Information-sharing and evidence base within assistive technology: some current tools

Assistive technology is recognised as a specialism across the sectors (Department of Health, 2007; Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, 2005) and to this end it requires the acquisition and retention of specialist knowledge within a changing and progressive environment. A number of tools help practitioners and researchers to maintain and share this knowledge and these tools are growing and evolving with time. These can be divided into traditional tools, first generation ICT and second generation ICT. Traditional tools include journals (such as the one you are reading), conferences (such as the UK RAATE conference, www.raate.org.uk), paper-based literature searching and face-to-face meetings. First generation ICT tools include ‘static’ web pages, email lists and database-based literature searching. Second generation ICT tools include Web 2.0 style usergenerated content, including blogs, dynamic web, Wikis (peer-editable websites) and online and collaborative literature searching and publication

OATS - Open Source Assistive Technology - a way forward

The global Assistive Technology(AT)and Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) software field, while expanding all the time, remains small land very specialised. AT is a relatively under funded field with its players widely spread across the globe. Open sourcing, if managed sensibly and creatively could offer the AT field an inexpensive opportunity to create, share, and above all disseminate good products that have high AT end user value but no (or relatively little)commercial interest or return. Open sourcing offers great potential for AT software users, however currently there are a number of barriers that stop its use in AT situations. It is generally difficult to find on the Internet and there are no specific areas dedicated to developing or downloading AT software. Open source software can also be unfriendly to install, often obliging the user to download many different packages before it can be used. This project is investigating the viability of the open source model for the future development of AT software. The OATS project removes these barriers to Open Source AT software: users will have a single point of contact for obtaining open source software and developers will have a forum to write software to meet the needs of specific users. The potential uses and market factors involved with Open Source AT software will be investigated and the underlying concepts promoted. Open Sourcing is a well-established and growing method of software development and it has potential to be beneficial within the Assistive Technology field. Open Source development allows multiple developers to work on software simultaneously even on different sides of the world it also encourages a very close relationship between the user and the developer. Many developers are looking to use their skills on interesting, challenging and worthwhile projects and offer a potential resource for the field that has not so far been utilised. Open Source also allows customisation to software œ an important aspect when working with such a diverse range of users as exist within the Assistive Technology community. Further to this, Open Source promotes common standards œ something very much lacking in existing Assistive Technology software œ and could allow better portability for users between programs. The main deliverable of this project is a website where users can find appropriate software to meet their needs and Open Source developers can find exciting and interesting projects. This software 'Repository' has a user-friendly web interface to allow users to browse the software and download/installitwith ease. The second part of the website, the 'Forge', allows software developers to find motivating, interesting and useful projects. The 'Forge' also provides a wide range of Open Source development tools including Subversion CVS (a tool to enable 'source code' to be stored on-line and for multiple developers to access it)and Trac(a project management tool and bug-tracking system). The site is developed using Plone - a powerful content management system that allows users control over their own project areas and provides a range of tools such as polls, noticeboards, FAQs etc. The website is fully accessible and meets the W3C WAI guidelines. To summarise the OATS project and website offers: - Downloadable Open Source AT software that is of sufficient quality to disseminate widely. - A 'forge' for the development of new Open Source AT software based on specific user needs. - A searchable list of links to other related websites - A discussion forum to promote discussion between end users, AT professionals and Open Source developers. And, in the longer term, itcouldalso provide: - Specific solutions to individual needs by 'tuning' existing applications - End users with help to develop solutions themselve

OATS - Open Source Assistive Technology - a way forward

The global Assistive Technology(AT)and Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) software field, while expanding all the time, remains small land very specialised. AT is a relatively under funded field with its players widely spread across the globe. Open sourcing, if managed sensibly and creatively could offer the AT field an inexpensive opportunity to create, share, and above all disseminate good products that have high AT end user value but no (or relatively little)commercial interest or return. Open sourcing offers great potential for AT software users, however currently there are a number of barriers that stop its use in AT situations. It is generally difficult to find on the Internet and there are no specific areas dedicated to developing or downloading AT software. Open source software can also be unfriendly to install, often obliging the user to download many different packages before it can be used. This project is investigating the viability of the open source model for the future development of AT software. The OATS project removes these barriers to Open Source AT software: users will have a single point of contact for obtaining open source software and developers will have a forum to write software to meet the needs of specific users. The potential uses and market factors involved with Open Source AT software will be investigated and the underlying concepts promoted. Open Sourcing is a well-established and growing method of software development and it has potential to be beneficial within the Assistive Technology field. Open Source development allows multiple developers to work on software simultaneously even on different sides of the world it also encourages a very close relationship between the user and the developer. Many developers are looking to use their skills on interesting, challenging and worthwhile projects and offer a potential resource for the field that has not so far been utilised. Open Source also allows customisation to software œ an important aspect when working with such a diverse range of users as exist within the Assistive Technology community. Further to this, Open Source promotes common standards œ something very much lacking in existing Assistive Technology software œ and could allow better portability for users between programs. The main deliverable of this project is a website where users can find appropriate software to meet their needs and Open Source developers can find exciting and interesting projects. This software 'Repository' has a user-friendly web interface to allow users to browse the software and download/installitwith ease. The second part of the website, the 'Forge', allows software developers to find motivating, interesting and useful projects. The 'Forge' also provides a wide range of Open Source development tools including Subversion CVS (a tool to enable 'source code' to be stored on-line and for multiple developers to access it)and Trac(a project management tool and bug-tracking system). The site is developed using Plone - a powerful content management system that allows users control over their own project areas and provides a range of tools such as polls, noticeboards, FAQs etc. The website is fully accessible and meets the W3C WAI guidelines. To summarise the OATS project and website offers: - Downloadable Open Source AT software that is of sufficient quality to disseminate widely. - A 'forge' for the development of new Open Source AT software based on specific user needs. - A searchable list of links to other related websites - A discussion forum to promote discussion between end users, AT professionals and Open Source developers. And, in the longer term, itcouldalso provide: - Specific solutions to individual needs by 'tuning' existing applications - End users with help to develop solutions themselve

Switch access to technology - A comprehensive Guide.

When most of us use a computer we use the standard interface of a keyboard and mouse. However, what do you do if you cannot use a keyboard or mouse? A number of alternative access systems exist, for example: alternative keyboards, tracker balls, touchscreens, head pointers etc. But for some people these devices are also an impossibility, and this is where switches 'kick in'. The main subject of this document is the switch user. For completeness we have include a brief mention of other input devices, which may be grouped together as 'alternative access systems'.We aim to: - Encourage developers to include switch access into their products - Standardise practice and terminology. This document explains some of the issues involved for people with severe physical difficulties who access computers and other electronic devices with switches. It details the ways in which switch users interact with computer programs and other technology designed to be directly accessible to them. The document includes some precise definitions of terms. It also attempts to survey the whole range of issues associated with switch use. As such it should be useful to professionals working or entering the field, those software developers considering switch users for the first time and also for those already developing in this area

'What's your name?' A case study

We all know and appreciate the benefits of social interaction and peer support. Being in an environment with our peers and people who have similar abilities and needs as ourselves is reassuring and confidence building. We only have to look at the recent explosion in social networking on the internet to see that it is something which people value. As well as using these networks to communicate with existing friends it is also possible to join interest specific groups and meet people this way. Even though people met through these groups are often strangers, the shared interest/ ability means it seems safe to communicate with them. It is often daunting to be in a new social and work environment until we are able to establish a common interest with people, and then this allows us to relax. Social networks and peer support are obviously equally important to people with disabilities and interacting with people with similar disabilities or - as presented in this paper, similar aids - can be extremely important. Communication aid users may feel isolated or frustrated by a lack of peers or role models since it can be difficult to establish this peer environment if you are a minority group. Previous work has illustrated the benefits of both social networks and role models (Musselwhite 2005, Blackstone 2005, Clarke 2005). There has also been development of functions such as the ability to tell jokes (O’Mara and Waller 1999, 2003) or partake in small talk (Cantine) with a communication aid - so enhancing a person’s ability to interact in a more natural conversation. This paper describes an initiative which has organised communication mornings within Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley to give students using communication aids an opportunity to meet other users and interact in a real environment

Speech Driven Environmental Control System (SPECS) From Specification to Prototype

The SPECS project is designing a new speech driven environmental control to include use by people with dysathric speech. The project is funded by the National Institute for Health Research and is developing the device with a large UK assistive technology company. The aim is that the device will be designed in a user-centric way. The initial stage of the project involved performing detailed qualitative interviews of people currently using speech-driven environmental control systems and a focus group of professionals which discussed current speech-driven environmental control systems and ‘blue sky’ ideas. Data from these were rigorously analysed using a framework approach [1]. This enabled full specification of the proposed new device and the results of this stage have recently been published [2]. This paper will present the process undertaken to go from specification to prototype testing, how user involvement has been incorporated and will discuss the key findings to date. At the time of RAATE 2009 we will be nearing completion of the prototype testing

Users' Perceptions of Environmental Control Systems

This paper presents users' perceptions of the benefits and challenges of environmental control systems, the data having been collected as part of a project developing a new speech-driven environmental control system. The first stage of this project collected data from existing users of speech-driven environmental control systems and provided information for the specification for the new device. A secondary analysis of this data revealed perceptions about environmental control systems in general and the results are presented here. Independence and control emerged as a key aspect of environmental control systems. In addition it was possible to identify other themes around topics such as perceptions of service delivery and provision. It can be easy for a non disabled person to overlook the importance of being able to independently change the television channel or make a phone call and this data reinforces the importance of this to people who use environmental control systems

An evaluation of the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale

The West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre (WMRC) is responsible for the National Health Service provision and maintenance of Environmental Control Equipment to patients across the West Midlands Region, England. It is important to measure outcome of provision using a paradigm that has meaning for those patients. The Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale is a 26-item, self-rating questionnaire designed to measure user perceptions of how assistive devices affect quality of life. This outcome measure is being evaluated in the West Midland

Recent Advances in Assistive Technology and Engineering (RAatE)

RAatE 2007 is the only UK conference focused on the latest innovations in assistive technology and is attended by people who use, work with, develop and research on assistive technology (AT). RAatE is held annually and attracts a regular but diverse audience, with this year's audience approaching 150 over two days. The ACT Programme, a South Yorkshire based programme of research and development and knowledge transfer, acted as co-sponsors for 2007, and enabled a number of overseas based keynote speakers to be brought to the conference

Maavis@School

Managed Access to Audio, Visual and Information Services (Maavis) was launched as an open source beta release application in September 2008. Maavis was developed by the authors with the participation of older people using a prototype called ‘SIMWIN’ which showed proof of concept and indicated beneficial outcomes1-3. The concepts behind Maavis, which partially were guided by human computer interfacing for people with dementia4, were always recognised as beneficial to other populations5. During 2008 these concepts, summarised as use of IT without understanding it or extreme simplification of the interface, were evaluated with four school pupils with varying physical and learning impairments. Again this work indicated beneficial outcomes6. This lead to the authors adding features to Maavis to make it suitable for use in the special needs school environment, eg being network friendly and single switch scanning access. This was achieved through brainstorming and consultations with staff within three schools. These developments will be tested during the autumn term 2009 in the same three schools. The details of the developments and their success so far in the classroom will be reported. In June 2009 Maavis was adopted by JISC’s OSS Watch as a ‘strategic’ project that will significantly address accessibility issues of IT and the web for groups who struggle with standard IT and/or are e-isolated. The aim is to establish an active open development community by the first half of 2010. Links with others in the adult education field and with UK and international care providers are already initiated