Personal Assistant Technology Research Articles

A thematic analysis of the introduction of smart-hub technology to a rural Psychiatry of Old Age Service during Covid-19 lockdowns

IntroductionThe use of smart technology in supporting older adults is a growing field of research. However, there is little qualitative research on the experiences of patients utilizing this technology, particularly those attending psychiatry services.ObjectivesTo explore the experiences of staff and patients utilizing smart-hubs implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide remote audio/visual communication and smart AI personal assistant technology for the management of patients in a rural Psychiatry of Old Age service.MethodsSmart hubs were installed in patient homes and in the Psychiatry of Old Age base during the Covid-19 pandemic when lockdown restrictions limited in-person service provision. Patients and staff utilized the smart hubs for its assistive technology and to engage with each other. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted of 10 staff and 15 patients at 6-12 months following the introduction of the smart hubs and thematic analysis was conducted to generate themes.ResultsThree themes were generated from the thematic analysis: 1) Openness to SMART hub technology, 2) Getting set-up and 3) Keeping SMART. The majority of participants did not have much experience using smart technology prior to the intervention. However, many participants reported that they would be comfortable using technology. The Covid-19 pandemic contributed to the rapid adoption of this intervention within the service with mixed views regarding the smart hub prior to implementation. The role of key individuals such as staff and family was highlighted in supporting older persons with setting-up the smart hub. Technical needs included the need for a strong internet connection and technical limitations were driven by privacy, cost and regional considerations. Many patients were able to utilize the smart hub independently to access interests, therapeutic activities and as a memory aid. The smart hub offered a novel way to connect to services and families and was also seen as a companion by some patients and staff to help address loneliness and isolation. The majority of participants found the use of smart hubs acceptable and were willing to utilize the smart hub in the future as an adjunct to face to face psychiatric interventions. However, suggestions for future use included the need for additional training as users felt that there was more they could do with the smart hub, continued support to manage any challenges and improved information leaflets to better engage users.ConclusionsSmart hub technology offers an alternate means of providing remote and inclusive psychiatric care to older patients unable to access services in person and at risk of deterioration without intervention in the community.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Exploring mobility and transportation technology futures for people with ambulatory disabilities: A science fiction prototype

Although a number of studies have explored science fiction prototyping as a method for new product development, no study has ever used the method to examine the mobility and transportation technology needs of people with disabilities. The current research created a science fiction prototype, based on expert opinion expressed during an imagination workshop, which the authors then presented to a sample of people with ambulatory disabilities. Through a conjoint analysis, the sample members delineated the elements of the prototype they regarded as most important. The participants considered personal mobility assistive technology (either an automated wheelchair or an exoskeleton) the most important, followed by personal automation (autonomous [driverless] vehicle or personal robot) and thirdly by personal assistance technologies (real-time response versus augmented metaverse planning systems). Outputs to the conjoint analysis were clustered and three categories of individual emerged (i) more innovatively minded people who occupied the first cluster and preferred an exoskeleton, a personal robot and a subscription to the metaverse, (ii) people who appeared to be less technologically inclined and preferred an automated wheelchair, an autonomous vehicle and a subscription to a real-time assistive system, and (iii) a group with members favouring an AV but with few other predilections.

Use of Assistive Technology for Persons with Psychosocial Disability: Systematic Review.

Assistive technology (AT) refers to assistive products (AP) and associated systems and services that are relevant for function, independence, well-being, and quality of life for individuals with disabilities. There is a high unmet need for AT for persons with disabilities and this is worse for persons with cognitive and mental or psychosocial disabilities (PDs). Further, information and knowledge on AT for PDs is limited. The aim of this review was to explore the pattern of AT use among persons with PDs and its associated socioeconomic and health benefits. The review was reported according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses), and we conducted systematic searches in the 4 databases: PubMed, Embase.com, APA PsycInfo (Ebsco), and Web of Science (Core Collection) with the following index terms: "Assistive Technology," "Self-Help Devices," "Quality of Life," "Activities of Daily Living," "Mental Disorders." We included only AT individuals with PDs can independently use without reliance on a provider. Identified papers were exported to EndNote (Clarivate) and we undertook a narrative synthesis of the included studies. In total, 5 studies were included in the review which reported use of different AT for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety disorders. The APs described in the included studies are Palm tungsten T3 handheld computer, MOBUS, personal digital assistant, automated pill cap, weighted chain blankets, and smartphone function. All the AT products identified in the studies were found to be easily usable by individuals with PDs. The APs reported in the included studies have broad impact and influence on social function, productivity, and treatment or management. The studies were heterogeneous and were all conducted in high-income countries. Our study contributes to and strengthens existing evidence on the relevance of AT for PDs and its potential to support socioeconomic participation and health. Although AT has the potential to improve function and participation for individuals with PDs; this review highlights that research on the subject is limited. Further research and health policy changes are needed to improve research and AT service provision for individuals with PDs especially in low-income settings. PROSPERO CRD42022343735; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=343735.

Assessing the implementation of user-centred design standards on assistive technology for persons with visual impairments: a systematic review.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=307466 PROSPERO (CRD42022307466).

Daily time management in dementia: qualitative interviews with persons with dementia and their significant others

BackgroundPersons with dementia encounter time-related problems and significant others often need to provide support in daily time management and use of time assistive technology (AT). Further research has been requested on how time AT for persons with dementia affects the situation of significant others. Moreover, there are a few previous qualitative studies on the experiences of time AT by persons with dementia. This study explores the experiences of persons with dementia and significant others in daily time management and their perceptions on how time AT affects everyday life.MethodSemi-structured interviews with persons with mild to moderate dementia (n = 6) and significant others (n = 9) were conducted three months after receiving prescribed time AT. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.ResultsA main category “Support by significant others is always part of daily time management”, and three categories “Facing new challenges”, “Using strategies to handle changes”, and “Time assistive technology in daily life” illustrated that significant others provided support for daily time management in all phases of dementia. This support was often embedded in other kinds of support for emerging challenges. Support in time management was needed from an early stage in dementia, and responsibility for time management was gradually transferred to significant others. Time AT could support time orientation and were important for sharing the time management conducted by others but did not enable independent time management.ConclusionsTime-related assessments and interventions should be offered at an early stage of dementia to increase the possibility of maintaining daily time management skills. Using time AT to communicate time might increase agency and participation in daily occupations for persons with dementia. Given the central role of significant others for daily time management, the society needs to adequately support persons with dementia lacking support from significant others.

Desktop Voice Assistant Using Artificial Intelligence

To make calls, send emails and texts, search things online, give directions, fold and unfold apps, set appointments on our calendars, and initiate or complete various tasks. For those in the e-Commerce industry, there is a great way to thrill customers, by providing them with the ease of online shopping on any device hours, but it's not possible to send them such assistance physically. At these situations, the virtual voice assistants help a lot by solving the problems of the consumers. While interacting with people or with some organization online, most people have to deal with language barriers. Personal assistant technology using voice assistant technology-enabled integrated with automatic translation helps to break the chatbots. Sometimes consumers requires assistant at odd language barrier. Artificial intelligence assistant technology helps your business or start-up to up to date regular operations. Things such as remembering important appointments, deadlines, arrangement etc. can be all triggered using specific voice commands. AI is capable of picking up teasing indications required to combine the data and give results at a moment's notice.Moreover, the voice feature frees up your arms so that we can complete tasks simultaneously. The car voice assistant experience has enabled drivers to have a safe hands-free experience: making and receiving phone calls, managing music, and navigation, taking out orders, booking services, and scheduling appointments. Voice assistant helps disabled persons Qike persons who have issues with upper limb mobility or eyesight) to perform various tasks. Recruiting a personal voice assistant gives you enough time to alleviate, take a check and get a grip on your life by finding balance. Once you embark on an enterprising venture family time is restricted to those occasional family trips. Get ample amount of time every day to sit at the dinner table and have a proper conversation with your family by hiring a virtual voice assistant.

A Novel Mixed-Method Approach to Identify Needs and Requirements for Upper Limb Assistive Technology for Persons after Stroke.

Following stroke, a significant portion of individuals suffer from upper limb impairments and struggle with activities of daily living. Dedicated assistive technology (AT), such as robotic hand orthoses (RHO), can help facilitate upper limb usage and allow users to regain independence in their daily lives. Often, users' needs and requirements are neglected in AT design, thereby contributing to poor technology acceptance. In this work, we propose and apply a mixed-method focus group combining qualitative and quantitative components to gather user expectations in view of a user-centred redesign of a RHO. Three main themes emerged from a thematic analysis of two focus groups (n=5): Experience after stroke, desired design features, and reflections and realisations. Participants listed device features they would look for in AT and ranked them relative to what they deem important and necessary for a satisfactory device. Participants primarily looked for AT that is effective, intuitive and easy to use. These insights complement traditional technical design requirements for RHO by considering user desires, aspects unfortunately often neglected in the early design process. This work provides guidelines allowing for the optimization of AT design to better match the needs of persons after stroke and improve technology acceptance.

Electronic smart-hub based intervention during COVID-19 in a rural Psychiatry of Old Age service in North-West Ireland

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions in services and necessitated innovation to continue care provision to the vulnerable population of older adults with psychiatric needs.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to examine the experiences of staff and patients using a hands-free electronic smart-hub (eSMART hub) intervention to keep patients connected with psychiatry of old age following COVID-19 restrictions.MethodsA risk stratification register was created of all patients known to the Psychiatry of Old Age service in the North-West of Ireland to identify those at highest risk of relapse. These patients were offered a smart-hub with remote communication and personal assistant technology to be installed into their homes. Smart-hubs were also installed in the team base to facilitate direct device to device communication. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 staff members and 15 patients at 6-12 months following the installation of the smart-hubs.ResultsThe smart-hubs were utilized by the POA team to offer remote interventions over video including clinician reviews, regular contact with key workers and day-hospital based therapeutic interventions such as anxiety management groups and OT led physical exercises. Patients also used the personal assistant aspect of the hub to attend to personal hobbies such as accessing music and radio. Positive feedback related to companionship during isolation and connectivity to services. Negative feedback was mainly related to technology, particularly internet access and narrow scope of communication abilities.ConclusionsElectronic smart-hub devices may offer an acceptable avenue for remote intervention and communication for isolated high-risk older persons.DisclosureThe smart hub devices used in this study were donated by Amazon. However, the company was not involved in any other aspect of the study and the researchers have no significant financial interest, consultancy or other relationship with products, manufactur

Performance evaluation of communication methods on electric wheelchairs as assistive technology for persons with disabilities

Abstract The error detection method is a system that determines errors in the data transmission process. One of the algorithms used to calculate this process is cyclic redundancy by sending binary data using mathematical analysis. The result of error detection found that a success rate of 65% and an error of 35%, it can be stated that the wireless communication process using module nRF24L01 has a high connection rate. Furthermore, connection loss can cause packet loss to the recipient during the communication process. This research was applied to assist disabled people with leg disabilities. These systems were equipped with nRF24L01 as transmitter and nRF24L01 as receiver. Both are installed Arduino Nano and Arduino Mega 2560. A controller smart glove tools are installed on an electric wheelchair as a support device with nRF24L01 module communication. This research was successfully implemented on the electric wheelchair.

Assessment of Smart Home Assistants as an IoT

A smart home personal assistant technology is an intrinsic system, which incorporates many elements such as users, Smart Home Personal Assistants (SPA) devices, cloud, skill provider and other responsive devices. Even though Smart Home Personal Assistants give a robust security and privacy options, the devices face many weaknesses, which make the system vulnerable and can be comprised by adversaries, who can capitalize on limitations to gain access to delicate information and privacy of users. In this research, the aim is to assess how invention and innovation of security and SPA can be harnessed by users to interrelate with the system. Subsequently, this write-up will address both the problems related to the system and attempt to bring in solutions, which makes the technology more adaptable and versatile to all users. Initial studies show that some of the weakness underlying the technology include the open-nature of the voice channel, complexity of the architecture, software implications, and the utility of the technology to less proficient users. As a result, the study anticipates at solving the voice squatting attack, using the SPA intelligent assistant, incorporating a filer to filter the ultrasonic attack and noise as well as trying to assess the efficacy of the elements developed against the voice squatting attacks. The study found out that there is a need to mitigate the attacks on the blockchain technology and Natural Language Processors (NLP) to assure protection of SPA from attacks.

Providing mainstream smart home technology as assistive technology for persons with disabilities: a qualitative study with professionals

Purpose Mainstream smart home technology (MSHT) is becoming increasingly powerful, affordable, and relevant to improving environment control, independence, and participation of people with disabilities. This study examined how MSHT is delivered as assistive technology (AT) by practitioners of various disciplines and roles and collected their perspectives on the challenges and important considerations during the delivery process. Methods Practitioners with at least 1 year of experience providing MSHT as AT were interviewed individually or in small groups of 2–3 participants. Researchers developed guiding questions based on the AT service delivery process and applied an inductive qualitative analysis to generate common themes from the data. Results While all 15 participants confirmed the potential benefits of MSHT to people with disabilities, most followed an informal service delivery process and encountered various challenges, including challenges related to technology updates and compatibility, difficulty in keeping up with technology changes and advancement, funding for MSHT and services, client Wi-Fi/Internet access and quality, and security and privacy concerns. Participants also emphasised the importance of assessment and technology trialling during the delivery process and shared strategies for device customisation and client training. Conclusions This study provides first-hand information about the current practice of MSHT service delivery, as well as insights into areas where support is likely needed. The results could inform the development of new tools and resources to support MSHT service delivery. More research is required to develop and evaluate viable service delivery models for mainstream technologies to be used as AT. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Practitioners who have experience delivering MSHT as AT confirmed the benefits of MSHT for improving independence, safety, and social connection of people with disabilities. Practitioners emphasised the importance of assessment prior to device selection even though MSHT can be readily purchased off the shelf. Practitioners need support for device trialling, installation, troubleshooting, and keeping up with constantly evolving MSHT. More research is needed to develop and evaluate service delivery models for mainstream technologies as AT for people with disabilities.

Providing Mainstream Smart Home Technologies as Assistive Technology for Persons With Disabilities: Current Trends and Needs

Abstract Date Presented 04/13/21 Use of mainstream smart home technology (MSHT) as assistive technology (AT) is a potential, cost-effective intervention to increase independence and quality of life for persons with disabilities. This presentation provides results of a qualitative research study that will be used to guide the development of provision of MSHT as AT in a comprehensive service delivery model. To date, 15 professionals have participated in focus groups providing perspectives to guide the development of the model. Primary Author and Speaker: Lindsey L. Morris Additional Authors and Speakers: Angela Shierk, Arianne Joy V. Alfonso Contributing Authors: Mauricio R. Delgado, Paul Yeatts

Access to assistive technology for persons with disabilities: a critical review from Nepal, India and Bangladesh

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse and critically reflect on access to Assistive Technology (AT) for persons with disabilities (PWD) in Nepal, India and Bangladesh. This analysis aims to guide the development of a contextualised generic AT service delivery model suitable for these countries, based on the best practices identified. Materials and methods This paper is based on a comprehensive study conducted in Nepal, India and Bangladesh, observing mobility and hearing-related AT service delivery centres run by the government, as well as private and nongovernmental organisations, and interviews with key informants: policymakers (5), AT service providers (20) and AT service users (20) between December 2019 to February 2020. A descriptive, qualitative exploratory study design was followed. A quality assessment framework was used to structure the analysis and interpret the findings. Results AT service provisions are poorly developed in all three countries. On all quality indicators assessed, the systems show major weaknesses. AT users have very limited awareness about their rights to these services and the availability of AT services, the range of services available is very limited, and eligibility is dependent on medical criteria related to visible and severe disabilities. Conclusions Lack of accessibility, eligibility, reachability and affordability are the main barriers to access AT services for PWD in Nepal, India and Bangladesh. Increased community level awareness, increased Government funding and a community based, medically informed flexible social model of AT services is a way forward to ensure access to AT services for PWD in these countries. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Increased community awareness is necessary to increase access to Assistive Technology Services for Persons with Disabilities. Increased and flexible funding from the Government and philanthropists will improve rehabilitation. Establishment of community based Assistive Technology Services centres will increase access and improve rehabilitation.

Assistive Technology for the Disabilities in the Mitigation Training

Disaster mitigation must be understood by all parties, including persons with disabilities who are categorized as particularly vulnerable to disaster impacts. This paper aims to see the application of appropriate assistive technology for persons with disabilities in a disaster emergency in the setting of disaster training and simulations conducted at SLB Negeri 1 Bantul. The right and accessible technology will help and facilitate disabilities in coping with disasters. Engineering training materials and the use of assistive technology for disabilities are concise necessary, this is done to accommodate the types, characteristics, needs, and services of disabilities in disaster mitigation and simulation activities. This training using assistive technology is carried out for disabilities to accommodate all rights and improve the functions and independence of individuals with disabilities so that they have active participation in disaster mitigation and simulation activities.

Enhancing problem-solving skills with smart personal assistant technology

Smart Personal Assistants (SPAs; such as Amazon's Alexa or Google's Assistant) let users interact with computers in a more natural and sophisticated way that was not possible before. Although there exists an increasing amount of research of SPA technology in education, empirical evidence of its ability to offer dynamic scaffolding to enhance students problem-solving skills is still scarce. To fill this gap, the aim of this paper is to find out whether interactions with scaffolding-based SPA technology enable students to internalize and apply problem-solving steps on their own in a 10th grade high school and a vocational business school class. Students in the experiment classes completed their assignments using Smart Personal Assistants, whereas students in the control classes completed the same assignments using traditional methods. This study used a mixed-method approach consisting of two field quasi-experiments and one post-experiment focus group discussion. The empirical results revealed that students in the experiment classes acquired significantly more problem-solving skills than those in the control classes (Study 1: p = 0.0396, study 2: p < 0.001), and also uncovered several changes in students' learning processes. The findings provide first empirical evidence for the value of using SPA technology on skill development in general, and on problem-solving skill development in particular.

The Usefulness of Computer Assistive Technology for Persons with Visual Impairment

Purpose State: To evaluate the usefulness of computer assistive software technology by persons with visualimpairment in their education, employment, communication, and leisure activities.Methods: Hundred and sixteen individuals with visual impairment were recruited from the rehabilitationcenter of LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. The mean age of the study participants was 24.99 years (range16 to 48, median 42 years), and 81(69.8%) were male. QUEST (2.0) was administered to measure outcomes.Data collected were analyzed with SPSS software.Results: JAWS is the most preferred and used software 110(94.8%). Computer usage was indicated for morethan 7 hours per week by more than half of the participants 55(56.0%). The usefulness of assistive softwarewas reported for education 114(98%), communication 112(96.5%), job 52(44.82%), and leisure activities101(87.06%). Proficiency in accessing computer applications with Assistive Technology was appreciated inprograms such as MSWord 10(8.6) to 64(55.2) MS – Excel 16(13.8) to 57(49.1), MS- Powerpoint 30(25.9)to 43(37.1), Internet 19(16.4) to 54(46.6), Social websites 20(17.2) to 25(21.6) and Accountancy 5(4.3) to3(2.6). The overall QUEST mean score of 4.67 with 4.5 on device subscale and 4.8 on service subscaledemonstrated participants’ satisfaction on assistive software.Discussion: Assistive software technology can support persons having visual impairment, with gainfulemployment, social inclusion, and confidence in the community.Implications for practitioners: Assistive software technology would be very helpful to the persons withvisual impairment if they are taught and put into practise pro-actively by eye care providers.

Lack of time and dependence on significant others: Occupational therapists´ experiences of prescribing time assistive technology for persons with dementia

Background: There is lack of knowledge on how occupational therapists (OTs) assess daily time management (DTM) for persons with dementia (PwDs) and on which aspects affect prescription of time assistive technology (AT).Aim: To explore OTs’ experiences of assessing the need for and prescribing time AT for PwDs.Material and methods: Focus group interviews with OTs that prescribe time AT for PwDs analyzed via qualitative content analysis.Results: A main category and four categories were identified. The categories illustrated a complex and time-consuming prescription process, which was facilitated if the PwD was supported by a significant other (SO). Support from a SO was especially important during implementation and follow-up. OTs had to take individual responsibility for staying informed about time AT. Organizational limitations and time constraints were barriers for OTs striving to work according to national prescription guidelines.Conclusions and significance: High demands are made on SO’s participation during the prescription process. PwDs with no support from SOs are at risk not receiving or fully benefitting from time AT. To avoid inequalities, specific forms of support need to be developed and targeted at PwDs without SOs to ensure that they have sufficient opportunities to access and use time AT.

Assistive technology for persons with profound intellectual disability: a european survey on attitudes and beliefs

Background Persons with profound intellectual disability (PID) are mostly not able to use assistive technology (AT) independently. Caregivers play an important mediating role in implementing AT in the daily life of persons with PID. Both first-order barriers, extrinsic to caregivers, and second-order barriers, intrinsic to caregivers, influence the attitudes and behaviors of caregivers with regard to AT-use. It could be asked if increased knowledge on and experience with AT may impact the effect of first- and second-order barriers. This study investigated how knowledge and experience influence the professional caregivers’ beliefs about which factors may impact the AT use in persons with PID and their intentions to use AT for persons with PID. Methods A questionnaire on the experienced limitations and successes in using AT was developed. The questionnaire was send to professionals working with or responsible for persons with PID in various countries in Europe. In total the answers of 195 respondents were included in this study. Results and conclusions This study’s results demonstrate that AT is used for various reasons in persons with PID, mostly to support communication and interaction or for fun or relaxation. Based on the answers of the respondents can be concluded that both experience and knowledge of caregivers seem to influence first- and second-order barriers. Besides, a possibility to overcome the second-order barriers is to provide professionals with possibilities to increase their knowledge and experience. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION AT for persons with PID is mostly used for communication and interaction or for fun and relaxation. Professional caregivers belief that AT-use may positively influence various aspects in the life of persons with PID, especially communication and interaction, active engagement and participation in activities, and self-esteem of the person. Caregivers need to have sufficient experience in order to rate the barriers of AT-use as less limited in the group of persons with PID. In order to overcome the barriers experienced in implementing AT in persons with PID, knowledge of caregivers is essential.

Perspectives on a mobile application that maps assistive technology resources in Africa.

BackgroundAccess to assistive technology (AT) is poor in African countries because of a lack of knowledge, resources, services and products. A mobile application (app), the AT-Info-Map, was developed to map AT availability in southern Africa.ObjectivesThis article aimed to describe users’ and suppliers’ perceptions of the AT-Info-Map app.MethodQualitative data were collected in Zambia, Botswana, Malawi and Lesotho, through nine focus group discussions with 72 participants. Participants included AT users, AT suppliers and representatives of disability organisations. Data were thematically analysed.ResultsTwo broad themes, that is, usefulness of the AT-Info-Map application and technical issues and content, emerged from the data analysis. Subthemes under usefulness focused on the importance of using current technology, convenience of the app, the need for accuracy, responsiveness of supplier to user’s needs, influence on AT market and how the app creates an opportunity for networking. Challenges to download and navigate the app, the need for training in its use, exclusion of those not literate in English and those with visual impairments were subthemes under technical issues and content.ConclusionThe app was perceived as an important step to increase access to AT for persons with disabilities in less resourced settings. The challenges that emerged from the data analysis have led to the development of a web-based system that will complement or replace the app and improve AT information provision. However, the information provided by the app and website is still only a partial solution to improve AT access in Southern Africa.

Informing the development of assistive technologies for persons with dementia by connecting financial measures of wealth to perceptions of task dependence

Informing the development of assistive technologies for persons with dementia by connecting financial measures of wealth to perceptions of task dependence