Journal of Enabling Technologies最新文献

{"title":"Electromyography biofeedback system with visual and vibratory feedbacks designed for lower limb rehabilitation","authors":"João Vitor da Silva Moreira, K. Rodrigues, Daniel J. L. L. Pinheiro, Thaís Cardoso, João Vieira, E. Cavalheiro, J. Faber","doi":"10.1108/jet-05-2022-0039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jet-05-2022-0039","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeOne of the main causes of long-term prosthetic abandonment is the lack of ownership over the prosthesis, which was caused mainly by the absence of sensory information regarding the lost limb. The period where the patient learns how to interact with a prosthetic device is critical in rehabilitation. This ideally happens within the first months after amputation, which is also a period associated with the consolidation of brain changes. Different studies have shown that the introduction of feedback mechanisms can be crucial to bypass the lack of sensorial information. To develop a biofeedback system for the rehabilitation of transfemoral amputees – controlled via electromyographic (EMG) activity from the leg muscles – that can provide real-time visual and/or vibratory feedback for the user.Design/methodology/approachThe system uses surface EMG to control two feedback mechanisms, which are the knee joint of a prosthetic leg of a humanoid avatar in a virtual reality (VR) environment (visual feedback) and a matrix of 16 vibrotactile actuators placed in the back of the user (vibratory feedback). Data acquisition was inside a Faraday Cage using an OpenEphys® acquisition board for the surface EMG recordings. The tasks were performed on able-bodied participants, with no amputation, and for this, the dominant leg of the user was immobilized using an orthopedic boot fixed on the chair, allowing only isometric contractions of target muscles, according to the Surface EMG for Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles (SENIAM) standard. The authors test the effectiveness of combining vibratory and visual feedback and how task difficulty affects overall performance.FindingsThe authors' results show no negative interference combining both feedback modalities and that performance peaked at the intermediate difficulty. These results provide powerful insights of what can be accomplished with the population of amputee people. By using this biofeedback system, the authors expect to engage another sensory modality in the process of spatial representation of a virtual leg, bypassing the lack of information associated with the disruption of afferent pathways following amputation.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors developed a showcase with a new protocol and feedback mechanisms showing the protocol's safety, efficiency and reliability. However, since this system is designed for patients with leg amputation, the full extent of the effects of the biofeedback training can only be assessed after the evaluation with the amputees, and the results obtained so far establish a safe and operational protocol to accomplish this.Practical implicationsIn this study, the authors proposed a new biofeedback device intended to be used in the preprosthetic rehabilitation phase for people with transfemoral amputation. With this new system, the authors propose a mechanism to bypass the lack of sensory information from a virtual prosthesis and help to assimilate visual and vibrotactil","PeriodicalId":42168,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Enabling Technologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2021-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49586846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial","authors":"N. Newbutt","doi":"10.1108/jet-09-2020-077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jet-09-2020-077","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":42168,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Enabling Technologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2020-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42715013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The possibility and importance of immersive technologies during COVID-19 for autistic people","authors":"N. Newbutt, Matthew Schmidt, G. Riva, Carla Schmidt","doi":"10.1108/jet-07-2020-0028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jet-07-2020-0028","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The purpose of this paper is to identify three key areas where autistic people may find themselves impacted through COVID-19, namely, education; employment; and anxiety.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000This paper provides some views based on the extensive experience of using immersive technologies for the utilisation and application with autistic groups during COVID-19.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000This paper offers some examples of immersive technology application that might be helpful for practitioners, services and others to consider in overcoming possible challenges faced by people with autism.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000This opinion piece offers expert insights to the role immersive technologies and virtual reality might play during COVID-19 in the lives of autistic groups.\u0000","PeriodicalId":42168,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Enabling Technologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2020-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/jet-07-2020-0028","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43171981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determinants of information communication and smart home automation technology adoption for aging-in-place.","authors":"Sajay Arthanat, Hong Chang, John Wilcox","doi":"10.1108/jet-11-2019-0050","DOIUrl":"10.1108/jet-11-2019-0050","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose –: </strong>Smart home (SH) internet of things can promote home safety, health monitoring and independence of older adults to age-in-place. Despite its commercial growth, low adoption rates of the technology among aging consumers remain a major barrier. The purpose of this study is to examine SH technology ownership of older adults and its causal pathways with demographics, health and functioning, home safety and information communication technology (ICT) use.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach –: </strong>A survey on technology-mediated aging-in-place was completed by 447 respondents, 65 years and older. Structural equation modeling was used to underscore the causal pathways among demographics, health, independence and home safety, ICT and home automation technology adoption.</p><p><strong>Findings –: </strong>The study found that ICT usability, home security and independence have a significant direct effect on SH ownership. Demographics had no significant direct effect, but its influence was mediated through ICT usability. With home safety as mediator, physical impairment, falls and accidents and independence had a significant association with SH ownership. Similarly, increased social support (mediated through home security) decreased the probability of SH automation ownership.</p><p><strong>Originality/value –: </strong>The findings signify the perceived usefulness of SH automation as theorized in technology acceptance models.</p>","PeriodicalId":42168,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Enabling Technologies","volume":"14 2","pages":"73-86"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2020-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9529205/pdf/nihms-1598237.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33488595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Technology and social care in a digital world: challenges and opportunities in the UK","authors":"K. Hamblin","doi":"10.1108/jet-11-2019-0052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jet-11-2019-0052","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000Technology enabled care (TEC) equipment has been a part of adult social care (ASC) in most areas of the UK for decades. More recently, commissioners have been exploring mainstream technologies’ potential to support older people living in the community. The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges and opportunities presented by the growing application of mainstream technologies in ASC against the backdrop of the planned UK-wide switchover from analogue to digital telecommunications by 2025.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000This general review uses research evidence, literature, industry standards and policy documents to address the challenges presented by the UK’s digital switchover and the potential role of mainstream technologies such as “smart speakers” in ASC.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The use of digital TEC and mainstream devices in ASC brings challenges related to access to reliable internet connections in parts of the UK; the need to update TEC safety standards; the ethics, privacy and data security measures that ensure digital products and services safeguard the interests of users; and evidence and commissioning practice.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000This general review explores emerging areas of policy and research related to the planned UK digital switchover and the use of mainstream technologies in ASC. It offers a conceptual approach and suggests ways forward for research, regulatory and commissioning agendas.\u0000","PeriodicalId":42168,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Enabling Technologies","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2020-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/jet-11-2019-0052","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42626740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Engaging ignored stakeholders of higher education accessibility practice: analysing the experiences of an international network of practitioners and researchers","authors":"J. Seale, Laura King, M. Jorgensen, Alice Havel, J. Asuncion, C. Fichten","doi":"10.1108/jet-08-2019-0040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jet-08-2019-0040","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The purpose of this paper is to examine and critique current approaches of higher education (HE) community concerning stakeholder engagement in the development of information and communications technology (ICT) related accessibility practice.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000The approach taken to this examination is to draw on presentations, panel discussions and World Café reflections from an international symposium held in Montreal where researchers and practitioners debated two key questions as follows: have all the relevant stakeholders really been identified? Are there some stakeholders that the HE community has ignored? And what factors influence successfully distributed ownership of the accessibility mission within HE institutions?\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000A number of “new” internal and external stakeholders are identified and it is argued that if they are to be successfully engaged, effort needs to be invested in addressing power imbalances and developing opportunities for successful strategic silo-crossing.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000The value of this paper is in critiquing the argument that all stakeholders in the development of accessible ICT in HE need to be involved, identifying a gap in the argument with respect to whether all relevant stakeholders have actually been engaged and offering insights into this omission might be rectified.\u0000","PeriodicalId":42168,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Enabling Technologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2020-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/jet-08-2019-0040","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44511052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elderly and care personnel’s user experiences of a robotic shower","authors":"Charlotte Bäccman, L. Bergkvist, P. Kristensson","doi":"10.1108/jet-07-2019-0033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jet-07-2019-0033","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The purpose of this study is to explore the expectations and experiences regarding a robotic shower, from a dual user perspective.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000This was an explorative qualitative study in which elderly and personnel were interviewed before the robotic shower was installed and again after four or five months of usage.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The elderly participants found the robotic shower empowering. The personnel’s experiences encompassed their own work conditions, as well as the user value for the elderly. A shared experience for both user groups was a more independent shower situation for the elderly.\u0000\u0000\u0000Research limitations/implications\u0000Low user frequency among the elderly may have affected the results; more frequent use may lead to different user experiences. Understanding whether and to what extent long-term use affects user experience is important for future adoption and implementation.\u0000\u0000\u0000Practical implications\u0000Implementation of digital assistive technology (DAT) should focus on the user value of the DAT for all possible user groups, as the different users may experience different values over time. In addition, approaching adoption and acceptance issues of DAT from a learned helplessness perspective may help users find value in the DAT and the independence these aim to provide, helping users maintain or increase quality of life.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000This study presents a dual user experience of a DAT in an intimate care situation and shows the importance of including both elderly and personnel to fully understand the value of DATs.\u0000","PeriodicalId":42168,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Enabling Technologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2020-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/jet-07-2019-0033","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47000836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serious Games in Physical Rehabilitation","authors":"Benoît Bossavit","doi":"10.1108/jet-12-2019-076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jet-12-2019-076","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":42168,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Enabling Technologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2019-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/jet-12-2019-076","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48193613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"SiLearn: an intelligent sign vocabulary learning tool","authors":"Jestin Joy, K. Balakrishnan, S. M.","doi":"10.1108/jet-03-2019-0014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jet-03-2019-0014","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000Vocabulary learning is a difficult task for children without hearing ability. Absence of enough learning centers and effective learning tools aggravate the problem. Modern technology can be utilized fruitfully to find solutions to the learning difficulties experienced by the deaf. The purpose of this paper is to present SiLearn – a novel technology based tool for teaching/learning sign vocabulary.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000The proposed mobile application can act as a visual dictionary for deaf people. SiLearn is equipped with features that can automatically detect both text and physical objects and convert them to their corresponding signs. For testing the effectiveness of the proposed mobile application quantitative analyses were done. Quantitative analysis is based on testing a class of 28 students belonging to St Clare Oral School for the Deaf, Kerala, India. This group consisted of 17 boys and 11 girls. Analysis was also done through questionnaire. Questionnaires were given to teachers, parents of deaf students learning sign language and other sign language learners.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000Results indicate that as SiLearn is very effective in sign vocabulary development. It can enhance vocabulary learning rate considerably.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000This is the first time that artificial intelligence (AI) based techniques are used for early stage sign language learning. SiLearn can equally be used by children, parents and teachers for learning sign language.\u0000","PeriodicalId":42168,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Enabling Technologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2019-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/jet-03-2019-0014","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47727685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Conversation Analysis (CA) as a tool for exploring interaction in an online video-conferencing based support service","authors":"J. Chatwin, P. McEvoy","doi":"10.1108/JET-11-2018-0051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/JET-11-2018-0051","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000Around 60 per cent of people with dementia in the UK live at home. The experience of caring for a family member with dementia can be rewarding and positive, but it can also be significantly stressful. Current healthcare policy is encouraging greater provision to support family carers. Along with respite-care, day-care and support group-based initiatives, there has also been a focus on developing dementia-specific communication training. The paper discusses this issue.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000The authors outline a new initiative “Empowered Carers” which is being piloted in the North of England. Empowered Carers is an online support and communication training service for family carers who are caring for someone with dementia at home. It utilises online video conference-calling technology to connect carers with support workers, and also allows for simultaneous interactions involving other family members. A central tenet of the approach is a theoretically grounded support model, based on the concept of mentalisation.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The authors describe the background to Empowered Carers, and how a conventional evaluation strategy for the initiative is being used alongside a socio-linguistic approach (Conversation Analysis – CA). This aims to provide empirical evidence about how the assimilation of mentalisation is reflected in the structuring of speech patterns in carers during support sessions.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000The authors explain the CA method, how it has been applied to similar talk-based therapeutic settings, and why its ability to explore sequential linguistic patterns across extremely large data-sets is particularly suited to studying interaction in emerging online arenas.\u0000","PeriodicalId":42168,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Enabling Technologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2019-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/JET-11-2018-0051","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42937871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}