Assistive TechnologyPub Date : 2024-09-01Epub Date: 2022-01-25DOI: 10.1080/10400435.2021.1992540
Shakila Dada, Charene van der Walt, Adele A May, Janice Murray
{"title":"Intelligent assistive technology devices for persons with dementia: A scoping review.","authors":"Shakila Dada, Charene van der Walt, Adele A May, Janice Murray","doi":"10.1080/10400435.2021.1992540","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10400435.2021.1992540","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Assistive technology (AT) with context-aware computing and artificial intelligence capabilities can be applied to address cognitive and communication impairments experienced by persons with dementia (PwD). This paper aims to provide an overview of current literature regarding some characteristics of intelligent assistive technology devices (IATDs) for cognitive and communicative impairments of PwD. It also aims to identify the areas of impairment addressed by these IATDs.A multi-faceted systematic search strategy yielded records. Predefined criteria were applied for inclusion and data extraction. Thereafter data was thematically analysed and synthesised. This review demonstrates that almost all of the research involving IATDs has focused on cognitive impairments of PwD and has not yet evolved past the conceptual or prototype stages of development. Summaries of commercially available IATDs for PwD and relevant prototypes are provided at the end of this review.This research concluded that IATDs for PwD targeting cognition and communication problems primarily focus on social robots, and that they address cognitive impairments of attention, affect, and social-pragmatic communicative impairments. Future research endeavours concerning AT for PwD should explore collaboration between computer engineering and health practitioners to address the identified gaps. This may contribute to the available information for evidence-based decision making for PwD.</p>","PeriodicalId":51568,"journal":{"name":"Assistive Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39514074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Collaborative consensus on assistive technology impacts and outcomes: the GAATO Grand Challenges.","authors":"Emma Smith, Natasha Layton, Roger Smith","doi":"10.1080/10400435.2024.2389139","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10400435.2024.2389139","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Capturing the outcomes of assistive technology (AT) is essential to know what works and what is needed. People across the globe are working to close the gap of unmet need for AT, and to enable access to quality AT products and services. Inconsistent terminology, measures and a lack of coordinated systems prevent the sharing of knowledge, and the lack of articulated global priorities limit the usefulness of data for policymakers and resource allocation decisions. This paper provides methods of a global \"Grand Challenge\" project, run by the Global Alliance of Assistive Technology Organizations, and describes the resulting challenges. A multiphase, mixed method approach founded on participatory principles sought to capture multi-country and multi-stakeholder perspectives \"from the ground up.\" A collaborative consensus method was adapted to document and distil AT challenge data from global regions, to refine this data with global stakeholder organizations, and to publish a shortlist of AT Grand Challenges. The 2022 Grand Challenges in Outcomes and Impact are 1) measuring need, 2) documenting inputs, 3) measuring outcomes, 4) measure impacts, 5) sharing data, and 6) informing policy. The challenge now remains to work together to resolve them.</p>","PeriodicalId":51568,"journal":{"name":"Assistive Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142037671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluating the efficacy of UNav: A computer vision-based navigation aid for persons with blindness or low vision.","authors":"Anbang Yang, Nattachart Tamkittikhun, Giles Hamilton-Fletcher, Vinay Ramdhanie, Thu Vu, Mahya Beheshti, Todd Hudson, Rajesh Vedanthan, Wachara Riewpaiboon, Pattanasak Mongkolwat, Chen Feng, John-Ross Rizzo","doi":"10.1080/10400435.2024.2382113","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10400435.2024.2382113","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>UNav is a computer-vision-based localization and navigation aid that provides step-by-step route instructions to reach selected destinations without any infrastructure in both indoor and outdoor environments. Despite the initial literature highlighting UNav's potential, clinical efficacy has not yet been rigorously evaluated. Herein, we assess UNav against standard in-person travel directions (SIPTD) for persons with blindness or low vision (PBLV) in an ecologically valid environment using a non-inferiority design. Twenty BLV subjects (age = 38 ± 8.4; nine females) were recruited and asked to navigate to a variety of destinations, over short-range distances (<200 m), in unfamiliar spaces, using either UNav or SIPTD. Navigation performance was assessed with nine dependent variables to assess travel confidence, as well as spatial and temporal performances, including path efficiency, total time, and wrong turns. The results suggest that UNav is not only non-inferior to the standard-of-care in wayfinding (SIPTD) but also superior on 8 out of 9 metrics, as compared to SIPTD. This study highlights the range of benefits computer vision-based aids provide to PBLV in short-range navigation and provides key insights into how users benefit from this systematic form of computer-aided guidance, demonstrating transformative promise for educational attainment, gainful employment, and recreational participation.</p>","PeriodicalId":51568,"journal":{"name":"Assistive Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141977161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Using the center of gravity to help blind people measure water levels in bottles.","authors":"Kuang-Chin Tai","doi":"10.1080/10400435.2024.2386036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10400435.2024.2386036","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>People who are blind struggle to gauge water levels in bottles by weight alone. This work shows that combining information about a filled bottle's weight and center of gravity can enhance the accuracy of measuring the water level. Bumps were attached to the sides of cylindrical bottles at positions corresponding to the centers of gravity of water levels between 4 and 9. These bumps allow individuals to use additional information about the center of gravity to measure the water level in the bottle. Eight subjects who were blind participated in the experiment, and the results indicated that using the center of gravity method with a plastic bottle was the most accurate, with an average water level error of 0.04, but it took 57.83 seconds. Contrarily, using the weight method, the plastic bottle yielded the fastest results, with an average time of 6.51 seconds, but it led to an average water level error of 0.88.</p>","PeriodicalId":51568,"journal":{"name":"Assistive Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141918054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michelle Zorrilla, Fuzexia Guo, Mary Goldberg, Jonathan Pearlman
{"title":"Development of a multi-level assistive technology focused technology translation training program.","authors":"Michelle Zorrilla, Fuzexia Guo, Mary Goldberg, Jonathan Pearlman","doi":"10.1080/10400435.2024.2384940","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10400435.2024.2384940","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A three-level training intervention was developed using the Quality Implementation Framework (QIF) to increase technology transfer of rehabilitation technologies to market. Thirty-two teams completed Level 1, 14 completed Level 2, and 6 completed Level 3. The validated Technology Transfer Readiness Assessment Tool (TTRAT) measured teams' technology transfer progress and the effectiveness of the training program. Teams that completed at least two training levels demonstrated increased technology transfer readiness. Additional team outcomes include receiving other federal awards, FDA designations, and generating sales. Future work includes measuring teams' progress relative to participant demographics and developing additional training content based on gaps in technology transfer readiness. The multi-level training initiative shows it is a promising foundation for training researchers and aspiring entrepreneurs on technology transfer and subsequent technology transfer outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":51568,"journal":{"name":"Assistive Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141903577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sven Topp, Shuangshuang Xiao, Basil Duvernoy, Jeraldine Milroy, Zhanat Kappassov, Nurlan Kabdyshev, Roope Raisamo, Vincent Hayward, Mounia Ziat
{"title":"Mediated and non-mediated tactile fingerspelling: a comparative study.","authors":"Sven Topp, Shuangshuang Xiao, Basil Duvernoy, Jeraldine Milroy, Zhanat Kappassov, Nurlan Kabdyshev, Roope Raisamo, Vincent Hayward, Mounia Ziat","doi":"10.1080/10400435.2024.2369547","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10400435.2024.2369547","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the development of communication devices for individuals who are Deafblind, a significant challenge is achieving a seamless transition from human-generated to technology-mediated communication. This study compares the intelligibility of the Australian Deafblind tactile fingerspelling alphabet rendered on the HaptiComm tactile communication device with the same alphabet articulated by a human signer. After a short training period, participants identified the 26 English alphabet letters in both the mediated (device) and non-mediated (human) conditions. Results indicated that while participants easily identified most letters in the non-mediated condition, the mediated condition was more difficult to decipher. Specifically, letters presented on the palm or near the index finger had significantly lower recognition rates. These findings highlight the need for further research on the tactile features of communication devices and emphasize the importance of refining these features to enhance the reliability and readability of mediated tactile communication produced through tactile fingerspelling.</p>","PeriodicalId":51568,"journal":{"name":"Assistive Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141581487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Assistive TechnologyPub Date : 2024-07-03Epub Date: 2024-02-21DOI: 10.1080/10400435.2024.2305977
Kaetlyn Culter Harris, Bethany J Frick Semmler, Sarah Anderson, Elizabeth Mance, Ashley Stojkov, Sandra Metzler, Carmen P DiGiovine
{"title":"Innovative solutions to support individuals with disabilities accessing public transportation: A case study.","authors":"Kaetlyn Culter Harris, Bethany J Frick Semmler, Sarah Anderson, Elizabeth Mance, Ashley Stojkov, Sandra Metzler, Carmen P DiGiovine","doi":"10.1080/10400435.2024.2305977","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10400435.2024.2305977","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Individuals with cognitive disabilities have challenges with personal navigation and wayfinding, especially when traveling on public transportation. The purpose of this case study is to describe the structure and implementation of the Personal Navigation for Individuals with Disabilities (PNID) education and training program, which is based on a socio-technical architecture for individuals with cognitive disabilities within a fixed-route public bus system. A case study methodology was used to describe preliminary findings of the skills, attributes, and experiences of three individuals with cognitive disabilities as it relates to transportation on fixed-route bus systems in a midsized urban setting. The three individuals completed five training activities: safety, public bus, smartphone, WayFinder App, and fixed-route bus system. The case study provided a preliminary mixed-methods overview of training travelers with cognitive disabilities to use the WayFinder system while accessing fixed-route public bus system. The insights and strategies identified through the case study demonstrate the potential opportunities for development, implementation, and sustainability of the PNID program in other midsized urban settings. The PNID program (i.e. AT service delivery process), in combination with the WayFinder system (i.e. assistive technology), has the potential to meet the unique needs of individuals with cognitive disabilities when accessing public transportation.</p>","PeriodicalId":51568,"journal":{"name":"Assistive Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139914020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparison of the effectiveness of assisted turning mattresses and conventional air mattresses in relieving body pressure in different lying positions.","authors":"Shu-Fang Vivienne Wu, Li-Min Kuo, Juin-Ming Tsai, Li-Ju Lin, Chun-Hua Chu, Ying-Yi Liao","doi":"10.1080/10400435.2022.2150910","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10400435.2022.2150910","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pressure ulcers are a common problem among individuals who, for medical reasons, must spend most of their day in bed. Manually turning a person's body is labor intensive and can easily cause occupational injuries. To compare the effectiveness of a new assisted turning mattress in pressure management with that of a conventional air mattress. This is a single-session crossover trial study. Twenty-four participants confined to bed were transferred onto the selected mattress (assisted turning or conventional air mattresses) in the selected position. Average interface pressures of bony prominences were measured after the participants laid on the mattress in different positions. After the data collection, they were transferred to the second mattress, and the process was repeated. Subjective feedback from participants and caregivers was also acquired immediately following a one-week trial period of assisted turning mattresses. The mean interface pressures were comparable for most body parts between two mattresses. Subjective feedback showed that assisted turning mattresses could relieve caregivers' workload but at the cost of patients' decreased feelings of safety. Assisted turning mattresses are equal to conventional air mattresses in pressure distribution. Proper pressure management through scheduled positional changes is required in assisted turning mattresses.</p>","PeriodicalId":51568,"journal":{"name":"Assistive Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10783806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Assistive TechnologyPub Date : 2024-07-03Epub Date: 2023-10-05DOI: 10.1080/10400435.2023.2260860
Szu-Han Kay Chen, Conner Saeli, Gang Hu
{"title":"A proof-of-concept study for automatic speech recognition to transcribe AAC speakers' speech from high-technology AAC systems.","authors":"Szu-Han Kay Chen, Conner Saeli, Gang Hu","doi":"10.1080/10400435.2023.2260860","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10400435.2023.2260860","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Automatic speech recognition (ASR) is an emerging technology that has been used in recognizing non-typical speech of people with speech impairment and enhancing the language sample transcription process in communication sciences and disorders. However, the feasibility of using ASR for recognizing speech samples from high-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems has not been investigated. This proof-of-concept paper aims to investigate the feasibility of using AAC-ASR to transcribe language samples generated by high-tech AAC systems and compares the recognition accuracy of two published ASR models: CMU Sphinx and Google Speech-to-text. An AAC-ASR model was developed that transcribes simulated AAC speaker language samples. The AAC-ASR model's word error rate (WER) was compared with those of CMU Sphinx and Google Speech-to-text. The WER of the AAC-ASR model outperformed (28.6%) compared with CMU Sphinx and Google when tested on the testing files (70.7% and 86.2% retrospectively). Our results demonstrate the feasibility of using the ASR model to automatically transcribe high-technology AAC-simulated language samples to support language sample analysis. Future steps will focus on developing the model with diverse AAC speech training datasets and understanding the speech patterns of individual AAC users to refine the AAC-ASR model.</p>","PeriodicalId":51568,"journal":{"name":"Assistive Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41165123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Assistive TechnologyPub Date : 2024-07-03Epub Date: 2023-12-11DOI: 10.1080/10400435.2023.2283461
Roslyn W Livingstone, Ginny S Paleg, Debra A Field
{"title":"Supported standing and stepping device use in young children with cerebral palsy, gross motor function classification system III, IV and V: A descriptive study.","authors":"Roslyn W Livingstone, Ginny S Paleg, Debra A Field","doi":"10.1080/10400435.2023.2283461","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10400435.2023.2283461","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study described and compared use of supported-standing and stepping devices by young children with cerebral palsy, Gross-Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels III-V following power mobility introduction. Data was collected at two time-points, 5-6 months apart, for 42 participants, aged 18-80 months, using the Home Use of Technology for CHildren (HUTCH). Supported-standing and stepping device choice and time in each device remained stable over 6 months. Associations between device use and three functional classifications were examined. Children with more impaired motor, postural and manual abilities were more likely to use a supine stander rather than a prone/upright stander or no stander. Children at GMFCS V tended to use hands-free stepping devices, while support-arms stepping devices were more common for children at GMFCS IV. Only children at GMFCS III used convertible stepping devices. Using power mobility, standers and supported-stepping devices was feasible and 19/34 classified at GMFCS IV/V used all three devices over 6 months. A key finding was that introduction of power mobility did not reduce use of supported-stepping devices at any GMFCS level. Use of multiple upright positioning and mobility devices may assist children with limited mobility to be actively engaged and participate in daily life.</p>","PeriodicalId":51568,"journal":{"name":"Assistive Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138177966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}