Aim: The aim of the thesis was to investigate the impact of gaze-based assistive technology on daily activities in children with severe physical impairments and without speech. The objectives were to develop and pilot a gaze-based assistive technology intervention (GAT intervention) at home and in school for these children and to understand its impact on daily activities as experienced by their parents. Methods: Study I was a pilot study in which the basic components that were developed for the intervention were evaluated for students with physical impairments. The study aimed at improving the use of computers as assistive technology (AT) in school. Based on the findings in Study I, the GAT intervention was developed. The GAT intervention aimed at implementing gaze-based AT in daily activities. It consisted of two parts; having access to gaze-based AT and having access to services from a multi professional communication team during nine to ten months. Studies II-IV concerned gazebased AT for children with severe physical impairments without speech who participated in the GAT intervention. The participants were ten children (ages 1-15) (Studies II, III), and their parents (Study IV). Studies II and III had longitudinal designs and children were followed during 15-20 months with repeated measurements before, after and at follow-up. In Study II children’s repertoire of computer activities, extent of use, and goal attainment with gaze-based AT was evaluated, as well as parents’ satisfaction with the AT and with services. In Study III children’s eye gaze performance when using gaze-based AT was examined. In Study IV, parents were interviewed twice with the aim of  exploring their experiences of children’s gaze-based AT use in daily life. In Study IV a hermeneutical approach was used. Results: The findings of Study I showed that the basic components of intervention improved the use of computers in school. Study II showed an increased repertoire of computer activities with the gazebased AT, maintained use in daily activities for all at follow up, and that all children attained goals for gaze-based AT use in daily activities. Parents were satisfied with the gaze-based AT, and with the services in the GAT intervention. In study III, nine children improved in eye gaze performance over time when using the gaze-based AT in daily activities. Study IV revealed that children’s gaze-based AT usage in daily activities made a difference to parents since the children demonstrated agency, and showed their personality and competencies by using gaze-based AT, and for the parents this opened up infinite possibilities for the child to do and learn things. Overall, children’s gaze-based AT usage provided parents with hope of a future in which their children could develop and have influence in life. Conclusions: This thesis shows that these children with severe physical impairments and without speech acquired sufficient gaze control skills to use gaze-based AT for daily activities in the home and at school. The gaze-based AT had a positive impact on performing activities, for example, play activities and communication- and interaction-related activities. For the parents, children’s gaze-based AT usage made a difference since it shaped a hope of a better future for their children, where they can develop and gain influence in their future life. Furthermore, the children continued to perform daily activities with gaze-based AT over time. This finding suggests that key persons were provided with sufficient knowledge and skills to support children in maintained use of gaze-based AT after withdrawal of the services provided in the GAT intervention.

Health, housing and much more recently, assistive technology, are key determinants of elderly independence in British Columbia. This thesis discusses these three determinants in some detail, and also stresses their interrelationship with each other. Throughout the entire thesis, the elderly's preference to age-in-place (Blackie, 1986; Wheeler, 1982) is stressed. In the issue of health, the current community-based health care delivery system of the British Columbia Ministry of Health's Continuing Care Division is compared and contrasted with a "counterpart" in the United States: the On Lok Health Services System in San Francisco, California. On Lok is discussed to highlight its effectiveness in delivering a community-based holistic health care system for a group of aging-in-place elderly in need of long term care with relatively low cost. In the issue of housing, the thesis investigates three avenues in which architects can apply their skills to maximize aging-in-place possibilities for our elderly in the context of British Columbia. Constraints by building codes, health care regulations, real estate market expectations and the aging characteristics of British Columbia's elderly are also highlighted to bring context to the discussion. In the issue of assistive technology, given the huge range of product development, the thesis focuses on one particularly interesting communication device - the Videophone. The Videophone is discussed to explore its potential impact for elderly independence, especially for the future.

Our research posits a context-sensitive, adaptable, assistive services and technology system (CAAST) that takes advantage of the advancements in mobile computing to provide barrier-free access to environmental information and devices. To inform our research we explore the following topics: the deficiencies associated with current assistive technologies; the advances in wireless sensor node technology; the interference and accuracy problems associated with wireless location detection; the coordination problems associated with service discovery; the management and coordination problems associated with decentralized sensor nodes; the separation of information and activities from the human interface; the efficiency and abstraction problems associated with interface description languages; and the adaptation of information and activities to meet the needs of those with disabilities. As a result of our research into these areas we devise an assistive technology, CAAST, that intends to be a comprehensive approach to universal access to information and activities for those with disabilities. / Department of Computer Science

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on March 6, 2008) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2008. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 150-162). Also available online in Scholars' Bank; and in ProQuest, free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [150]-156).

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Vita. "May 2006" Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [13-15]).