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Iain MurrayCurtin University of Technology Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Laboratory
Introduction
Project Descriptions & DefinitionsMotivation & StrategyAccess MethodsAssistive Devices both High Tech and Low
Braille displays to pipe cleanersCurrent DevelopmentWhat now?
Rehabilitation Engineering is the systematic application of engineering sciences to design, develop, adapt, test, evaluate, apply, and distribute technological solutions to problems confronted by individuals with disabilities in functional areas, such as mobility, communications, hearing, vision, and cognition, and in activities associated with employment, independent living, education, and integration into the community.
(US Rehabilitation Act of 1973)
Who?
Rehabilitation Engineering is a multidisciplinary science and may include any or all of the following professions or areas of expertise.
Physical Therapist Occupational Therapist Rehabilitation Engineer Rehabilitation Engineering Technician Prosthetist Physician
Why?
19% of the Australian population have disabilities or functional limitations, which a major cause is aging (ABS, 1998).
Includes those. born with disabilities. whose abilities diminish during their lifetime through
disease, accident or ageing. There is a demographic trend toward a growing
elderly population (particularly as the "babyboomer" generation ages). Raises the prospect of a large number of consumers with
decreasing abilities.
Demographics
67% of Vision Impaired (VI) have another permanent illness or disability
35% of VI experience difficulty in hearing normal speech (50% for those over 75)
56% of VI children have at least one other impairment
Over half of VI people (in the UK) live alone(Gill, 2004)
Motivation
Develop systems and methodologies to assist people with sensory disabilities to gain access to education and technology
Resources
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Laboratory
Researchers2 academic staff1 technical staff6 Postgraduate students
2 Masters and 4 PhD
Over 30 Honours students (4th & 5th year engineering)
Industry & consumer advisors
Current Access Methods
For low vision users.Screen enlargement.
Zoomtext, Magic.Screen review programs.
Jaws, Slimware, Artic.Two output methods - speech and Braille displays.
Screen review software must rely on text output.Tactile Graphics
PIAFPrinted Braille and Audio recordings
Access Methods
Other DisabilitiesQuadriplegics.
Morse, Eye tracking, scan boards.Emphasis on keyboard/mouse replacement
issues.Deaf.
Subtitles, visual alerts, transcription of conferences/video.
Many others.
Current Research Projects Cisco Access for the Vision Impaired (CAVI) Curtin University Brailler (CUB) Wireless Stereo Headset Parakeet -Apple OS X Accessibility iView - Classroom Aid for Low Vision Students Dasher Auslan to Text Currency Identifier for the Blind Braille Scanner Ultrasonic White Cane/Seeing with Sound 7 Segment reader and colour sensor
Curtin University Brailler (CUB)
Perkins BraillerMechanical only
Mountbatten BraillerElectronic, very old technology
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (LZW) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Curtin University Brailler (CUB)
Low CostModern MaterialsForward & Back
TranslationUse by Deaf/Blind
CUB
Braille Scanner
Aimed at Sighted non-Braille ReadersConverts Braille to Expanded Text in
real time
Purpose of the Device
To overcome the written communications barrier between seeing and blind person’s Schooling system Workplace
As an aid to persons with Diabetic Peripheral Polyneuropathy (diabetes being the major cause of blindness is Australia)
No feasible commercial product exists for the portable translation of Braille into other mediums
Prototype Implementation
Image Capture
Image Capture Operation
QuickTime™ and aYUV420 codec decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
DSP Braille Recognition
Conclusion
Once commercialised, the device has potential to act as a written communication’s gateway between seeing and vision impaired person’s.
A Secure Dual Channel Wireless Headset for Multi-
user EnvironmentsFunded by Dept. of Training
Science & Technology GrantJoint Project
Association for the Blind WARAC (WA)
Project Objectives
Aim: To increase labor market opportunities for vision impaired persons (VIP’s) in call center environments. (Department of Training, 2002)
Why Wireless: VIP’s have prevailing difficulties with cable entanglement and cable jack damage
Why Secure: Call centers often deal with sensitive information, ie banking, government etc, and device must be protected against eavesdropping
Additional Criteria High quality, real time, duplex, stereo audio Low Power: Must be able to run for > 8 hours on
single battery charge Ergonomic: Low Headset weight (subject to
regulations). ie battery mAh/weight compromise Flexible: System must be able to accommodate
encryption, communications medium upgrades Low Cost Robust Sound Quality: Device must operate in
multi-user environments
Communications IssuesRF / 802.1x
Security an issue for call center operations involving banking details
Bandwidth issues for quality real time audioRAC Joondalup Call Center has over 300 operators
Power consumptionCurrent 802.11g devices draw over 300mA, ⇒ batteries for
all day operation would be impracticably large
Infrared Less Ergonomic (user movement restriction) Inherently secure, robust, lower power Satisfies System Requirements
Proof of Concept PrototypeDual channel, two-
way, high quality, low power infrared headset prototype which has been field tested by the ABWA and certified.
DSP based systemUpgradeable, flexibleUltra Low Power
Secure comm’sCurrent BOM < $150
…IR TxRx’s < $3Cellular Architecture
Current Form Ideal Form
The Future
Infrared / 802.1x HybridKeep low power, security, and bandwidth
benefits of infrared, but combine with 802.11g to overcome infrared mobility issue.
CommercialisationPackaging
Alternative marketsNavy
ParakeetThe project involves designing, building and
testing a screen reader application for Mac OS X operating system.A screen reader is an application that allows a
vision-impaired person to use a graphical user interface by providing audible feedback in the form of speech.
The screen reader interrogates the actions of the user via the Accessibility APIs and produces speech output using the text-to-speech (TTS) APIs. Both of these APIs are provided by Apple as part of
Mac OS X.
Dasher
Information-efficient text-entry interfacedriven by natural continuous pointing gestures.
operating a computer one-handedwith zero hands (i.e., by head-mouse or by
eyetracker).
The eyetracking version of Dasher allows an experienced user to write text as fast as normal handwriting - 25 words per minute; using a mouse, experienced users can write at 39 words per minute.
Auslan to Text
Auslan to Text
QuickTime™ and aVideo decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Currency Identifier
Australian Polymer notes are of a similar sizeHard to distinguish denomination if totally blind
Utilises the unique pattern in the clear window
Ultrasonic White Cane
Augments the standard long caneWarns of
Head height obstructionsDrop off (e.g. Stairs)
Simple user interface
QuickTime™ and aMicrosoft Video 1 decompressorare needed to see this picture.
Earcons
Earcons were first proposed by Meera Blattner in 1989.
They are abstract, musical tones that can be used in structured combinations to create auditory messages.
"non-verbal audio messages that are used in the computer/user interface to provide information to the user about some computer object, operation or interaction"
They are based on musical sounds.
CAVI
The Networking Academy program is an e-learning model that delivers Web-based educational content, online testing, student performance tracking, and instructor training and support, as well as hands-on labs. (Cisco,2002)
CAVI Project Description
Develop a method of course delivery to vision impaired studentsStandard CurriculumExisting lab bundlesCCNA initially
Long term aim to include other academy programs
Create a “bridge” between the curriculum and assistive technology
Includes instructor training
Student Motivation
Self EsteemIndependenceEmployment OpportunitiesEase the problems for other VIPs
Curriculum Access
Use text documentsExplain diagramsStress important but uniquely difficult points
The OSI modelLayer 2 technologies
Tactile objectsNetwork dominoesPipe cleanersFunction Generator
Some of the Students
QuickTime™ and aDV - PAL decompressorare needed to see this picture.
Number Systems & Subnetting
Access Methods
Speech Output JAWS screen review software Synthesised speech
Screen Magnification Zoomtext and MAGic
Braille Printed and displays
Tactile Graphics PIAF
And lots of home made aids
The OSI Model
Other Props
Braille Display
Diagrams
Host A sends SYN (seq =x)Host B receives SYN (seq=x) and sends SYN(seq=y, ack=x+1)Host A Receives SYN (seq=y, ack = x+1) and sends ACK (ack = y+1)Host B Receives ACK (ack = y+1)
Other CAVI Applications
Speech Friendly Packet SnifferBraille Transcription SoftwareRouter SimulatorXML to Descriptive Text
Conclusion
Cavi Project is a test benchIncludes most of the devices/techniques
currently being researchedFinal outcome
Deliver an “Academy in a Box”For Academies that wish to teach vision
impaired students
Questions?
http://www.ece.curtin.edu.au/~iain/accessibility http://cisco.netacad.net http://www.seeingwithsound.com/voice.htm http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/ www.tiresias.org (John Gill)
AsTeR
Audio System For Technical ReadingsA computing system for rendering technical
documents in audio Developed by T.V. Raman
The Target Demographic
In Western Australia8,800 legally blindNearly 2,400 under 65
The Association for the Blind75 new clients each month411 clients per year in technology training
(ABWA annual report 2001)
Extrapolate to the world marketThird world countries have higher rates of vision
impairment
Disability Discrimination Act
DDA is administered by the Human rights and Equal Opportunities Commission (HREOC).
Accepts that some differential treatment is unavoidable.
Commonwealth Departments and Agencies must develop action plans.
Emerging DDA standards on “Electronic Communication”.
Economic or Humanitarian?
Should the mainstream design of products include consideration of people who have disabilities or are elderly?From a humanitarian standpoint.This must also be considered in terms of
effects on personnel, curricula and economic perspectives.
Disabled and Elderly Persons
Can't the Needs of Disabled and Elderly Persons Be Handled Separately or As Exceptions? Many small groups together represent a large
portion of the population.Is it both economically and practically feasible
to include disabled and elderly persons in the design process for mass market products? Aging wealthier population.OS&H considerations and employee comfort.Discrimination suits.