AHFE Open AccessHuman Factors in Accessibility and Assistive Technology
Editors: Matteo Zallio
Topics: Factors and Assistive Technology
Publication Date: 2022
ISBN: 978-1-958651-13-1
DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1001635
Articles
On the stimulation and visibility by blinking light emitting block for low vision
Approximately 80% of people with visual impairment have residual visual acuity. As such, the authors have developed a light-emitting block that is placed at the entrance of a pedestrian crossing to support those with visual impairment at night. A blinking light has generally been used for selectively distinguishing the target light source from the surrounding light source. However, this type of blinking (i.e., simple blinking) can be stimulating, making it suitable for night-time road construction sites but not for normal road environments. Therefore, the authors have focused on phase-in-phase-out blinking, which gradually brightens and darkens with each blink, thereby suppressing stimulation. This blinking pattern has been considered to reduce visibility just by suppressing the stimulus. However, focusing on the human sensory characteristics of adaptation and arousal, evidence has suggested the existence of a blinking cycle and pattern that awakens while suppressing stimuli.Therefore, the current study sought to identify blinking cycles and patterns that awaken while suppressing light stimulation. The intensity of light stimulation is evaluated via sensory evaluation. Based on the intensity of the stimulus and degree of arousal, we searched for the optimum blinking cycle that promotes adaptation, a human sensory characteristic, and arousal from the blinking pattern and verified the visibility of the obtained blinking pattern in individuals with visual impairment and healthy subjects. Previously, we had conducted an experiment in a region with a period of 4–7 s. This time, however, we conducted an experiment in a region with a period of 2– 3.5 s. This study verified that phase-in-phase-out blinking is effective for pedestrians while considering the surroundings.The purpose of this experiment was to determine the optimal blinking method for supporting people with visual impairment. Although it is desirable to provide support for people with visual impairment by promoting stronger visibility, introducing flashing blinks in public facilities may cause discomfort to healthy people around them. For instance, introducing a blinking light of approximately 1 Hz, which has a fast blinking cycle, at the entrance of a pedestrian crossing can enter the driver's field of vision, causing discomfort and making the driver look away, thereby leading to accidents. The ideal blinking light for support is that which limits arousal to some extent and does not induce discomfort. Based on the blinking patterns used in this experiment under the aforementioned condition, we believe that a fade-in-fade-out type pattern with a blinking cycle of 2 s and a lighting time of 2 and 3 s would be effective. The reason for this is that the intensity of the stimulus obtained from the sensory evaluation of healthy subject and those with visual impairment is suppressed, visibility is secured to some extent, and the blinking method does not induce discomfort. Thus, the fade-in-fade-out blinking method can be expected to suppress discomfort.
Shoichiro Fujisawa, Masaki Okegawa, Kenji Sakami, Jyunji Kawata, Yoshio Kaji, Mineo Higuchi, Shin-Ichi Ito, Jiro Morimoto
Open Access
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Conference Proceedings
Acceptability of Assistive Robotics by Older Adults: Results from a Human-Centred Qualitative Study
Assistive robotics provides a powerful solution for improving the quality of life of the elderly and frail people and will play a key role in the coming years as part of strategies for Ageing in place and Active and Healthy Ageing. If robots are going to be used by a large number of users, it is essential that they are accepted by as many people as possible. However, many of the assistive robots are designed with little consideration of the social, aesthetic, and emotional relationships that the elderly will experience when interacting with the product (Forlizzi et al., 2004). The acceptability of technology is a big issue, especially for elderly and frail people: the factors that influence it, and that also determine a positive User Experience, are many, as shown by the countless existing evaluation methods. Moreover, the acceptability of technology, in particular for elderly and frail users, is currently a delicate issue, whose evaluation criteria offer many challenges to design research. In fact, the interaction that users establish with assistive robots and all related technologies defines the very experience of aging. In this context, the Human-Centred Design and Ergonomics in Design approaches and methodologies can contribute to improve human-robot-digital technology interaction through the design of assistive robots according to people’s real needs and expectations.This paper presents the results of a survey conducted with primary and secondary users of assistive robots, with a focus on factors influencing robotic acceptability.The survey aims to collect quantitative and qualitative data about the relationship between people and robots, with a focus on beliefs, attitudes, preferences and use of such devices by users of different age and technological experience level. The survey aims to investigate users' attitudes, behaviors, beliefs and goals in relation to robots.The survey, conducted as an online questionnaire, is targeted at current and potential users of social and assistive robots. The questionnaire is addressed to a sample of users of both genders, aged between 18 and 99 years. The total sample surveyed is 272 people in Italy and 15 people in Europe. The survey includes a preliminary demographic analysis of users (age, robotic experience level, etc.) and then it investigates the beliefs, attitudes and behaviors towards assistive robots, and also the aesthetic and functional factors that may influence its acceptability.This research applies the scientific methods of Human-Centred Design and Ergonomics in Design (Stanton, 2014; Giacomin, 2014; Maguire, 2001) for qualitative investigation of older adults' preferences for assistive robots.The results provide an insight into how the acceptability factors of assistive robot tested in the literature actually relate to the preferences and attitudes of potential and current users. In addition, the results highlight the need for stronger involvement of stakeholders during the design phases of robots in order to promote a deeper understanding of those people’s needs and insights that cannot be collected by quantitative surveys. This study provides a groundwork for future researches in the Human-Robot Interaction and Human-Centred Design areas.
Claudia Becchimanzi, Ester Iacono, Alessia Brischetto
Open Access
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Conference Proceedings
Automated vision-based toilet assistance for people with dementia
As the disease progresses, people with dementia increasingly require assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), including hygiene and toileting. In long-term care facilities, caregivers are responsible for accompanying residents to the toilet, which is not only time-consuming but not pleasant for either party. This paper presents an automated step-by-step system to guide people with mild dementia in using the toilet. The user's actions are detected and then compared to a model that specifies the correct toilet procedure, which includes toilet bowl actions and hand-washing. When inconsistencies are detected between the user's actions and the model, interaction with the user is initiated. A multimodal approach and feedback from healthcare professionals are used to tailor the interaction of the system specifically for users with dementia. Experimental results validate the functionality of the system to recognize actions performed by the user and provide suitable instructions to the user or alert a caregiver.
Irene Ballester, Martin Kampel
Open Access
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Conference Proceedings
Psychogeography with Jack B. Yeats Art Sounding Gallery: Augmented Reality Locative Experience for Blind People
Sensory Substitution Devices (SSDs) are a relatively novel concept, based on the idea of the multisensory brain. Research on synaesthesia and sensory pairings has revealed that sensory modalities of the brain are interconnected. Nature has demonstrated examples of people who have lost one sense, which has then been substituted by increased ability in another, for example the case of Daniel Kish who navigates like a bat (Burgess, 2021) by clicking of the tongue (echolocation principle). To find a methodology for translating information from one sense to another, or substitute one sense with another is the principle for all SSDs. A number of approaches to assistive technologies for different impairments have been developed, for example for blind people, such as the vOICe “seeing with sound” and EyeMusic Apps, which convert visual images and colours into sound. While most SSDs are focused on functionality to offer life assistance, such as for navigation, little or no work has been done to include the blind into the emotional world of Visual Arts, despite the fact that there are 45 million blind people in the world (Amir Amedi). In this paper, we present an audio GPS based walking app that presents a translation of the visual expression of artworks by sound/music to deliver the emotional content of the paintings to blind people. The music is composed for six artworks of Irish artist symbolist Jack B. Yeats (1871-1957), specifically reflecting on shapes, colours and emotional content of painting by composer experienced in audio-visual synchronisation via synaesthesia (Rudenko and Córdoba Serrano, 2017). The project is centred around the development of a new methodology for multisensory design (MSD) through the design, implementation, and evaluation of a locative art experience with Augmented Reality (AR), hosted by Haunted Planet Studios (director Mads Haahr).
Svetlana Rudenko, Mads Haahr
Open Access
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Conference Proceedings
Use of hearing aids at work: results of a questionnaire for the analysis of comfort and perceived benefit
Almost 460 million world people live with moderate to severe hearing loss (HL), with noise the most common cause, particularly in the workplace. Noise-induced HL is still one of the most prevalent recognized occupational diseases, but in Italy, it is no longer at the first ranks, thanks to technical and organizational solutions adopted to reduce noise in the work environment after 2008. In particular, Italian surveillance system data show that Construction is the work sector in which HL is most present (28% of cases), followed by Manufacture (17%). HL can compromise social life, causing isolation, frustration, depression, and even cognitive decline, while in the workplaces could affect workers’ safety, representing an important injury risk factor. The use of hearing aids (HA) represents an effective preventive action. In Italy, there are at least 7 million hearing-impaired people, but only 29.5% wear an HA (2018 data). Their use appears to be more widespread in the older age groups, while the least use is found from 45 to 64 years (20.8%) which refers to professionally active people. Many aspects prevent the use of an HA, among these, technical and psychological reasons. The objective of this study is to evaluate the degree of comfort/discomfort and the perceived benefit of using an HA, particularly in working environments.MethodsAn ad hoc questionnaire consisting of 10 questions, five on the working sphere and five on perception, was developed. The former investigated the acoustic comfort of the work environment, use of HA, hearing protectors, accessories, and the information received on the correct use of HA at work; the second investigated the satisfaction of the prosthetic solution, the improvement in the perception of speech or the sounds direction and danger signals to avoid accidents at work. The answer options for each question were yes / sometimes / no. Further information on gender, age, type of job, years of work, type of HA and years of use, type of hearing damage, was collected. The professions were grouped into seven categories: construction workers, freelancers, health professions, teachers, office workers, traders, others, which were further classified on noise exposure and hearing risk into High risk (construction workers), Medium risk (teachers, traders), Low risk (freelancers, health professions, office workers). The results were statistically analyzed.ResultsThe questionnaire was administered to 141 workers (55 females and 86 males) with an average age of 57 years (minimum 21, maximum 82). The sample shows prevalently bilateral sensorineural HL, works for about 30 years, wears an HA from 6 years, mainly “in the ear” type (77%), mostly employed as freelancers (21%), office workers (19%), construction workers (18%).For high-risk employees, the use of an HA with personal protective equipment has been discussed, taking into account the issue regarding the protection of these prosthetic workers in noisy work environments. The results show that special attention should be paid to the optimization of the prosthesis for this category of workers, most acoustically exposed, taking into account their comfort, perceived safety, and satisfaction.
Claudia Giliberti, Fabio Lo Castro, Maria Patrizia Orlando, Raffaele Mariconte, Maurizio Diano
Open Access
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Conference Proceedings
Verifying screen reader accessibility of apps developed using Google Flutter
This paper presents the results of a study to verify whether the Google UI framework Flutter can create accessible apps for iOS and Android platforms simultaneously. Flutter provides mechanisms such as semantic classes to optimise accessibility during app development. Optimising accessibility for mobile apps and especially for screen readers is a major challenge for many app developers. One key reason for this is that optimisations should ideally always be made for both Apple and Android. A possible solution is offered by the UI framework Flutter, which aims to enable development in only one codebase. This means that accessibility optimisations made in the Flutter codebase should take effect in both Apple and Android platforms simultaneously as well as with their respective screen readers, so that users are provided with a consistent and accessible user experience, regardless of the platform chosen. The purpose of this study was to test this hypothesis. To this end, a sample app was developed using Flutter and a usability test was conducted with six visually impaired screen reader users. Based on the initial test results, the app was then optimised in terms of accessibility using Flutter's semantics classes, and then tested and evaluated again with the same test group. The results showed that some user interface elements were still not accessible. In order to overcome these accessibility issues, workarounds such as writing additional code for each specific platform were implemented, before a final usability test showed that the sample app was fully accessible.
Alireza Darvishy
Open Access
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Conference Proceedings
Head-Up Displays: Analysis of automotive use considerations
Head-Up Displays (HUDs) were developed to provide primary sensor data during flight at the pilot's customary view. The positioning of flight instrument data in the forward field of vision allows pilots to concurrently view this information and the external scene. The potential benefits of HUDs have also been recognized by the automotive industry with approximately 30 automobile brands offering HUDs as optional equipment in vehicles. By projecting driving information directly into the driver's line of view, the HUD reduces the number and length of the driver's eye movements away from the road, decreasing distraction and improving driver awareness. The purported benefits of automotive HUDs include decreasing cognitive workload, visual scanning, and by providing cues to guide their eyes to hazards or other pertinent information. The aim of this paper is to review how HUDs and their design properties affect pilot performance and attention in order to identify implementation issues relevant to the automotive industry.
Jenna Korentsides, Andi St Clair, Meghana Dyapa, Alex Chaparro
Open Access
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Conference Proceedings
Users’ Satisfaction with an Assistive Device and Quality of Life: A preliminary study on lower limb prosthetics
Quality of life refers to the individual perception of each person regarding their objectives, expectations and achievements, according to their stage of life and contexts of material, physical, emotional and social conditions. Assistive Technology devices can improve the individual’s performance in many domains related to daily activities, which are linked to independence and social participation. The user’s satisfaction is an important factor for the successful use of assistive devices. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between the quality of life and the users’ satisfaction with their lower limb prostheses. Eleven individuals aged between 20 and 54 years participated in the study. All participants were interviewed by telephone responding to the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST 2.0) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), both in its Brazilian version. The highest frequency of positive responses (“very satisfied” or “quite satisfied”) were found in the professional service (90%), efficacy (81.8%) and weight (81.8%), while durability (27.3%), repairs and technical assistance (27.3%) and follow-up service (27.3%) were the factors with highest frequencies of dissatisfaction (responses of “not satisfied at all” or “not very satisfied”) in the QUEST 2.0. Participants indicated comfort (27.3%), durability (21.2%) and safety (21.2%) as the most important aspects for satisfaction with their prostheses. When it comes to the quality of life in the WHOQOL-BREF, the mean of the participants' scores was 74.2%, with similar scores for the domains of physical health (75.6±12.8), psychological (80.7±9.4), social relationships (74.2±15.1) and environment (66.5±16.2). This study contributed to the comprehension of the main factors of the assistive device and service that influence the satisfaction of prostheses’ users, and the correlation with their quality of life. Improvements are still needed in some aspects in lower limb prostheses in order to better meet the users’ needs.
Letícia Garcez, Ana Claudia Tavares Rodrigues, Fausto Orsi Medola, Luciana Ramos Baleotti, Frode Eika Sandnes, Atiyeh Vaezipour
Open Access
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Most common accessibility barriers in native mobile applications used in Ecuador
Aware that a significant portion of the world's population suffers from some form of disability, a test was designed to evaluate the level of compliance with accessibility requirements of Android mobile apps randomly taken from the Google Play Store available in Ecuador. The seven-phase manual method was used to evaluate the apps, the results revealed that the most significant number of accessibility problems were: 1) the size and space of the touch target (47.5%); 2) the instructions for custom gestures in the manipulation of the touch screen (28.2%), and 3) contrast problems (9.2%). The limiting factors in this research were the number of applications evaluated by the proposed method and the tests with end-users with some disabilities. Based on this analysis, applying this method is recommended to complement the automatic review method for future work. The study also suggests that there is still much to be done regarding public policies, regulations, and initiatives to improve the accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities.
Gloria Acosta-Vargas, Juan Andrade, Carlos Lucano, Jose Rodriguez Aldaz, Janio Jadán-Guerrero, Isabel L. Nunes, Patricia Acosta-Vargas
Open Access
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Failures in library website accessibility: A problem of accountability
Not every library can have an accessibility expert on staff while redesigning their website. Every library can, however, develop their own informed personnel. At Kansas State University Libraries, a task force focused on developing and maintaining a new website formed, coinciding with the hire of a librarian who is disabled and experienced in human factors, user experience, and accessibility. This provided an opportunity not only for improved accessibility, but a more nuanced understanding of the needs and experiences of disabled patrons. In this process we learned that lack of accountability is often a significant barrier to libraries designing an accessible website. To successfully design an accessible website, accessibility must be a priority from the beginning of the design process rather than a checklist and fixes applied at the end of the process. A common hurdle to an organization adopting an accessibility focused approach to design is the lack of personnel dedicated specifically to accessibility. All too often, this responsibility becomes dispersed among a team of designers, by which accessibility becomes an afterthought. To paraphrase Bandura (1990), if everybody is in charge, nobody is in charge. At least one person must be tasked with developing knowledge of accessibility and advocating for the needs of disabled users. While everyone on the team responsible for web content development should possess some basic knowledge of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), one person needs to have primary responsibility and accountability. If this individual does not currently have a grounding in disability theory, then developing a basic understanding of disability theory should be their priority. Our literature review would serve as a solid foundation. Just as usability testing should be done with human users, accessibility should be tested by people who both will use the website and use assistive and adaptive technology on a regular basis. Finding disabled users for testing can present some ethical dilemmas. In the United States, for example, information about a student’s disability status is protected by both FERPA AND HIPAA. While this does present a challenge, it is possible to overcome this challenge and find disabled users in an ethical manner. It should be understood when testing website accessibility, the real question is not, for example, “can a blind person use my website,” but rather, “can a person who uses magnification or a screen reader use my website.” Any office or organization on campus that works with disabled students can assist with recruiting volunteers and snowball sampling can be used from there. In this paper we argue that designating one person, who will be held accountable, as responsible for accessibility and advocating for the needs of disabled users is an essential step in creating an accessible library web presence. In addition, we present a viable pathway for a non-expert in accessibility to develop sufficient competency to serve as an advocate for disabled users in the web development process.Bandura, A. (1990) Selective activation and disengagement of moral control. Journal of Social Issues, 46(1), 27-46.
Angie Brunk, Daniel Ireton
Open Access
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The Evolution of Assistive Technology: A Literature Review of Technology Developments and Applications
The term “Assistive Technology” (AT) has evolved over the years and identifies equipment or product systems, whether acquired, modified, or customized, that are used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Considering the advances that have been made, what trends can be identified to provide evidence of the evolution of AT as devices that foster accessibility and empower users with different abilities? Through a systematic literature review, we identify research items that offer evidence of the evolution of the meaning, purpose, and applications of AT throughout the history. This paper provides evidence that AT evolved from products to improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities toward enabling technologies that facilitate tasks for people with different needs, abilities, gender, age, and culture. This evolution will lead to a positive demystification of the meaning and applications of AT toward broader usage acceptance among mainstream users.
Matteo Zallio, Takumi Ohashi
Open Access
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Conference Proceedings
A comparison of accessibility assessment tools in the inspection of an informative government website on the situational status of COVID-19
Accessibility is considered a highly relevant quality aspect of software products. However, few websites are designed considering minimum standards that make applications accessible to all people regardless of their capabilities and abilities. Considering that there is a representative percentage of people who experience some form of disability, it is a requirement that government websites that provide information to their citizens meet an appropriate level of compliance. In this study, we report the results obtained from using three accessibility evaluation tools to examine an informative Peruvian government website on the situational status of COVID-19. In addition, the results were compared to determine the differences between the tools. Despite covering the same WCAG standard, the findings demonstrate that the tools evaluate different aspects. Likewise, despite being a government site and being required to comply with a minimum standard of accessibility, the evaluated website lacks some attributes to be accessed by any citizen.
Freddy Paz, Freddy Asrael Paz, Arturo Moquillaza, Fiorella Falconi, Joel Aguirre
Open Access
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Conference Proceedings
Redefining engineering psychology: Designing gestural car HMI for luxury car buyers
As the proportion of glazing on the surface of a car further increases, efficient and pleasant human factors between people and glazing become more critical. This study focuses on wealthy buyers with disgust emotion during in-car user journeys, as assigned by the corporate partner. The research team explores specific contexts in an empathetic way and uncovers context-specific pain points and opportunities. A prototype is designed to monitor and prevent scratching and protect passengers' privacy. Gestural or sound interactions are explored through brainstorming, bodystorming, and quick user testing. A visionary video scenario is provided to guide researchers and engineers to implement the interaction designs.
Chujin Hu, Li Zhao, Yuxin Chen, Yuchen Zhang, Yuxuan Dai, Sibo Gao, Zhejun Zhang, Ruonan Huang, Lingjie Wu, Lu Wang, Wei Liu
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Towards Accident Prevention: An Aspiration Risk Warning System for Older Adults During Meals
The aim of this study is to create a system to support cooperative prevention of accidents during mealtime among users of elderly care facilities. Experiments were conducted with 10 healthy adults to define abnormal postures during swallowing and extract responses to abnormal posture warnings by a communication robot. The participants were asked to tilt their bodies at 10° intervals from a comfortable posture and perform a food-intake test in the resulting posture. Based on observation of swallowing and feedback about posture from the participants, the angle at which each posture became dangerous was determined. As a result, abnormal posture thresholds were identified as leaning forward 30°, tilting left/right 30°, and chin tucking 20°. It was determined that the communication robot should not issue a warning in the event of repeated detection of abnormal posture. Moreover, it was considered that the warning alone is insufficient to prevent danger, and that the user and the people around them should be instructed on how to respond in the event of a warning. If the system is used in a care facility, the warning should be communicated to users and caregivers, facilitating cooperative accident prevention.
Takumi Ohashi, Honoka Hayashi, Sota Takagi, Yu Miyaji, Ryota Izawa, Miki Saijo
Open Access
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Conference Proceedings
Human-Centered Design of Cattle Behavior Monitoring System for Grazing in Abandoned Farmland
The livestock industry faces a shortage of workers due to aging populations and falling numbers of young farmers. Researchers have collected and analyzed big data, and attempted to use it to improve livestock farming practices and reduce labor costs. We developed a cattle behavior monitoring system, PETER, using edge-AI and low-power wide-area (LPWA) technologies. PETER enables us to detect behaviors of grazing cattle (e.g., foraging, ruminating, walking, resting). Conversely, in the development of conventional livestock breeding support systems, user requirements are defined in a top-down manner. Few R&D projects feature user-centered design (UCD) or consider interactions between actors (e.g., farmers, livestock, technologies). This study aimed to apply UCD to the raising of grazing livestock, and to develop a prototype system offering farmers more precise and less labor-intensive livestock management.Our study started with fieldwork at a small grazing farm in Japan, located on abandoned farmland about 700 km from Tokyo. Two Japanese Black breeding cows are being raised and managed by a farmer and the farm owner. The farmer is employed part-time. The owner lives in Tokyo, is a veterinarian, and decides how to manage the cows. The information used by the owner to make decisions, such as nutritional deficiencies, or signs of disease or estrus, is provided only by the farmer. We investigated how remotely located veterinarians or owners could notice abnormalities in cattle and decide how to treat them, without waiting to consult the local farmer. Our UCD comprised three rounds: sketches; mock-ups; and finally functional prototypes to test and validate our ideas and hypotheses on users. We developed a web-based app as a functional user-interface prototype of PETER, showing the cows’ behavior history, the farm calendar, and the estimated amount of pasture grass. This information alone is insufficient for the farmer’s or owner’s understanding and decision-making. Therefore, the app can notify the chat communication service originally used by the farmer and owner whenever PETER detects possibly abnormal behavior in cattle, such as a reduced daily foraging or ruminating or walking duration, or an increase in resting duration. This is to attract their attention whenever PETER detects something unusual about the cattle. The farmer can then provide supplementary practical information on the spot, and the remote owner can make decisions and give instructions on the spot. During the four-week user test with the functional prototype, 10 notifications were made to the chat service, eight of which were supplemented with further information, such as farmers sending photos, and six of which confirmed the owner’s instructions and advice to the farmer. Some of the responses were confirmed, such as the owner calling a local veterinarian when a cow had diarrhea.This study shows that when the cattle behavior monitoring system detects any unusual information in pasture-raised livestock, it notifies the communication tool used by the owners, enabling them to take action before the matter becomes serious, even if they are remotely located. This study also indicates that the UCD approach is effective in the raising of pasture livestock.
Nao Takizawa, Takuya Washio, Masamoto Fukawa, Kenichi Takeda, Hiroyuki Ito, Miki Saijo, Takumi Ohashi
Open Access
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Speech Recognition Technology for Users with Apraxia: Integrative Review and Sentiment Analysis
This research exposes the need for more user experience and usability research on speech recognition software for users with apraxia, a speech disability. It provides feedback about common speech recognition devices from users with apraxia and speech impediments. The relatively high prevalence of apraxia and other speech disorders suggests that a large population may need technology to help improve quality of life and socialization. Speech and audio processing software might help improve both. Voice-controlled software and personal assistants can only improve this community’s lives if they provide parity of user experience. The article provides an overview of research insights and public feedback to help designers create more user-centered speech recognition software for this population. First, the article offers an integrative review of article findings from 2009 to 2020. Only 9 of 120 provided sufficient detail about the 20% of the users diagnosed with apraxia. The studies covered therapeutic rather than mundane settings. Only about a fifth of the users and participants recruited for the studies were diagnosed with apraxia of speech, a particular disorder that directly impacts speech recognition accuracy and precision. The samples were often heterogeneous in speech diagnosis, gender, and age. Others were homogeneous in terms of race and ethnicity. These factors are important because they may impact tone, texture, intonation, and other speech detection variables. Study methods were primarily orthodox user testing involving task scenarios. Second, the research gathers user feedback from users with speech impediments on Twitter. Most of the 143 tweets were negative about the performance of speech recognition technologies. There was far more negative feedback about the technologies and their inability to understand users with apraxia and speech impediments. The tweets did not reveal a wide range of activities, suggesting that the technology is only marginally useful to users with apraxia or speech impediments. Future studies should include more homogeneous samples in terms of speech conditions and more heterogeneous samples in terms of demographics. Future studies should also gather more direct feedback from users and compare technologies, which might require modifying user experience and usability research methods. Furthermore, more research studies reporting product design for this community should detail the user experience and usability testing involved. Finally, product designers should not only test products with diverse populations, including those with disabilities, but they should also test in mundane and therapeutic settings and applications and develop personae to help them keep in mind their particular needs. While recruiting and retaining these users might be difficult, any extra effort will pay dividends in product quality and marketability.
Aimee Roundtree
Open Access
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Conference Proceedings
The Role of Design Thinking in the Development of Assistive Technologies, Case Study of Morphic Auto-personalization
Design thinking is a process based on a set of tools that encourage innovation and is advocated to be used to solve abstract and complex problems (Brown, 2019). It is a human-centered approach to innovation, the concept is based on understanding customer’s needs (IDEO, 2022). This interactive, creative, experimental, collaborative, and explorative can play very important role in designing assistive technologies. In this article, we present case study research where design thinking methodology is used to develop accessible technology- Morphic auto personalization. Morphic is a tool that helps to discover features in computers that make them easier to use, allows anyone to make frequently used features and functions easily available and allows accessibility settings to follow users to other computers (Morphic, 2022). Through this case study, we identify how the use of design thinking methodology supports the development IT accessible technology. This work implemented a protocol of guidelines developed by a group of experts in disability research, information technologies, design, and management. The team conducted 5 phases of design thinking: 1. Empathize—research users’ needs, 2. Define—state users' needs and the problems, 3. Ideate—challenge assumptions and create ideas, 4. Prototype—start to create solutions, 5. Test—try solutions (Kelley, Kelley, 2013).Design thinking approach helped to develop a holistic understanding of the problems that users deal with when they use computers. Thanks to this project research participants were provided a grounded basis on assistive technologies built into the computers. The research revealed knowledge gap that the development of assistive technology should enhance the voice of participants and consider their ideas, desires and needs. Design thinking approach can develop a holistic understanding of the problems that users deal with when they use computers. Thanks to this project research participants were provided a grounded basis on assistive technologies built into the computers.
Anna Szopa, Gregg Vanderheiden
Open Access
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Conference Proceedings
Design, Robotics and Co-Working. A Human-Centric Perspective on Fifth Industrial Revolution
In recent years, the introduction of collaborative robotic solutions is constantly revolutionizing and innovating production processes by identifying new types of physical, cognitive, sensory, social and emotional interaction between user-operator and robot aimed at enhancing human capital. Starting from the preliminary study already realized on the different user-robot collaboration categorizations present in the literature (Formati et al, 2021), the new contribution, through the review of the still insufficient regulatory framework, ergonomic factors and robotic systems existing in the manufacturing field, returns the definition of further specifications about the collaboration modalities. In the current technological ecosystem, through the discipline of design is possible to prefigure and reinforce the collaborative processes through the introduction of new protocols and tools to support the regulatory standards, synthesis and evolution of the investigated categorizations, in order to optimize the production system as a whole and improve the working conditions of the operator with the robotic systems in terms of predictability, reliability, and usability.
Elena Laudante, Fabrizio Formati, Mario Buono
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Relationship between tire pressure and ride comfort of manually self-propelled wheelchairs
Along with the assisted wheelchair, a self-propelled wheelchair is also used as an assisted wheelchair by a caregiver; however, the problem with wheelchairs is that the vibration during driving causes motion sickness, discomfort, and annoyance for users. The tire pressure of the wheelchair is considered an influencing factor affecting the ride quality of the wheelchair; however, the extent of the effects of tire pressure on the wheelchair remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the factors influencing the tire pressure changes of the self-propelled wheelchair on the vibration using the tire pressure indicator. Furthermore, this experiment aimed to improve data reliability by manufacturing a device that pushes out a self-propelled wheelchair using an electric wheelchair to run the self-propelled wheelchair at a constant speed. A dummy heavy object was placed on the seat of the self-propelled wheelchair of the vibration measuring device manufactured in this experiment, and a triaxial accelerometer was mounted on it. Moreover, an electric wheelchair is used to drive the uneven road surface at a constant speed at regular intervals. The tire pressure display manufactured in this study was attached to both sides of the rear wheel of the self-propelled wheelchair, and a dummy weight of 50 kg was placed on the seat. Then, acceleration in the vertical direction is measured by a three-axis accelerometer mounted on a heavy object. In this study, the effects of tire pressure on ride quality were considered by looking at the correlation between ride quality by sensory evaluation and vibration analysis.
Shoichiro Fujisawa, Jyunji Kawata, Jiro Morimoto, Yoshio Kaji, Mineo Higuchi, Masayuki Booka
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Conference Proceedings
Empowering Individuals with Limited Joint Mobility: An Embedded Interdisciplinary Program between Occupational Therapy & Industrial Design
This paper highlights the third consecutive year of an ongoing, embedded interdisciplinary collaborative program between Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) and Master of Industrial Design (design) students and faculty co-creating assistive devices that improve participation in tasks and activities for individuals living with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP). FOP is a rare and progressive genetic disease, causing an individual's muscles, tendons, and ligaments to turn to bone, resulting in fixation and immobility. During the 9-month collaborative experience, OTD and design students co-conducted 2 sets of interviews with FOP clients identifying activities of daily living that were problematic secondary to individual disease course. OTD students administered the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) to identify which daily routines and activities were impacted. Design students employed standardized questions to clarify how their activities were performed. Findings informed initial assistive device prototypes, which were then sent to FOP clients for user testing. After testing was completed, design students continued to prototype and conducted a second feedback interview. This program also included several interprofessional educational experiences designed by the OTD students for their design peers under occupational therapy (OT) and design faculty supervision. Content was created to reinforce FOP clients’ needs and was delivered through shared learning modules, activities, and peer-to-peer discussion. Weekly collaboration occurring in design coursework between disciplines and use of OT-related tools such as the COPM helped the design students leverage their skills by contextualizing what they observed when interacting with FOP clients, ultimately creating better products that met the needs of individuals with FOP. Findings presented include current data up to February 2022 from OTD and design interviews and FOP user feedback; data collection and prototyping will continue through May 2022. Outcomes demonstrated and reinforced the need for consistent, higher-level embedded interdisciplinary collaborative approaches that uniquely meet the needs of clients experiencing complex medical issues and help to expand the usability of assistive devices for other populations with complex issues.
Kimberly Mollo, Kyndra Adams, Andrew Berger, Eric Schneider, Tod Corlett
Open Access
Article
Conference Proceedings