Assistive Technology最新文献

An increase in the usage of advanced digital Sensory Integration Rooms (SIRs) is being witnessed to address specific sensory needs of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and to improve their behavior and cognitive skills. The addition of Internet of Things (IoT) and RFID-based technologies improves the efficiency of such SIRs, which has been discussed in this paper. A User Adaptive Sensory Integration Room (UASIR) is designed and developed with a pool of Sensory Stimulating Devices (SSDs) to provide appropriate visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli. Interactive control panels followed by web interfaces and an RFID-based child identification system are introduced to elicit the capacities of stimuli management, efficient tracking of individual child interactions, and data acquisition. Four operational modes are emphasized in UASIR, including (i) relaxing (ii) exciting (iii) customized, and (iv) active, allowing for tailored sensory experiences based on individual preferences and therapeutic goals. Functionality evaluations reveal an overall satisfaction rate of 88% by 35 practitioners who utilized UASIR, indicating that it is highly effective in achieving its objectives. Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed that practitioners' ratings for the use of added technologies are significantly higher compared to traditional fixed and manual methods, confirming the usefulness of integrated advanced features.

Complex Rehabilitation Technologies (CRT) are crucial to the everyday lives of people with disabilities. These devices and associated seating and positioning systems require regular maintenance, repair, and the replacement of components to maintain health, function, and participation in education, employment, and society. Despite this, research shows that these services are not being adequately provided. Standards in practice for wheelchair repair and maintenance have yet to be developed and are necessary to ensure the best quality of life for users. The purpose of this project was to establish the best practice for CRT maintenance and repair to inform all stakeholders and to improve the overall state of the issue. The authors utilized CRT failure data, initial stakeholder surveys, and guidelines from manufacturer owner's manuals to draft an initial document and implemented a cross-sectional, online questionnaire to be answered by clinicians, manufacturers, providers, and other stakeholders for the development of the "Practice Guidelines for CRT Service, Preventative Maintenance, and Repair." The survey received 145 total responses. Seventy-five were anonymous. Ninety-two stakeholders and CRT industry professionals left feedback. The feedback was analyzed, and several key themes were established. A final version of the document was created using feedback and released by iNRRTS.

Central to Design Your Life (DYL) is a toolkit that helps autistic young adults develop their own supportive devices. Within a seventeen-month period, fifteen participants worked on a wide variety of devices related to decision-making, nutrition, social interaction, and more. DYL aims to empower end users by (1) providing a supportive device with practical value and (2) offering an insightful and enjoyable design process with intrinsic value. This paper presents the main findings. We used data from fourteen evaluation interviews and ten follow-up interviews, conducted two weeks and three months after the design process. Interview transcripts were thematically analyzed and the outcomes were discussed in a multistakeholder meeting involving members of the autistic community. Overall, participants attributed the most value to supportive technology in the areas of management, self-confidence, and social support. Supportive technology helped several participants better explain their support needs to trusted others. Supportive technology was also described as a sense-making tool, to explore how to navigate a world that is largely shaped for and by non-autistic people. These and other findings bolster new appreciations of supportive technology by autistic young adults.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of somatosensory foot orthoses (SFO) with tactile stimulating knobs on postural stability and gait in older adults across varied inclined terrains. Twenty-three participants walked on level, uphill, and downhill terrains and performed standing tasks with eyes open and closed, using either SFO or flat foot orthoses (FFO) on an instrumented treadmill. Key parameters measured included center of pressure (CoP) trajectories, ground reaction forces, and plantar pressures. SFO reduced mediolateral CoP displacement during 15-65% of the stance phase on downhill terrain (p < 0.001). Vertical ground reaction forces increased at 35-45% (p = 0.001) of stance on level terrain and decreased at 5-10% (p = 0.020) and 55-60% (p = 0.025) of stance on uphill terrain. Maximum plantar pressure decreased with SFO at the inner forefoot [level (p = 0.007), uphill (p = 0.001), and downhill (p < 0.001)], toes [uphill (p = 0.003) and downhill (p = 0.019)], and medial forefoot [uphill (p < 0.001) and downhill (p = 0.013)] on varied terrains. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating stimulating knobs into foot orthoses to enhance somatosensory feedback and improve plantar pressure distribution. Further studies are warranted to confirm and expand clinical applications for populations with balance impairments or increased fall risks.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent progressive neurodegenerative disorder in the world. It affects 2-3% of older adults 65 and above and nearly 4% of older adults older than 85 years. One of PD's most common motor symptoms is tremors in the limbs. These tremors cause significant difficulty in performing everyday activities such as buttoning shirts, using a fork, writing, and operating a computer mouse or television remote making the patients reliant on their caregivers. There is no cure for PD, and treatment options to manage the tremors have decreasing response over time. Several wearable assistive devices have been developed in recent times to manage the tremors, but technology to assist with digital multimedia devices is limited. In this paper, we introduce TRECEY (TREmor Compensation using EYe-tracking), an algorithm to use eye-tracking data to stabilize the cursor movement of a multimedia remote controller. We tested the technology with 15 healthy volunteers using simulated tremors generated by a custom-built two axis vibration generator and validated the system with 10 patients with Parkinson's disease. The results show a statistically significant improvement in performance in interaction with a digital multimedia interface using eye-tracking based stabilization.

Children with developmental delays struggle with motor skills, making traditional physiotherapy challenging. Head And Trunk Control Rehabilitation (HATCoRe) device offers an interactive alternative. This study aims to enhance functionality and assess feasibility of the HATCoRe device based on feedback from experts, caregivers of children with atypical development (AD), and responses from children with typical development (TD). Five experts evaluated device's user-friendliness and suggested modifications. Five children (TD and AD) underwent exercises to test parameters like, head lift attempts, sustenance time, preferred auditory and visual stimuli, reaction time, enjoyment, and comfort. Caregivers of children with AD suggested feedback. Children with TD and AD underwent one and three sessions of cervical flexion and extension exercises, respectively. The device was fine-tuned based on the feedback. Audiovisual stimuli were tailored to meet participant's needs. Reaction time ranged between 1 and 125 s. The device achieved high adherence but showed variable recruitment rates due to logistical challenges. While TD group showed high retention rate, it was lower in AD group. Recommendations for shorter session durations were made to enhance acceptability of device. Despite a technical glitch in data management, the device remained safe without adverse events, supporting its potential for effective clinical use.Implications for rehabilitation This study implements a novel technology-based intervention for children with developmental delays exhibiting poor head and trunk control on a limited sample in a low-resource setting.Preliminary findings suggests that the HATCoRe device may provide an objective means of tracking progress and engaging caregivers in rehabilitation, however, confirmation through larger scale efficacy study is warranted.Further research is warranted to assess the cost-effectiveness and efficacy of the HATCoRe device in children with atypical development using controlled study designs.

To address the alimentary challenges faced by people with Parkinson's disease (PwP), this study explored their mealtime experiences and identified strategies for improving adaptive utensil design. Using a participatory approach, we conducted surveys, semi-structured interviews, and a co-design workshop to gather comprehensive insights into both functional and psychosocial barriers. Findings from the qualitative data informed the development of a design guideline, which subsequently shaped the structure and activities of the co-design workshop. During the workshop, PwP, clinicians, and designers collaboratively developed three adaptive eating utensils, which were refined through iterative prototyping and 3D printing, ultimately resulting in a set of mainstream adaptive utensils. This study emphasizes the importance of integrating mainstream aesthetics and user voice into the design of adaptive utensils through co-design and digital fabrication. By moving beyond device-centric approaches, this method supports ergonomic functionality while potentially addressing psychosocial barriers such as self-stigma. The resulting designs aim to promote eating autonomy, comfort, and social inclusion for PwP.

This paper addresses communication challenges for vocally and hearing impaired individuals by developing a cost-effective, high-accuracy device utilizing deep learning and Natural Language Processing (NLP). The device supports interaction by recognizing both Indian Sign Language and Customized Sign Languages. We evaluated four AI models, including Random Forest Classifier, XGBoost Classifier, Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The CNN achieved the highest accuracy of 90%, effectively capturing intricate sign language gestures, compared to 80% for SVM, 81% for Random Forest and 76% for XGBoost. Consequently, CNN was deployed in the device. The system features an embedded System on Chip board for affordability and operates in two phases: interpreting hand gestures via CNN and converting them into voice commands through NLP, delivered via speaker or earphones. A mobile app is included to enhance communication between impaired and non-impaired users. This solution aims to bridge communication gaps and improves the quality of life for the hearing and vocally impaired.

Smart home technology offers significant potential to improve independence, convenience, and daily functioning for individuals with disabilities. Despite its promise, there is limited research examining how people with different types of disabilities experience and adopt smart home systems in their everyday lives. This study aimed to explore user perspectives and suggest strategies for enhancing smart home services by conducting a cross-sectional qualitative study with 25 participants, including individuals with physical, visual, hearing, developmental, or brain lesion-related disabilities. Data were collected through disability-specific focus groups and were analyzed thematically. Four major themes were identified: motivations for adoption (e.g. convenience, safety, energy efficiency), accessibility barriers (e.g. technical complexity, inconsistent functionality), facilitators of continued use (e.g. peer feedback, increased independence), and space-specific needs within the home. Quantitative data supported these findings, with 92% of participants reporting overall satisfaction. However, concerns remained about reliability and accessibility. The findings highlight the importance of user-centered customization, simplified integration, and spatially adaptive design to promote the effective and inclusive use of smart home technology among people with disabilities.

Lower-limb orthoses are often either standardized, lacking personalization for individual clinical needs, or custom-made, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive for orthotists. To address this gap, this study proposes a co-creation methodology for developing a customized orthosis, integrating 3D scanning, computer-aided design (CAD), and 3D printing with feedback from both the clinical team and the patient's caregivers. The methodology was applied to a fibular hemimelia case study, where the orthosis was designed based on 3D scans and printed using two materials: thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) for flexibility and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) for rigidity. Usability and satisfaction assessments were conducted using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST 2.0). The orthosis met the clinical requirements, allowing the child to take a normal stride without discomfort (SUS: 92.5/100; QUEST 2.0: 4.2/5). Although the orthosis fractured at the ankle after a few hours of use, the study provided crucial insights for future design improvements. These findings highlight the utility of this co-creation approach in developing personalized orthotic models and demonstrate the advantages of using multi-material 3D printing to enhance orthosis functionality.