Maps in mobile devices are appreciated aids for exploring andacquiring information about different geographical locationsaround the world. In these maps, you can, among otherthings, get directions, find restaurants in the local area andnavigate in public transport. To an increasing extent the mapsalso contain real-time data, i.e., information that is current andreflects reality and this information is continuously updatedand can inform the user about traffic situations, extent of airpollution in a specific area or delays of public transport. Theinformation in a map is primarily conveyed visually, whichmeans that people with visual impairments not always canaccess the information that is presented on the screen. Theexisting research on accessibility in maps for people withvisual impairments does not deal with real-time data, and thepurpose of this study was to identify which factors that affectsthe accessibility in maps that contains real-time data and withthese findings develop a model.A qualitative study has been conducted where the datacollection consisted of observations with participants whohave visual impairments to varying degrees observed a mapcontaining real-time data. The observation was followed bysemi-structured interviews. Data were then analyzed using atheoretical framework based on factors that affect accessibilityin mobile maps. Data that could not be associated with theexisting factors were then analyzed thematically.The study shows that factors that affect the availability ofmaps are also significant when the map contains real-timedata. In addition, the study shows the importance of beingable to alter the appearance of the real-time data and howmuch and which real-time data is presented to users. / Kartvyer i mobilen är för många ett uppskattat hjälpmedel föratt utforska och få information om olika geografiska platserrunt om i världen. I kartvyerna kan användaren bland annatfå hjälp med vägbeskrivningar, att hitta restauranger inärområdet och att navigera i kollektivtrafiken. I allt störreutsträckning innehåller kartvyerna idag även realtidsdata, detvill säga information som är aktuell och speglar verklighetenoch uppdateras kontinuerligt. Detta kan vara till exempelinformation om trafiksituationer, halter av luftföroreningar iett specifikt område eller förseningar i kollektivtrafiken.Informationen i en karta förmedlas i första hand visuellt vilketmedför att personer med synnedsättningar inte alltid kan tadel av informationen som finns att tillgå. Den forskning somfinns om tillgänglighet i kartvyer för personer medsynnedsättningar behandlar inte realtidsdata och syftet medstudien var att identifiera vilka faktorer som påverkadetillgängligheten i kartvyer som innehöll realtidsdata ochbaserat på dessa fynd utveckla en modell.En kvalitativ studie har genomförts där datainsamlingenbestått av observationer där studiens deltagare studeratkartvyer innehållandes realtidsdata och semistruktureradeintervjuer med deltagare som i olika utsträckning harsynnedsättningar. Datan analyserades därefter med hjälp avett teoretiskt ramverk innehållandes faktorer som påverkartillgängligheten i mobila kartvyer. Data som inte kundekopplas till de befintliga faktorerna analyserades däreftertematiskt.Studien visar på att de faktorer som påverkar tillgängligheteni kartvyer generellt även är väsentliga när kartvyernainnehåller realtidsdata. Dessutom påvisas ett behov hosstudiens deltagare att kunna anpassa realtidsdatans utseendeoch hur mycket och vilken realtidsdata som presenteras föranvändaren.

Webbtillgänglighet handlar om i vilken utsträckning webbsidor kan användas av personer med funktionsnedsättningar, äldre individer samt personer som bor i utvecklingsländer. För att se till att alla är inkluderade och har en likvärdig användarupplevelse måste utvecklare skapa mer tillgängliga webbplatser. W3C är en internationell grupp som arbetar med att utveckla webbstandarder. Dessawebbstandarder ska hjälpa till att få webben så tillgänglig som möjligt. De riktlinjer som W3C har utvecklad går under namnet WCAG och har som mål att tillhandahålla en gemensam standard för webbtillgänglighet. Problemet som adresseras i denna studie är företags brist på engagemang när det kommer till webbtillgänglighet för personer med synnedsättningar. Det kan vara svårt för personer med synnedsättningar att navigera webben på grund av att webbsidor inte är utvecklade med dem i åtanke. Webbtillgänglighet syftar till att personer med funktionsnedsättningar och äldre människor ska kunna uppfatta, förstå, navigera och interagera med webben samt att de kan bidra till webben. Samtliga funktionshinder som påverkar åtkomst och användningar av webben ingår i denna definition, det vill säga visuella, auditiva, fysiska, tal, kognitiva samt neurologiska funktionshinder. Denna studie fokuserar dock endast på personer med synnedsättningar. En metodkombination samt en förklarande sekventiell design användes i dennas studie för att komma fram till svaret på forskningsfrågan. Med hjälp av enkäter togs kvantitativa data in som sedan analyserades och la grunden för semistrukturerade intervjuer som gjordes för att få in informanternas personliga tankar och åsikter. Enkäterna och intervjuerna gjordes med företag som utvecklar webbsidor i Sverige. Resultatet visar att inte alla företag och utvecklare är medvetna om de riktlinjer och standarder som W3C har tagit fram, dock kan man se att en majoritet känner till dem och använder dem i sitt arbete. Enligt den data som tagits fram kan man se att företagen och deras utvecklare ofta försöker säkerställa att webbtillgänglighet finns med i sina projekt, dock kan man se en stor skillnad på hur mycket tillgänglighet som tas med i webbutvecklingsprojekten på grund av en del hinder. Tid, pengar, vilken typ av kund och lagstiftningar är de stora hinder som kan få företag att engagera sig mindre i webbtillgänglighet. Då det inte finns några lagar som säger hur tillgängliga privata kunders webbsidor måste vara är det ofta här hindren visar sig. Webbutvecklingsföretag känner att de inte kan lägga pengar på att utveckla webbsidor tillgängliga för personer med synnedsättningar om de inte får betalat för, detta leder till en minskad tillgänglighet på webben. Resultatet visar även på en brist kring utbildning av utvecklare hos webbutvecklingsföretag inom ämnet webbtillgänglighet samt en avsaknad av användartester. Detta visar på ett bristande engagemang både för ämnet webbtillgänglighet då det inte utvecklare utbildas samt att företagen inte involverar personer med synnedsättningar för att få en klarare bild av hur dessa personer faktiskt använder webben.

Bakgrund: Offentliga tjänster som 1177 har via ”Lagen om tillgänglighet till digital offentlig service” krav på att de ska vara tillgängliga for alla i Sverige oavsett funktionsvariationer. Men hur bra fungerar en tjänst som 1177 for en målgrupp med grövre synnedsättningar och behov att använda digitala verktyg för att använda 1177? Det här arbetet vill undersöka det med de har två fragorna: Vilka synpunkter har de med synnedsättning om 1177? och Hur är deras upplevelser jämfört med de krav från “Lagen om tillgänglighet till digital offentlig service” som ställs på 1177? via en fallstudie. Metod: Data samlades in via kvalitativa intervjuer och användartester. I testerna utformades ett antal scenarion kring lagkraven och vissa av Jakob Nilsens 10 användbarhetsprinciper för design av användargränssnitt. Även samlades data in från Myndigheten för digital förvaltning in, då i form av klagomål från användare av 1177. Resultat: Resultatet av arbetet är att 1177 är en bra fungerande tjänst när det gäller normal användning av tjänsten. Exempelvis se bokade tider eller meddelanden, men där det blir problem är när användarna ska börja leta reda på funktioner som de ej normalt sett använder. Problematiken då är bland annat att det ej finns en sökfunktion att använda eller att rubriker inte alltid används. Det vanligaste problemet som kom fram var att logga in med BankID då skanna en QR-kod blev mycket problematisk. Slutsatser: 1177 ar en bra tjänst i stort men den har sina problem. Vissa av problemen skulle gå att lösas med en sökfunktion och andra lösas med att användaren själv får välja vad för innehåll som ska visas. / Background: Public services such as 1177 have, via the Swedish law “Lagen om tillgänglighet till digital offentlig service”, a requirement to ensure accessibility of the service to everyone in Sweden. But how well does a service like 1177 work for a group with severe visual impairments and the need to use digital tools to be able to use 1177? This paper wants to examine it with these two questions: What point of views do they with visual impairments have of 1177? and How do their experiences compare to the requirements from the law Lagen om tillgänglighet till digital offentlig service? via a case study. Method: Data were collected via qualitative interviews and user tests. In the test, several scenarios were designed around the legal requirements and some of Jakob Nilsen’s 10 usability heuristics for the design of user interfaces. Data was also collected from the Swedish Ägency for Digital Ädministration, then in the form of complaints from users of 1177. Results: The result of the work is that 1177 is a well functioning service when it comes to normal use of the service. For example, see booked times or messages, but where the problems start is when the users start to look for or use a function they do not normally use. The problem when looking for a function can be that it is not obvious where it is and that there is no search function. But the most common problem is when signing in on a computer with mobile BankID, you must scan a QR code and that is very problematic when the user is visually impaired. Conclusions: 1177 is a good service in large but it has its problems. Some of the problems can be solved by a search function and others can be solved by letting the users decide what information to be shown.

The design and implementation of a handheld scanner that can help sight-impaired or even blind users to manually scan and read text is discussed in this dissertation. A thorough investigation of all the elements involved in such a system is presented and optimal solutions are proposed. A unique velocity compensation technique based solely on optical information obtained by the scanning device is discussed and a real time segmentation technique based on topological properties (Quasi-Topological Codes) of connected segments is presented. A skew detection algorithm is discussed that can trace typed and printed text manual1y scanned with skew up to 15 degrees and can guide blind users to properly scan a document. Real time extraction of quasitopological codes for automatic text recognition and the hardware implementation is also discussed in this work. A hierarchical optical character recognition method is proposed which is based on syntactic and metric analysis of the Quasi-Topological Codes and their position in the scanned image. The proposed method can recognize characters stretched to approximately two times their original width or rotated by a few degrees. Finally, an automated iterative learning process is discussed which includes generalization of the recognition logic and dynamic adaptation of the syntactic and metric recognition rules. / Ph. D.

[pt] O espaço expositivo pode tanto se apresentar de forma acolhedora, representando uma possibilidade para o visitante com deficiência visual de explorar seus outros sentidos e vivenciar a exposição de uma maneira própria, como também pode se apresentar como um espaço excludente, representando uma série de barreiras e obstáculos que o impedem de usufruir a exposição. A presente dissertação tem como objetivo geral examinar a experiência do visitante com deficiência visual em museus, buscando compreender a relação e a interação entre esse visitante e o ambiente construído do espaço expositivo, bem como a sua relação com as obras e as demais pessoas presentes no local. Como metodologia, foi primeiramente aplicada a revisão bibliográfica, em que procurou-se examinar questões como a relação entre comunicação museológica, ambiente museal e orientação espacial e como esses fatores afetam a experiência de visita para o público em questão. Também foi realizada uma pesquisa documental a fim de verificar as normas, leis e decretos relacionados ao incentivo e implementação da acessibilidade em espaços culturais no Brasil. Posteriormente foram entrevistados visitantes de museu com deficiência visual. A partir dessas entrevistas, fez-se a seleção de alguns museus para um aprofundamento. Essa etapa foi iniciada com observações sistemáticas a fim de investigar e documentar aspectos dos ambientes que haviam sido levantados nas técnicas aplicadas anteriormente, seguidas de entrevistas com gestores responsáveis pelos setores de acessibilidade e/ou educativo com o objetivo de verificar como os espaços lidam com a acessibilidade para esse público. Como resultado pode-se apontar a falta de recursos de acessibilidade para as pessoas com deficiência visual em praticamente todos os museus visitados. As poucas iniciativas encontradas ainda não estão em conformidade com as normas e critérios estabelecidos, contudo podem incentivar a adoção da acessibilidade em outros espaços. Propõe-se a adoção de projetos de Design Inclusivo, bem como o foco na acessibilidade atitudinal. / [en] The exhibition space can be welcoming and inclusive, allowing the visually impaired visitor to explore their other senses and have a unique experience. However, it can also be challenging, presenting a series of barriers and obstacles that prevents the exhibition s understanding and enjoyment. This dissertation investigates the visually impaired visitor s experience in museums, seeking to understand the relationship and interaction between the visitor and the built environment and their relationship with the objects and other people. The methodology applied consisted of a bibliographic review, investigating issues as the relationship among museological communication, museum environment and spatial orientation, and how these factors affect the visiting experience. The review also consisted of documentary research to verify the technical standards, laws, and decrees related to the implementation of accessibility in cultural institutions in Brazil. Subsequently, the researcher conducted interviews with visually impaired visitors. Based on the interviews, some museums were selected for further study. This stage consisted of systematic observations of the chosen museums to check the available resources and observe some of the built environment aspects pointed out by the interviewees followed by interviews with managers responsible for accessibility and educational programs to identify how these spaces deal with accessibility for the visually impaired. This research concludes that there is a lack of accessibility resources for the visually impaired in almost all selected museums. The few initiatives found are still not in conformity with the established standards and criteria; however, these initiatives may encourage accessibility in other cultural spaces. The research proposes the adoption of Inclusive Design projects as well as a focus on attitudinal accessibility.

No / Falls in the elderly are a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Elderly people with visual impairment have been found to be at increased risk of falling, with poor visual acuity in one eye causing greater risk than poor binocular visual acuity. The present study investigated whether monocular refractive blur, at a level typically used for monovision correction, would significantly reduce stereoacuity and consequently affect gait parameters when negotiating a raised surface. Fourteen healthy subjects (25.8 +/- 5.6 years) walked up to and on to a raised surface, under four visual conditions; binocular, +2DS blur over their non-dominant eye, +2DS blur over their dominant eye and with their dominant eye occluded. Analysis focussed on foot positioning and toe clearance parameters. Monocular blur had no effect on binocular acuity, but caused a small decline in binocular contrast sensitivity and a large decline in stereoacuity (p < 0.01). Vertical toe clearance increased under monocular blur or occlusion (p < 0.01) with a significantly greater increase under blur of the dominant eye compared with blur of the non-dominant eye (p < 0.01). Increase in toe clearance was facilitated by increasing maximum toe elevation (p < 0.01). Findings indicate that monocular blur at a level typically used for monovision correction significantly reduced stereoacuity and consequently the ability to accurately perceive the height and position of a raised surface placed within the travel path. These findings may help explain why elderly individuals with poor visual acuity in one eye have been found to have an increased risk of falling.

Yes / Falls on stairs are a common and dangerous problem for older people. This series of studies evaluated whether or not selected changes to the appearance of stairs could make them safer for older people to negotiate. Objectives: To determine the effect of (1) a step edge highlighter and its position and (2) an optimised horizontal–vertical (H–V) visual illusion placed on a step riser on gait safety during stair descent and ascent. Design: A series of studies using a repeated measures, laboratory-based design, investigating gait control and safety in independently mobile older people. Setting: The University of Bradford Vision and Mobility Laboratory. Participants: Fit and healthy older people aged 60 years of age or more, independently mobile, reasonably active and with normal healthy eyes and corrected vision. Interventions: A step edge highlighter in a variety of offsets from the stair edge and an optimised H–V visual illusion placed on the stair riser. The H–V illusion was provided on a staircase by horizontal step edge highlighters on the tread edges and vertical stripes on the step risers. Main outcome measures: Gait parameters that are important for safe stepping in ascent and descent, particularly toe clearance during stair ascent and heel clearance during stair descent. Results: The step edge highlighter increased the precision of heel clearance during stepping and its positioning relative to the tread edge determined the extent of heel clearance over the tread edge. Positioning the highlighter away from the tread edge, as is not uncommonly provided by friction strips, decreased heel clearance significantly and led to greater heel scuffs. Although psychophysics experiments suggested that higher spatial frequencies of the H–V illusion might provide greater toe clearance on stair ascent, gait trials showed similar increased toe clearances for all spatial frequencies. When a 12 cycle per step spatial frequency H–V illusion was used, toe clearance increases of approximately 1 cm (17.5%) occurred without any accompanying changes in other important gait parameters or stability measures. Conclusions: High-contrast tread edge highlighters present on steps and stairs and positioned flush with the edge of the tread or as near to this as possible should improve stair descent safety in older people. A H–V illusion positioned on the riser of a raised surface/walkway (e.g. kerbs) and/or the top and/or bottom of a stairway is likely to increase foot clearance over the associated step/stair edge, and appears not to lead to any decrement in postural stability. Thus, their use is likely to reduce trip risk and hence improve stair ascent safety. The effect of the step and stair modifications should be assessed in older people with visual impairment. The only other remaining assessment that could be made would be to assess fall prevalence on steps and stairs, perhaps in public buildings, with and without these modifications. / National Institute for Health Research, Public Health Research programme. PHR programme as project number 10/3009/06

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and causes as well as the risk factors of visual impairment (VI) and blindness among Black South Africans with diabetes mellitus (DM) aged 40 years and older in Mopani District, Limpopo province, South Africa. This was a cross-sectional study in which Black South Africans with DM aged ≥40 years old were examined for VI and blindness. In addition, anthropometric as well as risk factors for VI and blindness were studied. A total of 225 participants were selected from seven Public Health Facilities in Mopani District. Data was collected using standard optometric instruments, anthropometric instruments and structured interviews. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) and Microsoft Excel software packages. The ages of the participants ranged from 40 to 90 years with a mean of 61.5±10.49 years. There were more females (71.5%) than males (28.4%). The prevalence of uncorrected VI and blindness in the right eyes of the participants was 70.7% and 3.6%, respectively. In the left eyes, it was 72% and 3.1%, respectively. However, following optical correction, the prevalence in right eyes was 41.3% and 3.6%, respectively. In the left eyes, it was 42.2% and 3.1%, respectively. Risk factors that were individually associated with VI and blindness include age, educational qualification, monthly income, knowledge of DM types, oral DM treatment (pills), losing weight, compliance to losing weight, family history of DM, physical activity, and date of last eye examination .When logistic regression was used, knowledge of DM types, pills, and compliance to losing weight, family history of DM, monthly income and physical activity remained associated with VI and blindness. The high prevalence of VI in this diabetes population was not primarily due to DM itself, but due to refractive error and cataract, conditions which have effective and easy treatments. A total of 84% of the participants were visually impaired due to either refractive error or cataract or both and only 3.8% due to diabetes retinopathy. It is therefore recommended that appropriate and affordable refraction and cataract surgical services be made available and accessible to this population / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and causes as well as the risk factors of visual impairment (VI) and blindness among Black South Africans with diabetes mellitus (DM) aged 40 years and older in Mopani District, Limpopo province, South Africa. This was a cross-sectional study in which Black South Africans with DM aged ≥40 years old were examined for VI and blindness. In addition, anthropometric as well as risk factors for VI and blindness were studied. A total of 225 participants were selected from seven Public Health Facilities in Mopani District. Data was collected using standard optometric instruments, anthropometric instruments and structured interviews. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) and Microsoft Excel software packages. The ages of the participants ranged from 40 to 90 years with a mean of 61.5±10.49 years. There were more females (71.5%) than males (28.4%). The prevalence of uncorrected VI and blindness in the right eyes of the participants was 70.7% and 3.6%, respectively. In the left eyes, it was 72% and 3.1%, respectively. However, following optical correction, the prevalence in right eyes was 41.3% and 3.6%, respectively. In the left eyes, it was 42.2% and 3.1%, respectively. Risk factors that were individually associated with VI and blindness include age, educational qualification, monthly income, knowledge of DM types, oral DM treatment (pills), losing weight, compliance to losing weight, family history of DM, physical activity, and date of last eye examination .When logistic regression was used, knowledge of DM types, pills, and compliance to losing weight, family history of DM, monthly income and physical activity remained associated with VI and blindness. The high prevalence of VI in this diabetes population was not primarily due to DM itself, but due to refractive error and cataract, conditions which have effective and easy treatments. A total of 84% of the participants were visually impaired due to either refractive error or cataract or both and only 3.8% due to diabetes retinopathy. It is therefore recommended that appropriate and affordable refraction and cataract surgical services be made available and accessible to this population / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

For a person who has been diagnosed with a disability at some point in their life, their ability to be an active democratic citizen in our information society changes. This thesis examines what kind of challenges the Swedish public libraries and librarians faces in their day-to-day work connected to the specific group of users with vision-related disabilities and discusses and analyze public librarians' perception of what digital skills means to them.  In the combination of people with visual impairments and their digital needs and competence development and on the actual conditions and challenges existing at the Swedish public libraries regarding digital services for people with visual impairments, the study identifies several challenges for both parties. The study results present an insecurity among librarians regarding the expectations to adjust and help with digital guidance, when they still are feeling insecure about what kind of digital competence expects of them.  During the qualitative interviews, a shared experience of anxiety, uncertainty, and an uneven level among the library staff regarding basic digital competences and where the "boundary" is revealed. The uneven level of digital competence is highlighted as problematic, as the patrons are assumed to be treated differently on repeated visits to the public library. The study identifies several challenges that would further encourage both the individual, the profession, the institution as well as society and research to study further. New knowledge in a library context has been identified and needs to be studied in a broader and more comprehensive research study.