Design for me?

In this paper, as a generative contrast to the notion of design “for all”, we present and discuss the potential benefits of a design “for me” approach, where the design process from the starts from, and initially is targeted at, just one person. Given many things developed for a user group or a constructed average user, in this text we describe starting from design for a single user as an alternative approach for achieving useful and useworthy designs. We provide an example from the development of an assistive device as the starting point and discuss how and why this alternative approach should be of interest for everyone interested in usability

Soundcrumbs – Hansel and Gretel in the 21st century

This paper presents a novel application which implements a way of adding sound breadcrumbs to the environment. We report results from initial user tests which suggest that this type of design could be useful for a wide range of mobile location based applications

Raytracing in the compensation of the peripheral optics of the eye

Abstract Background: Many people with a visual impairment have only peripheral vision. However, there is limited knowledge of the peripheral optics of the eye and only some measurements are available in this field. Methods: We simulated the paths of peripheral rays through the eye by means of raytracing. Five programs were compared. The OSLO raytracing software proved to be not only the best one in these circumstances but we also found it very well suited to our purpose. Remaining uncertainties are entirely due to a lack of input data about the peripheral part of the optical system of the eye. We designed compensatory optics on the basis of the test results. Results: Lenses have been manufactured in accordance with the calculations made by the program for angles of incidence of 20, 40, and 60 degrees. The lenses are high compensation astigmatic lenses. The results of perimeter examinations of changes in peripheral vision using attachment optics were inconclusive, while tests of the lenses as attachments in front of a fundus camera produced successful preliminary results. Conclusion: The next step is to test peripheral vision compensatory optics in traffic situations (driving simulator). At the same time attempts are being made to find methods and instruments for measuring the peripheral optics of the eye. Keywords: astigmatism, central scotoma, raytracing, macula degeneration, peripheral vision

Design side by side

The starting point for most of what is written here is people with disabilities. Situations of great difficulty need to be highly prioritized, for their own sake and also because that which first appears to be “special” sooner or later comes to benefit s

Minimetern hjälper hjärnskadade att kommunicera

Specialutvecklad elektronik för rehabilitering avhjärnskadade är tidsödande och dyrbar att utveckla. Björn Breidegard från Certec, Lunds tekniska högskola, berättar här hur man i stället kan använda enbillig TV-kamera i kombination med dator och programvara. Resultaten är mycket lyckade

Att göra för att förstå - konstruktion för rehabilitering

Based on the results of two rehabilitation engineering design projects, this thesis aims to present and analyze: ? What is required for genuine engineering knowledge and expertise to come into its own in rehabilitation engineering when the entire effort starts and ends with the person for whom it is intended. ? How the work of an engineer not only can improve the conditions for the actual doing, but can also contribute to the understanding of situations and people, their capabilities, desires and needs. The two projects, The Minimeter and Reading with Hands, are both based on and contribute not only to rehabilitation but also to the engineering context. My thesis comprises the work of an engineer from the earliest idea stage up to the final results that are first realized when the implementations are used by other people and can be assessed by them. The Minimeter is a communication tool for people with severe brain injuries. It enables communication, starting at the yes-no level, for people with exceedingly limited mobility and extensive cognitive difficulties. Standard hardware combined with specially designed software is used to detect even minor movements and for example to make them steer a rolling ball on a computer screen. This yes-no interface inspires the user to act and yields continuous feedback and control. Reading with hands is a system for computer based recording and automatic tracking of finger movements when reading Braille and in tactile picture recognition. It makes it easy to analyze the process and to draw conclusions, among them pedagogical ones with implications for future tactile reading training for children or adults who are blind. For the first time it is possible to automatically follow how the fingers move over the Braille text while the person is reading (aloud or silently). The finger movements can be compared to sighted persons? eye movements while reading standard print. Comparisons can also be made between the finger exploration of a tactile face picture by a blind person and the corresponding eye movements by a sighted person