Technology-Assisted Navigation in Public Spaces for Hard of Hearing People

While it is incredibly difficult for a hearing person to understand exactly what it’s like to be Deaf and hard of hearing, most individuals are aware that hearing difficulty comes with a unique set of challenges. This forces those who are Deaf and hard of hearing to experience the world in an entirely different way than the rest of the population, and not always how hearing people expect. Deaf and hard of hearing people cannot hear loudspeaker announcements, so utilizing public transportation often involves trying to communicate with hearing people which can be challenging. This is especially true when people are rushed. User-interface technology helps improve how people with different abilities navigate public spaces. However, through a comprehensive literature review, I concluded that the current mobile applications available do not effectively address these problems and other issues that Deaf travelers experience. This thesis focuses on tackling these issues in airports and by considering the experiences of those who cannot hear. Surveying and interviews were used to gain insight and knowledge from Deaf and hard of hearing individuals, which was used to guide the development of a design intervention. The design process included evaluating wireframe prototypes of smartphone application design through a series of user testing. This assisted in refining an application called the Hear Here app. The resulting design: - Broadcasts information shown on airport monitors. - Alerts and notifies travelers of changes in gates or flights that are announced by public announcements. - Facilitates dialogue between Deaf and hearing travelers which eliminates feelings of frustration and isolation, especially during an emergency. - Integrates airport maps to streamline wayfinding and navigation. - Utilizes real-time translation of announcements to allow Deaf and hard of hearing people be aware of their surroundings and navigate public transportation with ease. - Eases communication between the Deaf community and hearing individuals

Developing Interpersonal Relationships Between Deaf and Hearing People Using Instagram

The purpose of this ethnographic study was to understand how deaf and hard of hearing individuals use Instagram to interact with and develop interpersonal relationships with hearing individuals. The researcher used her personal experience as a member of the deaf and hard of hearing community to connect with members of the researched population on a personal level. The theories guiding this study were Elihu Katz’s uses and gratifications theory, Joseph B. Walther’s social information processing theory (SIPT), and Sandra Ball-Rokeach and Melvin DeFleur’s media dependency theory. These theories were applied to help the researcher gain a better understanding of the motives for why deaf and hard of hearing individuals choose to use or not use Instagram as a communication tool and to consider whether Instagram nurtures or hinders their interpersonal relationships with the hearing world. After analyzing the qualitative data, the researcher also included new medium theory as a lens to explain how participants shared common interests and supplemented FtF communication. 16 open-ended ethnographical interviews lasting no more than 1 hour each were conducted over Zoom. Interviews were recorded from those participants who gave consent and then hand-coded using textual and structural descriptions. Participants were also required to provide the researcher with .html downloads of their Instagram data where their comments and messages were read, coded, and analyzed. Data were collected from the interviews and the Instagram data files to allow the researcher to interpret and report on participants’ experiences with Instagram in a way that was as thorough and accurate as possible. The findings of this research study showed that Instagram did not have a significant impact on the interpersonal relationships between deaf and hard of hearing individuals and the hearing world. Deaf and hard of hearing individuals prefer to use Instagram to engage with the hearing loss community, educate themselves and others about their hearing loss, and advocate for their needs as deaf and hard of hearing individuals

Evaluating Communication Technologies for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

For the deaf to communicate in a hearing world, they often rely on technology. This study, completed by an interdisciplinary team for the Victorian Deaf Society in Melbourne, Australia, examines technology usage, availability, ease of use, and effectiveness. Additionally, technologies in use in other parts of world and other upcoming technologies were researched. Based off surveys, interviews, and a focus group, recommendations are provided suggesting technology improvements and upcoming technologies which could be used to improve communication for the deaf

User-centered requirement engineering for accessible chats in m-learning

Chat applications are useful synchronous tools in mobile learning (m-learning) environments. However, these tools have accessibility problems which cannot be avoided by students and teachers with disabilities. This paper focuses on detecting these accessibility problems. Specifically, this paper presents the Requirement Engineering (RE) process carried out to obtain the requirements needed to improve the interaction for people who experience problems with the Flow and Rhythm of the conversation in chats. A methodological approach has been followed and Software Engineering (SE) and Human Computer Interaction (HCI) disciplines were combined in order to improve the interaction during the chat.This research was partially supported by the MA2VICMR (S2009/TIC-1542) project. Also, our thanks to all users who took part in the studyPublicad

Content Suggestions for Universally Designed Hearing Aids

Nearly 80% of those who could benefit from wearing a hearing aid choose not to use one. This study, completed by an interdisciplinary team for the Victorian Deaf Society in Melbourne, Australia, addresses the social attitudes and other limitations of hearing aids which result in poor market penetration. Based on the principles of universal design, specific recommendations are presented to improve the function and style of hearing aids. Additionally, the study recommends implementation of hearing assistive devices for the hearing

Future bathroom: A study of user-centred design principles affecting usability, safety and satisfaction in bathrooms for people living with disabilities

Research and development work relating to assistive technology 2010-11 (Department of Health) Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 197

Acknowledging attitudes and accessibility : motivational characteristics of deaf college students studying English and the potential of computer-mediated communication

textDeaf individuals’ relationship with English has historically been problematic, in large part because of the lack of full accessibility to the language. However, language takes up not only communicative space, but also psychological space in our lives. The psychological dimensions involved with English language learning for deaf individuals are largely unknown. This study addressed this gap by exploring psychological dimensions involved with language learning for deaf individuals while concurrently exploring the role of computer-mediated communication in enhancing direct and interactive accessibility of English. The psychological dimensions of interest in this study originate from self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1977), possible selves (Markus & Nurius, 1986), and the L2 Motivational Self System (Dörnyei, 2005, 2009a). This study had three main goals: 1) to examine the motivational characteristics of deaf language learners, 2) to assess whether those characteristics would change over time, and 3) to assess the role of CMC in language learning experiences. This study took place over the course of a semester in college classes designed for deaf students studying English. Selected classes were asked to use online chat as an instructional tool. Measures were administered at the beginning and the end of the semester, and students were asked to participate in focus groups to discuss their experiences. A mixed methods approach that made use of quantitative and qualitative methods was used to capture the complexity involved in second language learning for the deaf student, including contextual influences. Overall findings indicate that deaf students’ self-images, self-efficacy beliefs, attitudes, and motivated behaviors about English were positive, but significantly influenced by the context in which language use occurs. When the environment was seen as accessible, beneficial, and enjoyable, deaf students were able to utilize greater levels of individual agency towards the aim of learning English. Computer-mediated communication emerged as an affordance that enabled “seeing English,” indicating dynamic, interactive engagement with English when ideal conditions were met. Thus, CMC appears to allow for a language learning experience that is available and accessible for deaf learners, and can provide opportunities to prime possible selves as English language users.Educational Psycholog

Inclusive University didactics and technological devices: a case study

This paper provides a review of projects related to new technologies used to favour the teaching-learning processes and the inclusive practices in the University context for students with disabilities and with Specific Learning Disorders. Authors present a review of strategies, trajectories and perspectives activated in the national and international scene, aiming to guarantee a significant pedagogical framework of reference. Furthermore, the paper focuses on a meaningful path activated at the University of Macerata, the project Inclusion 3.0, a relevant example of new technologies in support of teaching- learning processes and inclusion practices among all students