Assistive Technology最新文献

Children with physical impairments may have trouble effectively performing the hand movements used in haptic exploration and may miss information about object properties. Assistive robotic systems with haptic feedback may enable children with physical impairments to haptically explore objects. However, it is important to understand if they might be encountering difficulty in assessing object properties with the system. As such, we examined two methods to ascertain a user's uncertainty or stress when doing the exploration, user confidence and electrodermal activity (EDA). Twenty adults and ten children without physical impairments manipulated four pairs of objects to examine size, roughness, hardness and shape. All participants performed the manipulation by controlling a robotic system and by manual exploration in a randomized crossover design. Adults' confidence was lower when using the robotic system and correlated with lower accuracy at determining object properties. Children's responses indicated that they may not have understood how to self-rate confidence. EDA, a potentially objective measure of stress during the task, was actually lower for adults when they used the robotic system, suggesting less physiological arousal than when using their hands. Children's EDA was variable.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the acceptance and attitudes toward assistive technology (AT) for people with stroke from their caregivers' perspectives in Jordan. Also, this study further validates the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) questionnaire. This is a cross-sectional study that includes a three-sections survey: the first section contains demographic data, the second section includes the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) questionnaire, and the third section consists of two optional open-ended questions. Among 123 caregivers of people with stroke over 18 years of age who participated in this study, 23% were male. The findings indicate a moderate to high acceptance of using AT for stroke survivors, confirm the validity and reliability of the UTAUT questionnaire, and clarify novel issues regarding AT based on the caregivers' perspectives.

This paper presents the use of a parametric design platform and 3D printing to create personalized assistive devices (ADs) for individuals with cerebral palsy, specifically a fork/spoon holder. Five subjects participated in the study, each receiving a customized device to fit their dominant hand, and they tested both the 3D printed device and a commercially available one. The devices were evaluated based on functionality and satisfaction using two standard clinical questionnaires (IPPA and QUEST 2.0). The results showed that neither the 3D printed nor the commercial device provided substantial benefits, but the questionnaires provided valuable feedback on areas for improvement. The study highlights the need for highly personalized solutions in ADs, which could be addressed by 3D printing. A configurator for generating production files from a parametric model could facilitate personalization, but a large number of model versions should be available to meet individual needs. Future research could explore clinical evaluations and guide the development of efficient and effective frameworks for digital fabrication in terms of clinically feasible AD model sourcing.

The implementation of technology in healthcare shows promising results and provides new opportunities in rehabilitation. However, the adoption of technology into daily care is largely dependent on the acceptance rate of end-users. This study aims to gather information from healthcare professionals on the development of new assistive technology that match users' needs using the Comprehensive Assistive Technology model. In total 27 healthcare professionals (12 occupational therapists, 8 physiotherapists, 3 nurses, 2 allied health directors, a physician and a speech therapist) attended one of four online focus group discussions. These focus group discussions were structured using a question guide based on three predefined scenarios. Recordings were transcribed and data was analyzed using a thematic analysis (NVivo). Major themes identified in this study were safety, price and usability. Healthcare professionals focused on both functional capabilities of the user, as well as behavioral aspects of usability and attitude toward technology. Furthermore, the need for assistive technology that were catered toward the limitations in activity and user experience, was highlighted extensively. Based on information gathered from healthcare professionals a user-centered approach in development of safe, low-cost devices that maximize both functional outcomes and user acceptance, could potentially increase the adoption of new technology in rehabilitation.

In the United States, wheelchair cushions are classified using HCPCS codes. Cushions classified as Skin Protection cushions are provided for wheelchair users who are at risk of tissue damage. Cushions designed for bariatric users fall into a category of cushions with width of 22 inches or greater. Current coding procedures require tests that are designed for 41-43-cm-wide cushion so cannot evaluate wider cushions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of heavy-duty or bariatric wheelchair cushions using an anthropometrically appropriate buttock model and loading profile. A rigid buttock model, designed to reflect the anthropometry of persons using cushions over 55 cm in width was loaded onto six bariatric-sized wheelchair cushions. Two applied loads, 75 and 88 kg, represented the 50th and 80th percentile of persons who would be expected to use a 55-cm-wide cushion. None of the cushions indicated a bottomed-out state at the 88 kg load, suggesting that they could adequately support users weighing 135 kg. However, when evaluating cushions at their maximum rated loads, two of the six cushions were approaching or had bottomed-out. This study indicates that a more valid approach to classify Skin Protection bariatric cushions is needed.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of assistive technologies (ATs) through e-books in teaching practices aimed at enhancing language development among hard-of-hearing (HH) students. The study implemented an intervention consisting of four language aspects (phonemic awareness, writing, vocabulary, and reading comprehension) wherein the ATs' impacts on language development were assessed. Eighty HH students were divided into control and treatment groups and evaluated through pre- and post-tests. The results showed that the intervention led to significant changes in all four language aspects in both groups. Interestingly, the effect sizes were moderate in the control group but large in the treatment group, thus showing the efficiency and effectiveness of the developed intervention. These findings constitute useful evidence-based guidelines for implementing ATs to enhance teaching practices in the HH language setting.

As the global aging trend increases, dementia pressures families and society. Mobile apps that provide interventions and independence for people with dementia (PwD) may relieve this pressure. This study reviews mobile app-based interventions designed for use with PwD, focusing on the type, design, and evaluation of mobile apps. This study searched PubMed, Web of Science, SpringerLink, Taylor & Francis, and IEEE Xplore databases for mobile applications designed for people with disabilities and reported the evaluation results. This study aimed to find out what types of mobile apps developed for people with dementia were marketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, to find out what relevant studies have been done to evaluate mobile apps, and whether users have benefited. Twenty papers were eligible, covering four different intervention types and assessment methods. This review found that Serious games can improve the cognitive abilities of PwD and contribute to the mental recovery of patients. Recall therapy and musical mobile apps help PwD slow down memory loss. Personal life mobile apps are effective in assisting PwD to improve independent living.

Based on statistics from the WHO and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, an estimated 43.3 million people have blindness and 295 million have moderate and severe vision impairment globally as of 2020, statistics expected to increase to 61 million and 474 million respectively by 2050, staggering numbers. Blindness and low vision (BLV) stultify many activities of daily living, as sight is beneficial to most functional tasks. Assistive technologies for persons with blindness and low vision (pBLV) consist of a wide range of aids that work in some way to enhance one's functioning and support independence. Although handheld and head-mounted approaches have been primary foci when building new platforms or devices to support function and mobility, this perspective reviews potential shortcomings of these form factors or embodiments and posits that a body-centered approach may overcome many of these limitations.

Autistic individuals face difficulties in finding and maintaining employment, and studies have shown that the job interview is often a significant barrier to obtaining employment. Prior computer-based job interview training interventions for autistic individuals have been associated with better interview outcomes. These previous interventions, however, do not leverage the use of multimodal data that could give insight into the emotional underpinnings of autistic individuals' challenges in job interviews. In this article, the authors present the design of a novel multimodal job interview training platform called CIRVR that simulates job interviews through spoken interaction and collects eye gaze, facial expressions, and physiological responses of the participants to understand their stress response and their affective state. Results from a feasibility study with 23 autistic participants who interacted with CIRVR are presented. In addition, qualitative feedback was gathered from stakeholders on visualizations of data on CIRVR's visualization tool called the Dashboard. The data gathered indicate the potential of CIRVR along with the Dashboard to be used in the creation of individualized job interview training of autistic individuals.