Assistive Technology Systems Research Articles

Assistive technology for people with visual disability: Future prospects through a technology foresight exercise

BACKGROUND: In recent years, with ever-improving technology, considerable progress has been made in the approaches available to develop mobility assistive technology systems. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to anticipate the future of assistive technologies of navigation and mobility for people with severe visual disabilities in the next twenty years (2021–2041). METHODS: We conducted a technology foresight exercise by identifying promising technologies and invited over 20,000 researchers worldwide to share their views on the future of assistive technologies for people with visual impairment. The technologies and respondents were identified from specialized journals indexed on Web of Science. RESULTS: Most respondents believe computer vision will be the most important assistive technology group for mobility and navigation for visually impaired people, especially with haptic feedback. They also believe that voice and vibrotactile are the most relevant feedback and that glasses and smartphones will be the most important tools for visual impairment support. CONCLUSIONS: While costs and lack of user training may hamper the development and use of these new technologies, they represent the future of assistive technology for people with visual impairments.

Inclusion of PWD’s at workplace

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017, have contributed to companies not only ensuring that at least 3% of their workforce is differently abled but also providing assistive technology, tailor-made training and support systems to ensure that PWDs learn and grow in their jobs. (Shekhar, 2018). It is important to understand the extent to which organisations are responsibly creating an inclusive work environment to welcome and improve the number of PWD’s. It is also important to study the employee awareness on the Persons with Disabilities (PWD’s). Study has found that organisations need to improve employee awareness about the PWD’s and include them in the organisation. The study is an attempt to create an awareness on building an inclusive work culture. Keywords: Diversity, Inclusion, Person with Disability (PWD’s), culture

A Personalized Acoustic Interface for Wearable Human–Machine Interaction

AbstractCommunication and interaction with machines are changing our ways of life. However, developing an acoustic interface that simultaneously features waterproofness, wearability, high fidelity, and high accuracy for human–machine interaction remains a grand challenge. Herein, a waterproof acoustic sensor (WAS) as a wearable translation interface to communicate with machines is reported. Owing to the sound‐response ability of internal microparticles, the WAS holds a significantly broad frequency response range of 0.1–20 kHz, covering almost the entire human audible range. The WAS is stable against human perspiration, shows omnidirectional response, and displays an excellent frequency detection resolution of 0.0001 kHz. With a collection of compelling features, the WAS can serve as a wearable acoustic human–machine interface and a high‐fidelity auditory platform for music recording. Moreover, the WAS‐based acoustic interface holds a remarkable 98% accuracy for speech recognition with the assistance of an artificial intelligence algorithm. Finally, the WAS‐based acoustic interface demonstrates speaker verification and identification for implementation in highly secure biometric authentication systems and wireless control of an intelligent car using speech recognition. Such a WAS‐based acoustic interface represents the advancement of high‐fidelity translation platforms for human–machine interactions toward practical applications, including the Internet of Things, assistive technology, and intelligent recognition systems.

Triboelectric bending sensor based smart glove towards intuitive multi-dimensional human-machine interfaces

Recent advances in human-machine interface (HMI) lead to a renewed interest in creating intuitive and immersive interaction. Here, we designed a simple-structured and high-resolution bending angle triboelectric sensor named bending-angle triboelectric nanogenerator (BA-TENG) to construct a glove-based multi-dimensional HMI. With the assistance of a customized print circuit board (PCB), the glove-based HMI exhibits high sensitivity and low crosstalk in real-time multi-channel finger motion sensing. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is improved by 19.36 dB. By systematically extracting and analyzing the multi-dimensional signal features of the BA-TENG, intuitive multi-dimensional HMIs were realized for smart-home, advanced robotic control, and a virtual keyboard with user recognition functionality. The classification accuracy of the virtual keyboard for seven users reached 93.1% by leveraging the advanced machine learning technique. The proposed BA-TENG-based smart glove reveals its potential as a solution for minimalist-design and intuitive multi-dimensional HMI, promising in diversified areas, including the Internet of things (IoT), assistive technology, and intelligent recognition systems. • Development of high bending angle resolution triboelectric nanogenerator (BA-TENG) using PDMS and silicon rubber. • The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is improved by 19.36 dB with the assistance of a trans-impedance amplifier. • Multi-dimensional signal features are extracted, including valley ( V ), width ( W ), hold time ( H ), and time interval ( T ). • Light-brightness control, robotic hand control, and a virtual keyboard with user identification were achieved. • Machine learning technique (SVM) is used for user identification with an accuracy of 93.1%.

Validating Intelligent Automation Systems in Pharmacovigilance: Insights from Good Manufacturing Practices.

Pharmacovigilance is the science of monitoring the effects of medicinal products to identify and evaluate potential adverse reactions and provide necessary and timely risk mitigation measures. Intelligent automation technologies have a strong potential to automate routine work and to balance resource use across safety risk management and other pharmacovigilance activities. While emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) show great promise for improving pharmacovigilance with their capability to learn based on data inputs, existing validation guidelines should be augmented to verify intelligent automation systems. While the underlying validation requirements largely remain the same, additional activities tailored to intelligent automation are needed to document evidence that the system is fit for purpose. We propose three categories of intelligent automation systems, ranging from rule-based systems to dynamic AI-based systems, and each category needs a unique validation approach. We expand on the existing good automated manufacturing practices, which outline a risk-based approach to artificially intelligent static systems. Our framework provides pharmacovigilance professionals with the knowledge to lead technology implementations within their organizations with considerations given to the building, implementation, validation, and maintenance of assistive technology systems. Successful pharmacovigilance professionals will play an increasingly active role in bridging the gap between business operations and technical advancements to ensure inspection readiness and compliance with global regulatory authorities.

Machine Learning approach applied to Human Activity Recognition – An application to the VanKasteren dataset

Reminders are a core component of many assistive technology systems and are aimed specifically at helping people with dementia function more independently by compensating for cognitive deficits. These technologies are often utilized for prospective reminding, reminiscence, or within coaching-based systems. Traditionally, reminders have taken the form of nontechnology based aids, such as diaries, notebooks, cue cards and white boards. This article is based on the use of machine learning algorithms for the detection of Alzheimer’s disease. In the experimentation, the LWL, SimpleLogistic, Logistic, MultiLayerPercepton and HiperPipes algorithms were used. The result showed that the LWL algorithm produced the following results: Accuracy 98.81%, Precission 100%, Recall 97.62% and F- measure 98.80%

Informal carers\u2019 experience of assistive technology use in dementia care at home: a systematic review

BackgroundDementia is a health and care priority globally. Caring for persons with dementia is a challenge and can lead to negative psychological, physiological and financial consequences for informal carers. Advances in technology have the potential to assist persons with dementia and their carers, through assistive technology devices such as electronic medication dispensers, robotic devices trackers and motion detectors. However, little is known about carers’ experience and the impact of these technologies on them. This review aims to investigate the outcomes and experience of carers of persons with dementia, who live at home and use assistive technology.MethodsA systematic search in seven databases and manual searches were carried out using pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify studies on carers of persons with dementia involving the use of assistive technology. The search identified 56 publications with quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method designs.ResultsThe studies reported positive and negative findings and focused on a wide variety of assistive technology devices. There were large differences in the uses of assistive technology, outcome measures used and the quality of studies. Knowledge and acceptance, competence to use and ethical issues when using assistive technology were themes that emerged from the studies. Carers generally appreciated using assistive technology and their experience of use varied.ConclusionsThe intention of this systematic review is to list and classify the various types of assistive technology used by carers of persons with dementia and explores the positive and negative aspects, knowledge, acceptance and ethical issues in the use of assistive technology by carers of persons with dementia. We recommend the use of a standard and person-centred system of classifying and naming assistive technology devices and systems and for future research efforts in assistive technology to incorporate a family/carer centred model.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO - CRD42017082268.

Why do few assistive technology systems make it to market? The case of the HandyHelper project

Assistive technologies, such as telecare monitoring applications installed in the home, are being promoted to help reduce pressure on health care systems caused by an aging population and as such promise a large market for new products. However, despite many projects undertaken by commercial companies, and despite significant investments both by the companies and by national and international funding programs in the EU, such systems are not widespread. This paper reports on a retrospective study of the development of one early system, HandyHelper. We were interested in what challenges the development team faced and why the system is no longer on the market. Qualitative research methods were applied, including document analysis and interviews of key people involved in its development. Even though the system worked technically, the input of older users was sought, and a pilot installation was run, the development was stopped. The findings from a thematic analysis point to complex issues. Some problems were avoidable, e.g., by providing more support for new users, though other problems point to inherent tensions, such as the different needs of sensor-based security features and interactive services aimed at the older users. Yet other aspects are outside of the developer’s control, such as available public funding. We summarize these findings and suggest lessons learnt for future projects.

Ambient Technology to Assist Elderly People in Indoor Risks

While elderly people perform their daily indoor activities, they are subjected to several risks. To improve the quality of life of elderly people and promote healthy aging and independent living, elderly people need to be provided with an assistive technology platform to rely on during their activities. We reviewed the literature and identified the major indoor risks addressed by assistive technology that elderly people face during their indoor activities. In this paper, we identify these risks as: fall, wrong self-medication management, fire, burns, intoxication by gas/smoke, and the risk of inactivity. In addition, we discuss the existing assistive technology systems and classify the risk detection algorithms, techniques and the basic system principles and interventions to enhance safety of elderly people.

Concentration on performance with P300-based BCI systems: A matter of interface features

People who suffer from severe motor disabilities have difficulties to communicate with others or to interact with their environment using natural, i.e., muscular channels. These limitations can be overcome to some extent by using brain–computer interfaces (BCIs), because such systems allow users to communicate on the basis of their brain activity only. Among the several types of BCIs for spelling purposes, those that rely on the P300 event related potential—P300-based spellers—are chosen preferentially due to their high reliability. However, they demand from the user to sustain his/her attention to the desired character over a relatively long period of time. Therefore, the user's capacity to concentrate can affect his/her performance with a P300-based speller. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis using three different interfaces: one based on the classic P300 speller paradigm, another also based on that speller but including a word predictor, and a third one that was based on the T9 interface developed for mobile phones. User performance was assessed by measuring the time to complete a spelling task and the accuracy of character selection. The d2 test was applied to assess attention and concentration. Sample (N = 14) was divided into two groups basing on of concentration scores. As a result, performance was better with the predictor-enriched interfaces: less time was needed to solve the task and participants made fewer errors (p < .05). There were also significant effects of concentration (p < .05) on performance with the standard P300 speller. In conclusion, the performance of those users with lower concentration level can be improved by providing BCIs with more interactive interfaces. These findings provide substantial evidence in order to highlight the impact of psychological features on BCI performance and should be taken into account for future assistive technology systems.

Achieving Assistive Technology Systems Based on IoT Devices in Cloud Computing

Achieving Assistive Technology Systems Based on IoT Devices in Cloud Computing

Technology-Assisted and Remote Evidence Presentation: A Practice Resource for BC Lawyers

Oral testimony is still the conventional way in which evidence is given in courts and administrative hearings. Persons who live in rural or remote areas and those with disabilities sometimes face significant physical, mental, and economic hardship if they must attend court or tribunal proceedings and give evidence in person. These disadvantages can be severe enough amount to barriers to access to justice, but they can be removed or reduced in many cases through effective use of technology.British Columbia was one of the first jurisdictions to introduce videoconferencing and other technological innovations in its courts and tribunals. There is a need nevertheless to increase the level of knowledge on the part of counsel and other members of the legal community about technologies that can be employed to overcome difficulties that residents of remote areas and individuals with disabilities face as participants in legal processes.The Technology, Remoteness, Disability and Evidence Project is intended to address this need. It has the following objectives: (a) to create practice support materials for the use of the legal community about assistive technology and communications systems that can be used to overcome geographical, physical, and attitudinal barriers to full and effective participation in legal proceedings by persons in remote locations or who have disabilities; and (b) to identify and recommend ways to remove remaining legal barriers to the beneficial and effective use of assistive and other technology in court and tribunal proceedings.

The electronic, personalizable Rosetta system for dementia care: exploring the user-friendliness, usefulness and impact

Purpose: This research aimed to integrate three previously developed assistive technology (AT) systems into one modular, multifunctional system, which can support people with dementia and carers throughout the course of dementia. . In an explorative evaluation study, the integrated system, called Rosetta, was tested on usefulness, user-friendliness and impact, in people with dementia, their informal carers and professional carers involved. The Rosetta system was installed in participants‘ homes in three countries: The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Methods: Controlled trial with pre- and post-test measures across three countries (randomized controlled trial in Germany; matched groups in the Netherlands and Belgium). Participants completed questionnaires for impact measurement and participated in semi-structured interviews regarding usefulness and user-friendliness of Rosetta. Results: All participants agreed that Rosetta is a very useful development. They did not rate the user-friendliness of the system highly. No significant effects were found on impact measurements. Conclusion: All participants found Rosetta a very useful development for future care, and would consider using it. Since Rosetta was still in development during evaluation, a discrepancy between expectations and actual functioning of Rosetta existed, which may explain the lack of findings on the impact of the system and the low appreciation of user-friendliness.Implications for RehabilitationPeople with dementia and carers find assistive technology (AT) a useful future development and they are willing to use it in the future.People with dementia and carers have little privacy issues with AT. If they have concerns, they are willing to accept the trade-off of reduced privacy in exchange for the ability to live in their own homes for longer.Given that a system works flawlessly, informal carers indicate that integrated AT can reduce their burden and stress. This can in turn help informal carers to provide better care for a longer period of time.

New Opportunities for Computer Vision-Based Assistive Technology Systems for the Visually Impaired

Computing advances and increased smartphone use gives technology system designers greater flexibility in exploiting computer vision to support visually impaired users. Understanding these users' needs will certainly provide insight for the development of improved usability of computing devices.

Impact and economic assessment of assistive technology in care homes in Norfolk, UK

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine whether new installed assistive technology (AT) systems in care homes for elderly residents, reduced the number of falls and demands for formal health services.Design/methodology/approachThe project collected retrospective data about incidence of falls before and after AT systems were installed from two care homes in the county of Norfolk, UK. Two care homes were selected purposefully because a recent assessment determined the need for upgrading their call system, but with different resident profiles regarding prevalence of dementia. The data were collected from standard incident report forms from ten months before the upgrades to ten months after in Care Home 1 and from six months before the upgrade to six months afterwards in Care Home 2.FindingsIn both care homes there were 314 falls reported during the course of the study. The number of falls overall reduced from 202 falls before the introduction of AT, to 112 after the introduction of AT. The mean health care costs associated with falls in Care Home 1 significantly reduced by more than 50 per cent (p=0.015). In Care Home 2 there was no statistically significant difference in the mean cost.Originality/valueResults showed that installed AT system in residential care homes reduced the number of falls and health care cost in homes with a lower proportion of residents with advanced dementia than those with a higher proportion of residents with advanced dementia. However, larger and more representative studies are required to demonstrate the economic and social impact of AT systems.

Using assistive technology for schoolwork: the experience of children with physical disabilities

Aim. This study explored the experience of children with physical disabilities using assistive technology for participation with schoolwork to gain a greater understanding of their perspectives and subjective experiences.Method. A qualitative study involving thematic analysis of in-depth interviews of the child with a parent or significant adult. Purposeful sampling from a larger study recruited five children aged between 10 and 14 years, with differing physical disabilities who attended mainstream schools. All children used computer-based assistive technology.Results. All of the children recognised that assistive technology enabled them to participate and reduced the impact of their physical disability, allowing independent participation, and facilitated higher learning outcomes. Issues related to ease of use, social implications and assistive technology systems are discussed.

Using the mouth as a computer keyboard

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review work at the Georgia Institute of Technology that uses magnetic sensor arrays to construct assistive technology systems for disabled people.Design/methodology/approachThe innovative Tongue Drive system is described, along with its advantages over other mouth‐based control devices. The results of practical tests on able‐bodied volunteers are reported. Finally, there is a review of other related projects by the same researchers.FindingsMagnetic field sensors, wireless communications and feature extraction algorithms take advantage of the dexterity of the tongue to form an unobtrusive and non‐invasive control system with a large set of commands. Novice users achieved an information transfer rate of about 150 bits/min.Originality/valueThis paper displays the ingenuity and effectiveness of systems built on magnetic sensor arrays.

On modelling assistive technology systems – Part 2: Applications of the comprehensive assistive technology model

The Comprehensive Assistive Technology model was devised to describe the full social and engineering context of assistive technology devices, systems, applications, and provision. It is based on a detailed decomposition of the four attributes: Person, Context, Activities, and Assistive Technology. The paper commences will a brief discussion of the different representations of the model, including tree-diagrams, labelled attributes and tables and the use of engineering block diagrams to supplement some elements of the description. The main contribution of the paper is the presentation of four case studies of different applications of the model. These are the identification of accessibility barriers, the analysis and synthesis of assistive technology systems and the provision of a framework for identifying end-user requirements, providing assistive technology and assessing the associated outcomes. This case study involves the presentation of the novel concept of a personal assistive technology profile.

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Otolaryngologic and Audiologic Options

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Otolaryngologic and Audiologic Options

On modelling assistive technology systems – Part I: Modelling framework

There has been increasing recognition of the importance and benefits to society of social inclusion and the full participation of disabled people. Many countries have also enacted legislation aimed at removing discrimination against disabled people. Removing barriers to full participation by disabled people will require the development of new assistive technology systems and improved information and distribution systems for existing assistive technologies. This will require an effective and ongoing dialogue between the disabled end-user community, social services, the clinical rehabilitation services, and the professional engineering disciplines involved in the development, provision, assessment, and ongoing support for assistive technology. To support this dialogue there is a need for common terminology, concepts, and definitions, embedded within a single, unified model framework. This paper presents the Comprehensive Assistive Technology (CAT) model, which was designed to meet this need.