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2002 | Buch

Commercial Perspectives on Universal Access and Assistive Technology Kapitel lesen Erstes Kapitel lesen

Universal Access and Assistive Technology

Proceedings of the Cambridge Workshop on UA and AT ’02

herausgegeben von: Simeon Keates, MA, PhD, Patrick Langdon, BSc, PhD, P. John Clarkson, MA, PhD, MIEE, CEng, Peter Robinson, MA, PhD, FBCS, CEng

Verlag: Springer London

Enthalten in: Professional Book Archive

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The first Cambridge Workshop on Universal Access and Assistive Technology (CWUAAT) was held at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, in March 2002. It was inspired by the earlier, highly successful Cambridge Workshops on Rehabilitation Robotics organised by the late Robin Jackson. Robin was the founder of Rehabilitation Research at Cambridge which now continues in the Engineering Design Centre within the Department of Engineering, led by John Clarkson and Simeon Keates, and in the Rainbow Group within the Computer Laboratory led by Peter Robinson. CWUAAT represents the first in a new series of workshops that we are aiming to hold every two years which, reflecting the spirit of recent moves to extend the rights for universal accessibility, will encourage discussion of a broad range of interests. There will be a general focus on product/solution development. Hence it is intended that the principal requirements for the successful design of assistive technology shall be addressed, where these range from the identification and capture of the needs of the users, through to the development and evaluation of truly usable and accessible systems for users with special needs. The best submissions received for the first CWUAAT are contained in this book, where the contributors are all leading researchers in the fields of Universal Access and Assistive Technology and represent a large part of the international research community. They include, though not exclusively, computer scientists, designers, engineers, industrial representatives, ergonomists and sociologists.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Keynote Commercial Perspectives

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. Commercial Perspectives on Universal Access and Assistive Technology
Abstract
Consignia is the largest supplier of UK mail services, the largest retailer in Europe, and employs some 220,000 people. Post Offices offer a wide range of services including pensions, benefit payments, bill payments, government services and an increasing number of financial and banking services. Moreover, in many rural communities, Post Offices provide the only shop within reasonable distance and provide a real point of community exchange and focus. In order for such an organisation to thrive in the coming years, the dynamics of the population it serves and employs must be a prime consideration.
J. Coy

Design Issues for Universal Access and Assistive Technology

Frontmatter
Chapter 2. Defining Design Exclusion
Abstract
It is known that many products are not accessible to large sections of the population. Designers instinctively focus on providing the necessary utility for someone with physical and skill capabilities similar to their own (Cooper, 1999), unless specifically instructed to do otherwise. They are either unaware of the needs of users with different capabilities, or do not know how to accommodate their needs into the design cycle.
S. Keates, P. J. Clarkson
Chapter 3. Quantifying Design Exclusion
Abstract
Products make demands of their users which effect their utility and usability. As a result, those users who do not have the capability to use the product are denied access to it. For example, a kettle that is so heavy that a weaker user cannot lift it denies access to that user regardless of the cause of their weakness. There are many such products causing access problems with a wide range of users, particularly those who are order or disabled, and it is generally recognised that more inclusive approaches to design must be adopted to resolve this problem.
P. J. Clarkson, S. Keates
Chapter 4. Countering Design Exclusion
Abstract
Conventional product interfaces present serious difficulties to users with functional impairments. Conditions causing such impairments can occur throughout the life course, affecting all age groups. Certain symptoms, such as reduced hearing, appear with increasing frequency with advancing age, whilst other such as spasms are often associated with particular medical conditions, such as Cerebral Palsy. This has led to the common concept of “the disabled and elderly” as being groups requiring separate attention. Consequently, many design approaches for allowing accessibility by members of either group focus on disabilities. However, the principal concern for should be physical capabilities, irrespective of cause.
S. Keates, P. J. Clarkson
Chapter 5. Inclusive Design — Developing Theory Through Practice
Abstract
This chapter focuses on applied research projects run by the Helen Hamlyn Research Centre (HHRC) at the Royal College of Art (RCA) where an empathie approach is taken to the design process. The chapter is a description of the practical manner in which this method can be used and the emphasis is on how this and other user-centred design research methods can feed into the disciplines of engineering and design. The methodologies are not tied to one discipline, but have the ability to be transferred and adapted to suit any part of the design or engineering processes.
R. R. Gheerawo, C. S. Lebbon
Chapter 6. A Systematic Basis for Developing Cognitive Assessment Methods for Assistive Technology
Abstract
We address the development of new assessment techniques for people of an employable age with acquired physical disabilities, such as head injuries and musculo-skeletal injuries. Specifically, we focus on cognitive function, which is fundamental to Assistive Technology and Rehabilitation engineering.
R. Adams, P. Langdon, P. J. Clarkson
Chapter 7. Control of Virtual Environments for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Abstract
Computer-based learning has enjoyed an increasing role in mainstream education with the development of more powerful personal computers available at a lower price. Computer delivered instruction has also started to make a contribution to the education of children with intellectual disabilities (e.g. Dube, Moniz and Gomes, 1995). It enables pupils to take charge of their own learning (Hawkridge and Vincent, 1992). Interactive software encourages active involvement in learning and gives the user the experience of control over the learning process (Pantelidis, 1993) and the learner can work at their own pace, attempting the same task over and over again, making as many mistakes as they like (Salem-Darrow, 1996).
P. J. Standen, T. L. Lannen, D. J. Brown

Enabling Computer Access and New Technologies

Frontmatter
Chapter 8. Why Are Eye Mice Unpopular? — A Detailed Comparison of Head and Eye Controlled Assistive Technology Pointing Devices
Abstract
Head-based and eye-based assistive technology pointing devices, or head and eye mice, are used to enable computer control in a similar manner to standard mice, by simply moving the cursor to where a user is pointing either with their head or their eyes. These devices have been in existence for many years within the motor-disabled community and over this time there has been widespread acceptance and adoption of head mice, with many disabled people using these devices to access computers and communication devices. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that eye-based pointing is widely and quickly dismissed as a usable means of pointing in assistive technology due to difficulty of use and inaccuracy, making the potential advantages of eye-based pointing difficult to realise in the face of such quick decisions not to use this approach. It is necessary to understand in detail what the limitations of eye-based pointing are and how these can be overcome. Making relative performance comparisons with head-based pointing can usefully do this, as this is an established technique of assistive technology pointing.
R. Bates, H. O. Istance
Chapter 9. Cursor Characterisation and Haptic Interfaces for Motion-impaired Users
Abstract
For people with functional impairments, independent control of a computer is often an important part of everyday life. However, in order to be of benefit, computer systems must be accessible. For people with motion-impairments, the keyboard, mouse and monitor arrangement can be difficult, if not impossible, to use. Symptoms such as tremor, spasm, restricted range of motion, and reduced strength can often restrict the extent to which a keyboard and mouse are useful.
F. Hwang, P. Langdon, S. Keates, P. J. Clarkson, P. Robinson
Chapter 10. Web-based Multimodal Graphs for Visually Impaired People
Abstract
This chapter describes the development and evaluation of Web-based multimodal graphs designed for visually impaired and blind people. The information in the graphs is conveyed to visually impaired people through haptic and audio channels. The motivation of this work is to address problems faced by visually impaired people in accessing graphical information on the Internet, particularly the common types of graphs for data visualisation. In our work, line graphs, bar charts and pie charts are accessible through a force feedback device, the Logitech WingMan Force Feedback Mouse. Pre-recorded sound files are used to represent graph contents to users. In order to test the usability of the developed Web graphs, an evaluation was conducted with bar charts as the experimental platform. The results showed that the participants could successfully use the haptic and audio features to extract information from the Web graphs.
W. Yu, D. Reid, S. Brewster
Chapter 11. Automatically Rearranging Structured Data for Customised Special-Needs Presentations
Abstract
Computers are most frequently used for processing text, or for processing signalbased data such as graphics, audio and video. However, there is also a significant amount of non-textual symbol-based data, such as musical scores, mathematics, schematics, and scientific models, that are encoded in such a way that they can be manipulated by algorithms at a higher level than simply processing the signal. Such data can be used for complex search queries, for example.
S. S. Brown, P. Robinson
Chapter 12. Bridging the Education Divide
Abstract
A substantial point of research of the FhG-FIT (Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology) project group TEDIS (Technological Enabling of Disabled and Elderly) is to examine to what extent the potentials of information technology and new media can be used to allow humans with impairments to participate more equally and self-determined in the social and economic life of our future “Knowledge Society.” Technology- and society critics in this regard object the progressive informatisation of all areas of life to lead to a new social splitting. Sarcastically they already talk about a new “Internet Apartheid.”
M. Pieper, H. Morasch, G. Piéla
Chapter 13. Contextual On-line Help: A Contribution to the Implementation of Universal Access
Abstract
Universal Design (UD) represents a fruitful concept and a useful body of experiences for promoting universal access (UA) in the forthcoming world-wide ‘Information Society.’ Guidelines and standards have already been proposed for implementing both concepts, namely: Story (1988) for universal design, and HFES/ANSI (1997), Stephanidis et al. (1997) and W3C (1998) concerning universal computer accessibility.
A. Capobianco, N. Carbonell
Chapter 14. 3rd Age Interfaces: A Usability Evaluation of the ‘Your Guide’ Kiosk Prototype from an Older User’s Perspective
Abstract
Your Guide is a new service from the Post Office that provides a wide range of useful information and services in a simple way, free of charge and all in one place — the local Post Office branch.
R. T. P. Young
Chapter 15. Virtual Environments for the Training of the Visually Impaired
Abstract
In recent years researchers have started developing force feedback interfaces, which permit blind people not only to access bi-dimensional graphic interfaces (as was the case until now), but in addition to access information present on 3D Virtual Reality interfaces anticipating that the latter will be the natural form of information interchange in the very near future (Burdea, 1994).
D. Tzovaras, G. Nikolakis, G. Fergadis, S. Malassiotis, M. Stavrakis
Chapter 16. User Involvement in the Design of a New Multimedia Communication Service
Abstract
As human beings, more than two thirds of our conversation is spent in socialising, gossip and story telling (Dunbar, 1996, 1997). Transactional or functional conversation quickly moves on to social interaction, and we constantly recount anecdotes to reinforce a practical point we are making or to reinforce our validity to have an opinion on a subject.
N. Hine, J. L. Arnott, W. Beattie, P. Sergeant
Chapter 17. Issues Surrounding the User-centred Development of a New Interactive Memory Aid
Abstract
At the beginning of this research, a participant who lives with memory loss every day of his life attempted to explain what he wanted in a memory aid. “Imagine a memory which is outside you and responsive to you but doesn’t control you.” This, then was the challenge: to design an effective aid which would be a natural extension to the memory which you and I do not realise just how much we depend upon.
E. Inglis, A. Szymkowiak, P. Gregor, A. F. Newell, N. Hine, B. A. Wilson, J. Evans
Chapter 18. Games Children with Autism Can Play with Robota, a Humanoid Robotic Doll
Abstract
This chapter discusses the potential use of a small, humanoid robotic doll called Robota in autism therapy. Robota was specifically designed for engaging children in imitative interaction games. This work is associated to the Aurora project where we study the potential therapeutic role of robots in autism therapy. This section provides the necessary background information on autism (18.1.1), and motivates the application of interactive technology in autism therapy (18.1.2). Section 18.1.3 discusses the important role of imitation and interaction games in the development of social skills. Section 18.2 introduces the Aurora project. Sections 18.3 and 18.4 briefly describe the humanoid doll Robota and its potential use in autism therapy. Observations from preliminary trials are discussed in Section 18.5 before section 18.6 concludes this chapter.
K. Dautenhahn, A. Billard

Assistive Technology and Rehabilitation Robotics

Frontmatter
Chapter 19. Progress of a Modular Prosthetic Arm
Abstract
Active prosthetic devices to replace missing hands or arms have much in common with robotic dextrous manipulators for industrial tasks (Gruver, 1994). However, the design of an upper limb prosthesis presents a set of restraints which may differ considerably from those in other robotics applications. A mass-produced robot of standardised design may be usable in many different situations, while the needs of prosthetics users are highly individual. The degree of loss can vary from a partial hand up to a complete arm including the shoulder. Variants are needed to cater for different sizes and for the two sides. User surveys (Kyberd et al., 1998a; Kyberd et al., 1999) have confirmed that a prosthesis should be light, reliable, functional, look natural, and be quiet in operation. This contrasts with the requirements of industrial robots where weight, appearance and noise level may be less important than repeatability. If the prosthesis does not make life any easier for the user, it is likely to be rejected. A functional prosthesis must, then, offer real advantages over a purely cosmetic one for it to be accepted. Indeed, the majority of users have one good hand, and become quite adept at performing tasks one-handedly, with little involvement of the prosthetic hand.
A. S. Poulton, P. J. Kyberd, D. Gow
Chapter 20. Development of a Novel Type Rehabilitation Robotic System KARES II
Abstract
The future welfare model should meet the needs of the enlarged number of aged and disabled people. Present technology levels increase optimism that the quality of life of the people from these categories can be significantly improved through home-installed mechatronic service devices that provide 24-hour assistance to their everyday movement activities. The design of high effective devices can contribute to the finding of satisfying solutions to this important social and economic problem. The modern research strategies are focused on the development of healthcare systems that fit to real users’ needs and preferences.
Z. Bien, D.-J. Kim, D. H. Stefanov, J.-S. Han, H.-S. Park, P.-H. Chang
Chapter 21. Improving the Flexibility of an Assistive Robot
Abstract
At the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering various approaches to assistive robotics have been investigated over several years. Each of these systems has been evaluated by potential users. This experience has been vital in refining the design and guiding the development.
M. R. Hillman, N. M. Evans, R. D. Orpwood
Chapter 22. Commercialising Assistive and Therapy Robotics
Abstract
This article provides an overview of the commercial efforts of the Rehabilitation Technologies Division (RTD) of Applied Resources Corp., which was formed in March of 1997 with the mission of establishing a product line of assistive and therapy robotic devices. In effect, this mission requires establishing the market for rehabilitation robotics in the United States. In order to be successful in this endeavour, RTD has created a plan consisting of stages for Market Review, Product Development, Market Entry, and Market Growth. A discussion of information gathered during the last five years, and a review of specific product development efforts is also provided.
M. S. Colello, R. M. Mahoney
Chapter 23. Improved Assistive Technology Prescription via Usage Log Analysis
Abstract
The study of human-computer interaction can be viewed as aiming to ensure that users can efficiently and effectively access the functions that technology enables. The focus of this chapter is to describe the exploration this objective for a specific class of technology designed to support users with severe disabilities. The assistive technology of interest provides key functionalities that are central to the quality of life of its users — such as, providing independent access to: speech synthesis facilities for users with vocal impairment or motorised wheelchair control for mobility. In contrast to a considerable amount of work focused upon supporting users with disabilities, the assistive technology interaction of interest here represents a dedicated system for dedicated usage. Hence, we are working in a context where the solution provided to the user is what they have to live with on a daily basis, and thus effective and efficient interaction are strongly linked to the quality of life of the end user.
C. Roast, P. O’Neill, M. Hawley
Chapter 24. Virtual Interface Development and Sensor-based Door Navigation for Nonholonomic Vehicles
Abstract
There are numerous examples of partially autonomous systems that are controlled at some level by a human operator or user. Generally control at the lowest levels is autonomous while the human user is primarily responsible for decision making at the highest levels. Examples of such systems include passenger automobiles, HVAC systems in buildings, CNC machines in job shops, and security systems. An important class of systems are mobile agents with embedded computers that are directly controlled by a human pilot or navigator in the loop. This chapter addresses (i) the design of interfaces between the human user and the computercontrolled system and (ii) the design of control algorithms that enable autonomous motion of the vehicle when desired. The performance of such human in the loop systems is very sensitive to the persons ability to interact with the embedded computer and sensors (Rahman et al., 1994).
R. S. Rao, K. Conn, S. H. Jung, J. Katupitiya, T. Kientz, V. Kumar, J. Ostrowski, S. Patel, C. J. Taylor
Chapter 25. An Ergonomic One-handed Wheelchair
Abstract
Some people with hemiplegia (paralysis down one side of the body) are unable to walk, so they need a wheelchair. But the standard manual wheelchair is designed forp eople with two active hands. If operated with only one hand, the chair tends to veer towards the patient’s inactive side with each push of the handrim. Some hospitals teach a technique for coping, in which patients correct their direction of travel by continually ’walking’ their active foot on the ground while applying a corrective sideways push. It works, but is slow and undignified, (Kirby et al., 1999). There are also problems with turning (Kitano et al., 1997).
L. A. Porter, S. Lesley
Chapter 26. Gathering User Needs in the Development of the POWER-HAND Opening Aid — A Successful Consumer Product for the Wider Market
Abstract
How can we improve the chances of success of future products during the development process? This should be one of the foremost questions during the formulation of a project plan and the conceptualisation of a new product. Without commercial initiative from the start, many research projects fail to reap the rewards that are associated with successful implementation of genuine ideas.
The aims of this chapter are to offer an insight into our experiences in the gathering of user needs for the development of a new assistive product, POWERHAND, a consumer kitchen appliance currently being developed from concept to commercial reality. Developed as part of the PACKAGE project (Provision for improved lifestyles via Access to Consumer pacKAGEs), funded by the European Commission IST programme, the aim of the finished product is to improve access to a wide range of packaging types, for a wide range of users. Throughout the designers have relied upon a close and ongoing relationship with end-users in order to deliver a successful product.
J. Smith, R. Huxley, M. Topping, S. Alcock, P. Hawkins
Chapter 27. Locomotion Assistance for the Blind
Abstract
We have developed a triangulating laser telemeter adapted to the space perception for the blind: the “Teletact.” Two parts compose the Teletact. The first part is a laser telemeter, which detects the distances to obstacles, and the second one is an interface, which presents these distances to the blind user. The Teletact was developed originally with a sonorous interface. Due to the long time training required by this interface we have tested some new interfaces based on other modalities (tactile and force feedback). In this chapter, we present all these interfaces and discuss them.
R. Farcy, Y. Bellik
Chapter 28. ‘Keep Taking the Medication’: Assistive Technology for Medication Regimes in Care Settings
Abstract
This chapter presents some of the early design work of the ‘Care in the Digital Community’ research project — begun under the EPSRC IRC Network project EQUATOR. One objective of the project is to improve the quality of everyday life by building and adapting technologies for a range of user groups and application domains. Consequently, it is very much concerned with developing supporting technologies based on a comprehensive understanding of user needs. Meeting this objective will require us to address fundamental and long-term research challenges in how computing technologies and concepts relate and adapt to a range of everyday domestic environments, including those characterised as ‘care’ settings. The Digital Care project employs a multidisciplinary research team to facilitate the development of enabling technologies to assist care in the community for particular user groups with different support needs. The general aim is to examine how digital technology can be used to provide various kinds of support to sheltered housing residents and their staff. Although the project anticipates exploring the affordances of a variety of technological configurations, including the use of virtual environments replicating real world situations and the use of handheld and wearable digital technology, the focus of this chapter is on our early work on providing support for the medication regime.
S. Kember, K. Cheverst, K. Clarke, G. Dewsbury, T. Hemmings, T. Rodden, M. Rouncefield
Chapter 29. “I can’t talk now,” and Other Design Stories: Four Assistive Technologies for People With and Without Disabilities
Abstract
This chapter seeks to challenge the division between assistive technology and design in general and argues that boundaries should be blurred: not only should design become more inclusive, but assistive technology should involve industrial and interaction designers in order to better balance emotional and functional needs.
G. Pullin
Backmatter
Metadaten
Titel
Universal Access and Assistive Technology
herausgegeben von
Simeon Keates, MA, PhD
Patrick Langdon, BSc, PhD
P. John Clarkson, MA, PhD, MIEE, CEng
Peter Robinson, MA, PhD, FBCS, CEng
Copyright-Jahr
2002
Verlag
Springer London
Electronic ISBN
978-1-4471-3719-1
Print ISBN
978-1-4471-3721-4
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3719-1