Abstract: The objective of the present study was to develop a scale called PYTHEIA. The PYTHEIA is a self-reported measure for the assessment of rehabilitation and assistive robotics and other assistive technology devices. The development of PYTHEIA faced the absence of a valid instrument that can be used to evaluate the assistive robotic devices both as a whole, as well as any of their individual components or functionalities implemented. According to the results presented, PYTHEIA is a valid and reliable scale able to be applied to different target groups for the subjective evaluation of various assistive technology devices.
Abstract: The Smart Help for persons with disability (PWD) is a
part of the project SMARTDISABLE which aims to develop relevant
solution for PWD that target to provide an adequate workplace
environment for them. It would support PWD needs smartly through
smart help to allow them access to relevant information and
communicate with other effectively and flexibly, and smart editor
that assist them in their daily work. It will assist PWD in knowledge
processing and creation as well as being able to be productive at the
work place. The technical work of the project involves design of a
technological scenario for the Ambient Intelligence (AmI) - based
assistive technologies at the workplace consisting of an integrated
universal smart solution that suits many different impairment
conditions and will be designed to empower the Physically disabled
persons (PDP) with the capability to access and effectively utilize the
ICTs in order to execute knowledge rich working tasks with
minimum efforts and with sufficient comfort level. The proposed
technology solution for PWD will support voice recognition along
with normal keyboard and mouse to control the smart help and smart
editor with dynamic auto display interface that satisfies the
requirements for different PWD group. In addition, a smart help will
provide intelligent intervention based on the behavior of PWD to
guide them and warn them about possible misbehavior. PWD can
communicate with others using Voice over IP controlled by voice
recognition. Moreover, Auto Emergency Help Response would be
supported to assist PWD in case of emergency. This proposed
technology solution intended to make PWD very effective at the
work environment and flexible using voice to conduct their tasks at
the work environment. The proposed solution aims to provide
favorable outcomes that assist PWD at the work place, with the
opportunity to participate in PWD assistive technology innovation
market which is still small and rapidly growing as well as upgrading
their quality of life to become similar to the normal people at the
workplace. Finally, the proposed smart help solution is applicable in
all workplace setting, including offices, manufacturing, hospital, etc.
Abstract: An efficient reintegration of the disabled people in the
family and society should be fulfilled; hence it is strongly needful to assist their diminished functions or to replace the totally lost
functions. Assistive technology helps in neutralizing the impairment.
Recent advancements in embedded systems have opened up a vast
area of research and development for affordable and portable assistive devices for the visually impaired. Granted there are many assistive devices on the market that are able to detect obstacles, and numerous research and development currently in process to
alleviate the cause, unfortunately the cost of devices, size of
devices, intrusiveness and higher learning curve prevents the visually impaired from taking advantage of available devices. This
project aims at the design and implementation of a detachable unit
which is robust, low cost and user friendly, thus, trying to
aggrandize the functionality of the existing white cane, to concede above-knee obstacle detection. The designed obstruction detector
uses ultrasound sensors for detecting the obstructions before direct contact. It bestows haptic feedback to the user in accordance with the position of the obstacle.
Abstract: In its attempt to offer new ways into autonomy for a
large population of disabled people, assistive technology has largely
been inspired by robotics engineering. Recent human-like robots
carry new hopes that it seems to us necessary to analyze by means of
a specific theory of anthropomorphism. We propose to distinguish a
functional anthropomorphism which is the one of actual wheelchairs
from a structural anthropomorphism based on a mimicking of human
physiological systems. If functional anthropomorphism offers the
main advantage of eliminating the physiological systems
interdependence issue, the highly link between the robot for disabled
people and their human-built environment would lead to privilege in
the future the anthropomorphic structural way. In this future
framework, we highlight a general interdependence principle : any
partial or local structural anthropomorphism generates new
anthropomorphic needs due to the physiological systems
interdependency, whose effects can be evaluated by means of
specific anthropomorphic criterions derived from a set theory-based
approach of physiological systems.
Abstract: The rapid pace of technological advancement and its
consequential widening digital divide has resulted in the
marginalization of the disabled especially the communication
challenged. The dearth of suitable technologies for the development
of assistive technologies has served to further marginalize the
communications challenged user population and widen this chasm
even further. Given the varying levels of disability there and its
associated requirement for customized solution based. This paper
explains the use of a Software Development Kits (SDK) for the
bridging of this communications divide through the use of industry
poplar communications SDKs towards identification of requirements
for communications challenged users as well as identification of
appropriate frameworks for future development initiatives.