Using localisation technologies and haptic feedback for a more inclusive society

People with special needs face specific challenges in everyday activities. People with visual impairments, for example, have problems with orientation and mobility; moreover, they face serious issues when it comes to accessing information and services or perceiving the surrounding environment. Technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial systems can offer interesting solutions to overcome these limitations and can support users with special needs in an inclusive way

Visually-impaired people studying via ebook: investigating current use and potential for improvement

Everyday activities and tasks should be easy to perform for everyone, especially in an educational context, in order to foster inclusivity and assure equal opportunities for all. In this paper, we investigate strategies and issues experienced by visually impaired people when studying via eBook. An online survey was designed to investigate preferences regarding the different formats and understand what types of actions are possible and desirable when using eBooks in an educational context. We collected the views and experiences of 75 visually-impaired people, which revealed the need to develop tools that can provide both full accessibility and high usability when reading for study. Visually impaired people would like to rely on the same widely used strategies that sighted people use when studying a text. In addition, 92% of the visually-impaired people participating in the online survey declared they were interested in a (new) reading app. The results could orient the design of new digital reading tools and functionalities that can improve interaction

Using haptic feedback to support cognitive mapping in mobile applications for orientation and mobility

The aim of this study, which is currently underway, is to investigate how the haptic channel can be effectively exploited in a mobile app devoted to visually impaired users, for the preliminary exploration of a complex indoor environment, such as a shopping mall

Introduction to the special theme Assistive technologies for a more accessible and inclusive society

Introduction to the special theme: Assistive Technologies for a More Accessible and Inclusive Societ

Enriquecimiento cognoscitivo: el hombre visto como sistema abierto

Texto sobre las aportaciones y los beneficios de la perspectiva psicológica del enriquecimiento cognoscitivo para la intervención educativa y terapéutica con personas que demuestran desempeño retardado y otros tipos de desviación emocional o conductual. Se incluye también texto sobre el Primer Coloquio Internacional de Psicología Comunitaria y la Décima Semana de Psicología en el ITESO

Simple smart homes web interfaces for blind people

Last-decade great advances in technology have contributed to make home smarter and more comfortable, especially for people with disabilities. A lot of low cost solutions are available on the market, which can be controlled remotely by a Home Automation System (HAS). Unfortunately, the user interfaces are usually designed to be visually oriented which can exclude some user categories, like those who are blind. This paper focuses on the design of usable Web user interfaces for Home Automation Systems, with a special attention to the functions as well as the interface arrangement in order to enhance the interaction via screen reader. The proposed indications could inspire other designers to make the user experience more satisfying and effective for people who interact via screen reader

Augmented contents as assistive technology to make more inclusive everyday objects for visually impaired people

This study investigates how to exploit technologies for making society more inclusive by increasing the usability of artefacts that may be not accessible to people with disabilities. Accessing everyday objects can be a challenge for blind and visually impaired people. Although digital calendars are available, a tangible paper-based calendar can be more suitable or preferred by users, in specific contexts. Such a calendar should be as inclusive as possible. This paper shares the experience of designing an inclusive paper-based calendar conceived in codesign sessions with blind and visually impaired users

Designing assistive technology for getting more independence for blind people when performing everyday tasks: an auditory-based tool as a case study

Everyday activities and tasks should in theory be easily carried by everyone, including the blind. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been widely used for supporting solutions. However, the solutions can be problematic for the visually impaired since familiarity with digital devices is often required. Or, indeed the procedure can be perceived as fiddly or impractical particularly for repetitive tasks due to the number/type of steps required to complete the task. This paper introduces a simple audio-based tool aimed at supporting visually-impaired people in the seemingly simple activity of checking whether the light in a room is on or off. It is an example of potential low tech devices that can be designed without the need for specific skills or knowledge by the user, and that functions in a practical way. In this context, we discuss the main issues and considerations for totally blind users in identifying whether a light is switched on. The proposed prototype is based on a simple circuit and a form of auditory feedback which informs the user whether they are switching on or off the light. Two prototypes have been designed and built for two different kinds of installation. For the subsequent second prototype, three different versions are proposed to provide a blind person with further support in easily identifying the light status at home. The new design includes enhanced auditory feedback and modifications to the dimensions. The evaluation conducted by involving various groups of end-users revealed the usefulness of the proposed tool. In addition, a survey conducted with 100 visually-impaired people reported the limitations and difficulties encountered by the blind in using existing devices. Moreover, the study revealed the interest from 94% of the participants for a potential (new) basic tool integrable with the existing lighting system. This study gives a contribution in the ambient intelligence field by (1) showing how an auditory-based tool can be used to support totally blind people to check the lights in an autonomous and relatively simple way; (2) proposing an idea that can be exploited in other application cases that use light feedback; and (3) proposing seven potential recommendations for designing assistive technology tools and common everyday devices, based on information gathered from the online survey

La tecnologia a supporto della visita museale: opportunità e limitazioni

Come accade ormai per molteplici attività quotidiane, anche in ambito museale, e più in generale in caso di accesso alla cultura, le tecnologie sono ampiamente utilizzate in supporto alla visita e per approfondimento dei contenuti. Siti Web, app, audioguide, e molto altro sono sempre più disponibili sul mercato per consentire al visitatore di potersi preparare in vista di una visita ad un sito di cultura o un museo, approfondire dei contenuti durante e dopo la visita, e così via. Quanto però di tutto questo è realmente accessibile ha chi ha difficoltà di vista? Lo stesso dicasi soprattutto di tutti quei supporti tecnologici e digitali che sono in particolar modo disponibili per la persona che visita un museo in autonomia. Tante sono le possibilità che sono offerte ai visitatori tali da far pensare che sicuramente qualcosa vi sia, tanto più che spesso si legge (o ci viene riferito) che presentano caratteristiche di accessibilità. Vediamo un po' meglio nel dettaglio fino a che punto la tecnologia può essere sfruttata per supportare il visitatore con disabilità visiva

Un piano di test per l'esplorazione di una mappa digitale su dispositivi mobili tramite canali audio e vibrotattile

Il presente documento descrive l'applicazione HapticMapTest", sviluppata presso l'ISTI-CNR nell'ambito del progetto "TIGHT: Tactile InteGration for Humans and arTificial systems", e il piano di test che si è deciso di proporre agli utenti per validare le opzioni di interazione offerte dalla app stessa