Submitted by Celso Magalhaes (celsomagalhaes@ufrrj.br) on 2018-09-28T17:25:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Gra?a Auxiliadora Nobre Lopes.pdf: 473058 bytes, checksum: 2a7dd0ee4dcca8d60caadf67db4825d8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-28T17:25:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Gra?a Auxiliadora Nobre Lopes.pdf: 473058 bytes, checksum: 2a7dd0ee4dcca8d60caadf67db4825d8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-13 / In this study, we discuss the political-legal aspects that turn to the process of inclusion of students with visual impairment in the University, considering it as the generator of knowledge and promoter of the emancipation of its student body, reaffirming the right of isonomy and equity of opportunities. Thus, we investigate the technologies, with emphasis on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), used by university students with visual impairment in their learning process in Higher Education in the city of Macap? / AP, with two blind students from Stadual University of Amapa (UEAP). We established as research objectives: To investigate the technologies used by university students with visual impairment in their learning process; To characterize the choices of pedagogical tools of these students in the scope of Information and Communication Technologies; Identify possible technological barriers in the learning process in Higher Education; Characterize the impacts of the technologies used by these students in their learning process. It is worth noting that in order to problematize the process of inclusion of students with visual impairment through the use of ICT as a dimension of accessibility to knowledge, the objectives were deployed in the following study questions: There are other tools of assistive technology in the daily life of the room of class?; What are its impacts on the learning process of students with visual impairment in Higher Education ?; What barriers or obstacles are evident in the process of schooling of students with visual impairment in Higher Education ?; What assistive technology tools are privileged in the choices of these visually impaired students in their learning process ?; What are the didacticpedagogical impacts of the technologies used in the learning process of students with visual impairment? Thus, this study contributes, adopting the methodological conception of Critical Theory as a method, with emphasis on Theodor Adorno's thought, for the unveiling of the plots experienced by students with visual deficiency in Public Higher Education of Amap?. For this, we use as a data collection procedure the semi-structured interview. In the progress of this study, we obtained as a result that even with the possibilities in the access to bibliographic collections in universities and academic databases, with all the tools available to students with visual impairment, either through braille, extended text or digital media , The subjects of our study still face numerous didactic-pedagogical barriers / Nesse estudo discutimos os aspectos pol?tico-legais que se voltam para o processo de inclus?o de estudantes com defici?ncia visual na Universidade, considerando-a como geradora de conhecimento e promotora da emancipa??o de seu corpo discente, reafirmando o direito de isonomia e equidade de oportunidades. Assim, investigamos as tecnologias, com ?nfase nas Tecnologias de Informa??o e Comunica??o (TIC), usadas por universit?rios com defici?ncia visual em seu processo de aprendizagem no Ensino Superior da cidade de Macap?/AP, tendo como interlocutores dois estudantes cegos da Universidade do Estado do Amap? (UEAP). Estabelecemos como objetivos da pesquisa: Investigar as tecnologias usadas por universit?rios com defici?ncia visual no seu processo de aprendizagem; Caracterizar as escolhas das ferramentas pedag?gicas destes estudantes no ?mbito das Tecnologias da Informa??o e Comunica??o; Identificar poss?veis barreiras tecnol?gicas no processo de aprendizagem no Ensino Superior; Caracterizar os impactos das tecnologias utilizadas por estes estudantes no seu processo de aprendizagem. Destaca-se que ao problematizar o processo de inclus?o de estudantes com defici?ncia visual por interm?dio do uso das TIC como mais uma dimens?o de acessibilidade ao conhecimento, os objetivos foram desdobrados nas seguintes quest?es de estudo: ?Existem outras ferramentas de tecnologia assistiva no cotidiano da sala de aula??; ?Quais os seus impactos no processo de aprendizagem de estudantes com defici?ncia visual no Ensino Superior??; ?Quais as barreiras ou obst?culos s?o evidenciados no processo de escolariza??o de estudantes com defici?ncia visual no Ensino Superior??; ?Quais as ferramentas de tecnologia assistiva s?o privilegiadas nas escolhas desses estudantes com defici?ncia visual no seu processo de aprendizagem??; ?Quais s?o os impactos did?tico-pedag?gico das tecnologias usadas no processo de aprendizagem dos estudantes com defici?ncia visual??. Assim, este estudo contribui, adotando a concep??o metodol?gica da Teoria Cr?tica como m?todo, com ?nfase no pensamento de Theodor Adorno, para o desvelar das tramas vivenciadas por estudantes com defici?ncia visual no Ensino Superior p?blico do Amap?. Para tal, utilizamos como procedimento de coleta de dados a entrevista semiestruturada. No avan?o deste estudo, obtivemos como resultado que mesmo com as possibilidades no acesso a acervos bibliogr?ficos em universidades e bases de dados acad?micos, com todas as ferramentas dispon?veis aos estudantes com defici?ncia visual, seja por meio do sistema braille, texto ampliado ou em meio digital, os sujeitos de nosso estudo ainda enfrentam in?meras barreiras did?tico-pedag?gicas.

A Tecnologia Assistiva é uma área do conhecimento interdisciplinar reconhecida como alternativa relevante para favorecer a autonomia e a independência de pessoas com deficiência e mobilidade reduzida. Entretanto, no Brasil, há vários fatores que têm dificultado o seu acesso: desde o alto custo e dependência de importações à falta de divulgação das iniciativas existentes. Assim, partiu-se da hipótese de que instituições de educação pública voltadas à formação profissional e desenvolvimento científico e tecnológico poderiam ter um importante papel nessa área, tal como expresso na Lei no 11.892 que em 2008 criou os Institutos Federais de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia. Diante desse contexto, foi proposta a seguinte questão: de que forma essas instituições têm atuado no desenvolvimento de recursos de Tecnologia Assistiva? Para satisfazer tal questionamento, esta tese teve como objetivos descrever e analisar as iniciativas de desenvolvimento de Tecnologia Assistiva realizadas em dois câmpus de Institutos Federais, um localizado em Campinas-SP e outro em Bento Gonçalves-RS, buscando compreender as características do processo de desenvolvimento dos recursos, o público para o qual são destinados, perfil das equipes envolvidas, as condições institucionais e de que forma tem sido pensado o compartilhamento dos conhecimentos relacionados. Foi adotada abordagem qualitativa, e as técnicas de coleta de dados constituíram-se em entrevista semiestruturada e fontes documentais públicas, além de registros dos próprios pesquisadores. A análise dos dados foi baseada no referencial legal e teórico relacionado com Tecnologia Assistiva em consonância com as finalidades e objetivos expressos na Lei supracitada. Os resultados revelaram forte potencial de desenvolvimento de recursos de Tecnologia Assistiva, predominando as soluções consideradas de baixo custo, sendo, na maioria das vezes, baseadas em hardware aberto (que permite conhecer, realizar modificações e compartilhar os resultados). Ainda assim, e levando em conta que os dois grupos possuíam realidades distintas, sendo uma iniciativa com equipe institucionalizada e a outra não, mostrou-se relevante considerar tal desenvolvimento articulado à oferta de serviços via ações de extensão, apoiando os Núcleos que atendem pessoas com deficiência nas instituições, além de fomentar pesquisas na área. Por outro lado, uma dificuldade recorrente em ambas as iniciativas foi relacionada à aquisição de componentes para o desenvolvimento dos recursos, que acabam sendo muitas vezes custeados pelos próprios pesquisadores, recaindo em diversos momentos em uma perspectiva de autossustentabilidade. Nas duas iniciativas, o compartilhamento de conhecimentos e recursos faz parte das intenções dos entrevistados, o que revela a necessidade de estabelecer uma política própria para essa finalidade, bem como criar repositórios que favoreçam o licenciamento aberto, formato entendido como mais adequado. Por fim, sugere-se que o Estado assuma o fomento de políticas para institucionalização dessa área, garantindo não somente equipe, mas infraestrutura e recursos para manutenção das atividades, aproveitando-se e fortalecendo a organização em rede e a territorialidade dos Institutos Federais. / Assistive Technology is an interdisciplinary knowledge area recognized as highly relevant to the independence and autonomy of people with deficiency and reduced mobility. In spite of this relevance, there are several factors which have made access to Assistive Technology in Brazil. The hypothesis of this work is that public educational institutions involved in professional education and scientific and technological development could have an important role in this area. Federal Law 11,892 of 2008, that created the countrywide Federal Institutes of Education, Science and Technology, expressed this possibility. This led to the question that guided this research: How have these institutions promoted the development of resources for Assistive Technology? To answer this question, this work set as its objectives: to describe and analyze the initiatives in the area of Assistive Technology development in two câmpus: one in Campinas, SP, the other in Bento Gonçalves, RS; o seek to comprehend the characteristics of each research initiative, in special: its target population; its research team; the institutional arrangements; the resources involved; he sharing model, both for the knowledge generated and the technologies developed. A qualitative methodological approach was chosen. Data were collected through semi structured interviews and from public documentary sources and documents provided by the researches themselves. Data analysis was based on the legal and theoretical framework and the objectives and goals provided by the above mentioned law. The results obtained revealed a strong potential for the development of Assistive Technology resources in the two institutions and among the researchers involved especially low-cost open hardware resources (which legally allow the sharing of results and even their modification institutions and persons benefitting from this sharing). The two institutions discussed in this work confronted distinct realities. In one case the research team was institutionalized, in the other, not. In spite of this fact, it was deemed important to articulate the research with community service, through the Nuclei of Support to People with Specific Needs. One difficulty identified in both initiatives involved the acquisition of components required for the development of resources. Sometimes the researchers themselves these components with their own money, thus impairing the prospects of project sustainability. In both initiatives, the sharing of knowledge and resources was part of the original intention of the researchers. The definition of public policies that make this viable and the creation of repositories of solutions that favor open licensing (the most adequate alternative in the area of Assistive Technology) are therefore required. Finally, it is suggested that the State should assume the role of defining policies that will make it easier the institutionalization of this area, guaranteeing that the area has qualified personnel, infrastructure, materials and financial resources for its regular operation. The State should also strengthen the territoriality of the Federal Institutes and their network interconnection.

Grande parte da população brasileira apresenta condições socioeconômicas desfavoráveis á utilização de recursos de tecnologia assistiva embora possa haver necessidades. O movimento sentado para de pé (ST-DP) é definido operacionalmente como uma transferência bem sucedida do centro de massa (CM) do corpo de uma posição sentada para uma posição estável de pé. A atividade de passar de ST-DP é pré-requisito para a posição vertical, e requer uma complexa coordenação entre o sistema nervoso central e o sistema neuromuscular. Há diversas patologias que comprometem o movimento de passar de sentado para em pé (ST-DP) e vice-versa e que atrapalham o desempenho das atividades de vida diária. Este trabalho objetiva projetar e desenvolver um sistema baseado em barra de apoio, que não exige modificação estrutural das residências, com a função de promover a independência e segurança aos indivíduos no movimento de ST-DP. Baseada na metodologia de projeto foi dividido em cinco fases: informacional (aplicação de questionário com perguntas fechadas e uma dissertativa junto a população alvo); conceitual (pesquisa das especificações necessárias ao desenvolvimento da barra, soluções e decisões); protótipo (elaboração do projeto e desenho da barra, protótipos e avaliação); validação (validação do protótipo) e descontinuidade (descarte após uso). Como resultados conseguiu-se: determinar o modelo e protótipo utilizando o programa CAD solid edge Insight ; classificar os possíveis materiais; dimensionar o sistema baseado em barra de apoio de acordo com os materiais disponíveis e realizar ensaios mecânicos de bancada e testes em pacientes que possibilitaram verificação da aplicabilidade e a facilitação do movimento de passar de ST-DP. O sistema baseado em barra de apoio desenvolvida é de fácil instalação, utiliza materiais renováveis e obteve a eficácia e a opinião favorável dos voluntários ao uso da barra de apoio. Com este trabalho, integraram-se as áreas da saúde e tecnológica em prol da troca do conhecimento técnico entre ambas contribuindo para o desenvolvimento de um produto que objetiva a promoção da independência do(s) indivíduo(s) na realização de suas atividades diárias. / The Brazilian population presents unfavorable socioeconomic conditions the use of assistive technology resources although they need. The movement sitting to standing (STS) is operationally defined as a successful transfer of the center of mass (CM) of the body from a sitting position to a stable upright position. The activity of STS is prerequisite to the vertical position and requires a complex coordination between the central nervous system and the neuromuscular system. There are several diseases that affect the movement of sitting to standing (STS) and vice versa and that hinder the performance of activities of daily living. This work aims to design and develop a system based on support bar that requires no structural modification of households, with the task of promoting the independence and safety for individuals in the movement of STS. Based on the product methodology, was divided into five phases: informational (questionnaires with closed questions and Essay along the target population), conceptual (search specifications necessary for the bar, solutions and decisions); prototyping (project design and bar design, prototyping), evaluation and discontinuity. As results was achieved: determining the prototype model and using the CAD program Insight Solid Edge ; possible to classify the material; dimensioning the system based on support bar according to the materials available and performing mechanical tests and bench testing in patients who enabled verification applicability and facilitating the movement of STS. The system based on support bar is designed for easy installation, uses renewable materials and obtained favorable opinion of the effectiveness and use of volunteers to support bar. This work integrated the health and technology areas in favor of the technical knowledge exchange between both, contributing to the development of a product that aims to promote independence of individual (s) in carrying out their daily activities.

One useful strategy to support students with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) to promote appropriate behaviors across environments and gain the social skills is using social stories. In addition, experts have recognized iPads and apps were associated with less challenging behavior and more academic engagement over traditional materials (Lee, Lang, Davenport, Moore, Rispoli, Meer, & Chung, 2013). The focus this study was to examine the effectiveness of an intervention package featuring social stories delivered via an iPad and simultaneous prompting on frequency of targeted challenging behavior and comprehension of the social story of a student with IDD. A single-subject multiple probe across behaviors (Kennedy, 2005) design was used to investigate the effectiveness of this intervention on the student's ability to correctly match pictures to steps in social stories as well as the targeted challenging behaviors. The results, future research, and the limitations of the study are discussed.

This project assesses Saudi Arabian special education teachers’ perceptions about their competencies and professional development needs on assistive technology (AT). The researcher developed an online self-administrated 27 question survey in order to evaluate special education teachers’ perceived knowledge regarding AT, as well as to investigate their needs for professional development. The survey webpage link was sent via email to 110 special education teachers at General Directorate of Education in Unaizah, Saudi Arabia. A total of 37 teachers participate in this study for a 33.6% response rate. The findings indicate that special education teachers are not confident in their ability to correctly utilize AT in a classroom. The results also show that participants are interested in receiving AT training. In addition, it indicates that special education teachers preferred face-to-face learning methods for AT training.

Visually impaired (VI) individuals struggle with grocery shopping and have to rely on either friends, family or grocery store associates for shopping. ShopMobile 2 is a proof-of-concept system that allows VI shoppers to shop independently in a grocery store using only their smartphone. Unlike other assistive shopping systems that use dedicated hardware, this system is a software only solution that relies on fast computer vision algorithms. It consists of three modules - an eyes free barcode scanner, an optical character recognition (OCR) module, and a tele-assistance module. The eyes-free barcode scanner allows VI shoppers to locate and retrieve products by scanning barcodes on shelves and on products. The OCR module allows shoppers to read nutrition facts on products and the tele-assistance module allows them to obtain help from sighted individuals at remote locations. This dissertation discusses, provides implementations of, and presents laboratory and real-world experiments related to all three modules.

Individuals with physical impairments have been marginalized and discriminated against since the social identification of these individuals occurred as a sub-group within society. While much has been done to resolve prejudice against individuals with physical impairments, more needs to be done to decrease, or at least deter, discrimination and prejudice against individuals who have been marginalized. The purpose of this study is to give four individuals with physical impairments the opportunity to tell their stories. Through the telling of these stories, I believe others can identify with these individuals, and thereby, help decrease discrimination against individuals with physical impairments. Life history has been shown to be an effective method to study individuals with impairments. In order to facilitate understanding of what it is like to be an individual with a physical impairment, four individuals with physical impairments shared their life histories. Research questions include: How do these individuals with physical impairments understand and give meaning to their lived experiences? and How do participants in this study who have congenital disabilities differ from those who have acquired disabilities in the ways they understand and give meaning to their lives? The research questions and parameters of interest are intended to develop and share what it is like to be an individual with a physical impairment. The researcher has known each of the participants for at least ten years. The participants include a 33 year old male with a congenital disability who is white, a 32 year old female who acquired a disability 12 years ago and who is African American, and a married couple who are 62 and 63 years old, one with a congenital disability, the other acquired a disability when she was 14 years old. The researcher shares his responses and reflections, thereby becoming the fifth participant in the study. Because this type of research depends upon verisimilitude, the responses to the research questions are presented for each individual. Each participant defines areas of his or her life that best defines how that person constructs his or her identity and what part the physical impairment plays in that definition. The participants feel that there are some differences between individuals with congenital physical impairments and those with acquired physical impairments. The participants relate that individuals with acquired physical impairments have greater access to funds and equipment based on their perception of how funding agencies provide services and equipment to individuals with physical impairments. The participants also feel that there is a greater stigma associated with having a congenital physical impairment compared to having an acquired physical impairment. Recommendations for future research are offered.

Visually impaired (VI) individuals struggle with grocery shopping and have to rely on either friends, family or grocery store associates for shopping. ShopMobile 2 is a proof-of-concept system that allows VI shoppers to shop independently in a grocery store using only their smartphone. Unlike other assistive shopping systems that use dedicated hardware, this system is a software only solution that relies on fast computer vision algorithms. It consists of three modules - an eyes free barcode scanner, an optical character recognition (OCR) module, and a tele-assistance module. The eyes-free barcode scanner allows VI shoppers to locate and retrieve products by scanning barcodes on shelves and on products. The OCR module allows shoppers to read nutrition facts on products and the tele-assistance module allows them to obtain help from sighted individuals at remote locations. This dissertation discusses, provides implementations of, and presents laboratory and real-world experiments related to all three modules.

The haptic exploration of 2-D images is a challenging problem in computer haptics. Research on the topic has primarily been focused on the exploration of maps and curves. This thesis describes the design and implementation of a system for the haptic exploration of photographs. The system builds on various research directions related to assistive technology, computer haptics, and image segmentation. An object-level segmentation hierarchy is generated from the source photograph to be rendered haptically as a contour image at multiple levels-of-detail. A tool for the authoring of object-level hierarchies was developed, as well as an innovative type of user interaction by region selection for accurate and efficient image segmentation. According to an objective benchmark measuring how the new method compares with other interactive image segmentation algorithms shows that our region selection interaction is a viable alternative to marker-based interaction. The hierarchy authoring tool combined with precise algorithms for image segmentation can build contour images of the quality necessary for the images to be understood by touch with our system. The system was evaluated with a user study of 24 sighted participants divided in different groups. The first part of the study had participants explore images using haptics and answer questions about them. The second part of the study asked the participants to identify images visually after haptic exploration. Results show that using a segmentation hierarchy supporting multiple levels-of-detail of the same image is beneficial to haptic exploration. As the system gains maturity, it is our goal to make it available to blind users.

Access technologies facilitate novel and alternative methods for individuals with disabilities to interact with their environment. Finding suitable access solutions for children with severe spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy can be difficult because of their poor motor control and targeting abilities due to spasticity at the limbs, neck, and head. In this research a multiple camera tongue switch was developed for a 7 year-old case study participant with severe spastic quadriplegia. Remotely via video, this system reacts to tongue protrusions as cues for single-switch access. Having multiple cameras mitigates targeting problems with the head that conventional single camera systems would present. Results of a usability experiment with the participant show that good sensitivity (82%) and specificity (80%) can be achieved with a non-contact tongue protrusion access modality for a user with spastic quadriplegia. Moreover, the experiment verified that the extra cameras improve utility of video-based access technologies for the target population.