within the disability space, which expands the more traditional problem-solving approaches to designing for accessibility. This book explores why such a novel approach is needed and gives case studies of applications highlighting how different areas of focus—from education to health to work to global development—can benefit from applying a DIX perspective. We conclude with some lessons learned and a look ahead to the next 60 years of DIX.

Digital fabrication combines virtual and material worlds; transforming thoughts into things, and things into data. It fosters complex and varied communities while enabling the pursuit of unique individual outputs. Current literature on digital fabrication concentrates on its technical and economic potential, with little attention yet being paid to the fundamental questions of how the technology might affect our understanding of identity, embodiment, or creative processes. Using case studies and experiences gained from ground-breaking fieldwork,'In the Making'explores these processes and their products from both cultural and aesthetic perspectives; with emphasis on its human interactions, not on technology. Embracing the absence of established methodologies in their emerging area of investigation, this volume offers a series of wide-ranging and original interdisciplinary framings which arise from the materials themselves. That very act of imagining, of selecting and committing to an envisaged but not yet physically present product, offers insights into needs and desires. What is the story of that design? How did it come to be? The basic principles of digital fabrication – the transformation from concept to physical entity – offer intriguing possibilities for aesthetic and cultural readings, particularly from the perspectives of disability. Online, open access maker communities mean that anyone with an internet connection and a desktop 3D printer is able to download and print a wide variety of replicable and customisable objects. What might this mean for disabled people? As digital fabrication technologies enter mainstream society, In the making poses urgently applicable questions about presence, existence, and authenticity and begins to suggest how we might explore them.

This book focuses on various aspects of research on ageing, including in relation to assistive technology; dignity of aging; how technology can support a greater understanding of the experience of physically aging and cognitive changes; mobility issues associated with the elderly; and emerging technologies. The 80+ age group represents an expanding market, with an estimated worth of £21.4 billion a year. Everyone is affected by this shift in demographics – we are getting older and may become carers – and we need to prepare ourselves and adjust our surroundings for longer life. Products, services and environments have been changing in response to the changing population. Presenting international design research to demonstrate the thinking and ideas shaping design, this book is a valuable resource for designers; product developers; employers; gerontologists; and medical, health and service providers; as well as everyone interested in aging.

The book explores new ways to reconstruct and enhance speech that is compromised by various neuro-motor disorders – collectively known as “dysarthria.” The authors address some of the extant lacunae in speech research of dysarthric conditions: they show how new methods can improve speaker recognition when speech is impaired due to developmental or acquired pathologies; they present a novel multi-dimensional approach to help the speech system both assess dysarthric speech and to perform intelligibility improvement of the impaired speech; they display well-performing software solutions for developmental and acquired speech impairments, and for vocal injuries; and they examine non-acoustic signals and muted nonverbal sounds in relation to audible speech conversion.

This book is the first resource to provide in-depth coverage on topical areas of assistive, rehabilitative, and health-related applications for haptic (touch-based) technologies. Application topics are grouped into thematic areas spanning haptic devices for sensory impairments, health and well-being, and physical impairments which are illustrated in this book. A diverse group of experts in the field were invited to contribute different chapters to provide complementary and multidisciplinary perspectives. Unlike other books on haptics, which focus on human haptic perception, specific modalities of haptics (e.g., realistic haptic rendering), or broadly cover the subfields of haptics, this book takes an application-oriented approach to present a tour of how the field of haptics has been advanced with respect to important, impactful thematic focuses.Under Theme 1 “Sensory Impairments”, haptics technologies to support individuals with sensory impairments is presented which includes: Spatial awareness in sensory impairments through touch; Haptically-assisted interfaces for persons with visual impairments; and Enabling learning experiences for visually impaired children by interaction design. Under Theme 2 “Haptics for Health and Well-Being”, haptics technologies aimed at supporting exercise and healthy aging will be covered including: Haptics in rehabilitation, exergames and health; Therapeutic haptics for mental health and well-being; and Applications of haptics in medicine. Under Theme 3 “Haptics for Physical Impairments”, haptics technologies for enhancing the quality of life for individuals with weakened/impaired limbs or neurological diseases impacting movement is targeted including: Assistive soft exoskeletons with pneumatic artificial muscles; Haptics for accessibility in rehabilitative hardware; and intelligent robotics and immersive displays for enhancing haptic interaction in physical rehabilitation environments.Engineers, scientists, and researchers working in the areas of haptics, multimedia, virtual/augmented/mixed-reality, human-computer interaction, assistive technologies, rehabilitative technologies, healthcare technologies, and/or actuator design will want to purchase this book. Advanced level students and hobbyists interested in haptics will also be interested in this book.

Providing a holistic and client-centered approach, Assistive Technologies and Environmental Interventions in Healthcare explores the individual's needs within the environment, examines the relationship between disability and a variety of traditional and cutting-edge technologies, and presents a humanistic discussion of Technology-Environment Intervention (TEI). Written by a multidisciplinary team of authors, this text introduces readers to a variety of conceptual practice models and the clinical reasoning perspectives. It also provides insight into how designers go about solving human-tech problems, discusses best practices for both face-to-face and virtual teams, and looks at the psychological, sociocultural, and cognitive factors behind the development and provision of assistive technologies. Examines a wide range of technologies and environmental interventions Demonstrates how a better understanding of the complexity of human interaction with both the physical and social environment can lead to better use of technology Explores the future of technology and research in TEI Complete with a range of learning features such as keywords, case studies and review questions, this book is ideal for undergraduate and graduate students in occupational therapy and other related health professions, as well as those undertaking certification and board examinations.

This book illustrates the rapid pace of development in intelligent assistive technology in recent years, and highlights some salient examples of using modern IT&C technologies to provide devices, systems and application software for persons with certain motor or cognitive disabilities. The book proposes both theoretical and practical approaches to intelligent assistive and emergent technologies used in healthcare for the elderly and patients with chronic diseases. Intelligent assistive technology (IAT) is currently being introduced and developed worldwide as an important tool for maintaining independence and high quality of life among community-living people with certain disabilities, and as a key enabler for the aging population. The book offers a valuable resource for students at technical, medical and general universities, but also for specialists working in various fields in which emergent technologies are being used to help people enjoy optimal quality of life.

Assistive Technology Service Delivery: A Practical Guide for Disability and Employment Professionals provides professionals working in vocational rehabilitation with the guidelines and methodologies they need to carry out their daily work at a high standard. Crucially, the techniques and tools described in the book are based on evidence gathered in rigorous research. Chapters cover an introduction to the accommodations system, the role of assistive technology as an accommodation and evidence-based practice in vocational rehabilitation, the service delivery process, from referral, through technology procurement and implementation, to the monitoring of outcomes. Drawing on their extensive experience, the authors then present techniques, tools and tips for assistive technology service delivery, with illustrative case study examples. Written with practicing assistive technology professionals and students in mind, this book translates technical knowledge into content that professionals can understand and readily apply. - Presented in a highly accessible style that translates technical knowledge into content that practicing professionals can understand and readily apply - Based on evidence-based practice, giving the reader the evidence to support the application of assistive technology in vocational rehabilitation - Written by highly-regarded assistive technology professionals who share their hands-on experience of applying the techniques, tools and tips covered in the book

What is inclusive design? It is simple. It means that your product has been created with the intention of being accessible to as many different users as possible. For a long time, the concept of accessibility has been limited in terms of only defining physical spaces. However, change is afoot: personal technology now plays a part in the everyday lives of most of us, and thus it is a responsibility for designers of apps, web pages, and more public-facing tech products to make them accessible to all. Our digital era brings progressive ideas and paradigm shifts – but they are only truly progressive if everybody can participate.In Inclusive Design for a Digital World, multiple crucial aspects of technological accessibility are confronted, followed by step-by-step solutions from User Experience Design professor and author Regine Gilbert. Think about every potential user who could be using your product. Could they be visually impaired? Have limited motor skills? Be deaf or hard of hearing? This book addresses a plethora of web accessibility issues that people with disabilities face. Your app might be blocking out an entire sector of the population without you ever intending or realizing it. For example, is your instructional text full of animated words and Emoji icons? This makes it difficult for a user with vision impairment to use an assistive reading device, such as a speech synthesizer, along with your app correctly. In Inclusive Design for a Digital World, Gilbert covers the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 requirements, emerging technologies such as VR and AR, best practices for web development, and more.As a creator in the modern digital era, your aim should be to make products that are inclusive of all people. Technology has, overall, increased connection and information equality around the world. To continue its impact, access and usability of such technology must be madea priority, and there is no better place to get started than Inclusive Design for a Digital World.What You'll LearnThe moral, ethical, and high level legal reasons for accessible designTools and best practices for user research and web developersThe different types of designs for disabilities on various platformsFamiliarize yourself with web compliance guidelinesTest products and usability best practicesUnderstand past innovations and future opportunities for continued improvementWho This Book Is ForPractitioners of product design, product development, content, and design can benefit from this book.

Assistive Technology in Special Education presents a wealth of practical, well-organized information to help families, teachers, and therapists find effective solutions for students with learning, literacy, and cognitive challenges. This third edition features new affordable tools to improve and compensate for challenges related to speaking, understanding, reading, writing, and thinking and remembering, as well as strategies to help students become more organized and efficient. Also highlighted are iOS devices, G Suite (Google Apps and Extensions), online collaborative sites, and features built into the computers and mobile devices readers already use. As technology changes and new operating systems make older programs obsolete, this book will empower readers to explore the most current resources as they become available.

This book addresses Assistive Augmentation, highlighting the design and development of assistive technologies, user interfaces, and interactions that seamlessly integrate with a user's mind, body, and behavior, providing an enhanced perception. Our senses are the dominant channel we use to perceive the world around us. Whether they have impairments or not, people often find themselves at the limits of their sensorial capabilities. Some seek assistive or enhancing devices that enable them to carry out specific tasks or even transform them into a “superhuman” with capabilities well beyond the ordinary. The overarching topic of this book revolves around the design and development of technologies and interfaces that provide enhanced physical, sensorial and cognitive capabilities: “Assistive Augmentation”. The Assistive Augmentation community convened at an interdisciplinary workshop at the 2014 International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) in Toronto, Canada. The community is comprised of researchers and practitioners who work at the junction of human–computer interaction, assistive technology and human augmentation. This edited volume, which represents the first tangible outcome of the workshop, presents stimulating discussions on the challenges of Assistive Augmentation as examined through case studies. These studies focus on two main areas: (1) Augmented Sensors and Feedback Modalities, and (2) Design for Assistive Augmentation.