Landscape of sign language research based on smartphone apps: coherent literature analysis, motivations, open challenges, recommendations and future directions for app assessment

Numerous nations have prioritised the inclusion of citizens with disabilities, such as hearing loss, in all aspects of social life. Sign language is used by this population, yet they still have trouble communicating with others. Many sign language apps are being created to help bridge the communication gap as a result of technology advances enabled by the widespread use of smartphones. These apps are widely used because they are accessible and inexpensive. The services and capabilities they offer and the quality of their content, however, differ greatly. Evaluation of the quality of the content provided by these applications is necessary if they are to have any kind of real effect. A thorough evaluation like this will inspire developers to work hard on new apps, which will lead to improved software development and experience overall. This research used a systematic literature review (SLR) method, which is recognised in gaining a broad understanding of the study whilst offer- ing additional information for future investigations. SLR was adopted in this research for smartphone-based sign language apps to understand the area and main discussion aspects utilised in the assessment. These studies were reviewed on the basis of related work analysis, main issues, discussions and methodological aspects. Results revealed that the evaluation of sign language mobile apps is scarce. Thus, we proposed a future direction for the quality assessment of these apps. The findings will benefit normal-hearing and hearing-impaired users and open up a new area where researchers and developers could work together on sign language mobile apps. The results will help hearing and non-hearing users and will pave the way for future collaboration between academicians and app developers in the field of sign language technology

New Approaches for Improved Service Delivery in Rural Settings

The health status of the people in rural areas is faced with challenges primarily due to availability, acceptability, financial accessibility to healthcare services. These include traditional and cultural beliefs, behavioural norms that explain community viewpoints of social roles and various community members’ functions. Rural and remote areas are medically underserved, access to healthcare services is difficult sometimes. Distance covered to access the nearest available health facility by some rural dwellers is discouraging. Thus, moving critically ill or injured persons is hampered because of long-distance or poor transportation means. In the end, many prefer to use traditional medicine than travel that long distance for medical treatment. Recently, healthcare delivery systems have focused on innovative approaches to improve health outcomes, control costs, and foster achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One of these innovations is mHealth (Short Messaging Service) [SMS] texts, which have peculiar attributes, making it particularly suitable for health care in rural and hard-to-reach areas in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Moreover, text-messaging interventions are uniquely suited for underserved populations. This chapter highlights some interventions on the uses and benefits of SMS text applications in healthcare service delivery

Proceedings of the 3rd IUI Workshop on Interacting with Smart Objects

These are the Proceedings of the 3rd IUI Workshop on Interacting with Smart Objects. Objects that we use in our everyday life are expanding their restricted interaction capabilities and provide functionalities that go far beyond their original functionality. They feature computing capabilities and are thus able to capture information, process and store it and interact with their environments, turning them into smart objects

The promise of Tele-Dementia: Today’s science and tomorrow’s trial

Telemedicine is the term used to describe the use of technology to provide medical care over a distance. Telephone, email, and real-time videoconferencing are the most frequently used telepsychiatry technology. Telemedicine has been used to provide simple and efficient healthcare solutions in the treatment of illness. Despite it is relatively new, mobile health (mHealth) has grown significantly in popularity as a means of assisting persons living with a chronic condition. The current study reviewed existing mobile health dementia applications from different perspectives. These applications could include a variety of strategies and resources to assist the community especially in caring for individuals with Alzheimer's disease

Design and semantics of form and movement (DeSForM 2006)

Design and Semantics of Form and Movement (DeSForM) grew from applied research exploring emerging design methods and practices to support new generation product and interface design. The products and interfaces are concerned with: the context of ubiquitous computing and ambient technologies and the need for greater empathy in the pre-programmed behaviour of the ‘machines’ that populate our lives. Such explorative research in the CfDR has been led by Young, supported by Kyffin, Visiting Professor from Philips Design and sponsored by Philips Design over a period of four years (research funding £87k). DeSForM1 was the first of a series of three conferences that enable the presentation and debate of international work within this field: • 1st European conference on Design and Semantics of Form and Movement (DeSForM1), Baltic, Gateshead, 2005, Feijs L., Kyffin S. & Young R.A. eds. • 2nd European conference on Design and Semantics of Form and Movement (DeSForM2), Evoluon, Eindhoven, 2006, Feijs L., Kyffin S. & Young R.A. eds. • 3rd European conference on Design and Semantics of Form and Movement (DeSForM3), New Design School Building, Newcastle, 2007, Feijs L., Kyffin S. & Young R.A. eds. Philips sponsorship of practice-based enquiry led to research by three teams of research students over three years and on-going sponsorship of research through the Northumbria University Design and Innovation Laboratory (nuDIL). Young has been invited on the steering panel of the UK Thinking Digital Conference concerning the latest developments in digital and media technologies. Informed by this research is the work of PhD student Yukie Nakano who examines new technologies in relation to eco-design textiles

Integrated adaptive skills program model (IASP)

Integrated Adaptive Skills Program Model (IASP) is designed to offer supportive services to disabled students seeking to integrate into a local after-school program. IASP Model focuses on teaching adaptive skills to disabled students that would prepare them to be fully included into an after-school program with their same age peers. The program offers support, training, and consultation to the students and staff involved in the program. A variety of research-methods and assessment screening tools are used to determine eligibility and program implementation. The IASP Model was piloted during the 2011-2012 school year, in California, United States, but due to limited local and state funds the program could not continue. Students with disabilities deserve to be involved in the community and should not be excluded based on funds. Teaching and educating others on how to integrate students with disabilities into programs will minimize and/or eliminate exclusion of participating in recreation programs within residing communities.https://scholar.dominican.edu/books/1179/thumbnail.jp