This study investigates the effects of intensive remediation in reading and assistive technology skills combined with the use of a computer based text to speech reader in a six-week intensive reading program for junior-age students with reading disabilities. The study reports on the strategies used by the teachers, week-by-week student progress, and the results of a criterion-referenced reading assessment. Other themes include student attitudes towards the technology and barriers to implementation. Findings indicate that a computer based text to speech reader provides significant compensatory support, resulting in improved fluency and comprehension scores. Students using technology were able to access paper and on-line text at a higher level. A model which builds on the work of Dyck and Pemberton (2002) and Edyburn (2004b, 2007) is proposed which provides a theoretical framework to assist schools in decisions about remediation or compensation for struggling readers in primary, junior, intermediate, and senior grades.

A brain-machine interface (BMI) uses signals from the brain to control electronic devices. One application of this technology is the control of assistive devices to facilitate movement after paralysis. Ideally, the BMI would identify an intended movement and control an assistive device to produce the desired movement. To implement such a system, it is necessary to identify different movements involving a single limb and users must be able to issue commands at any instant instead of only during specific time windows determined by the BMI itself. A novel processing technique to identify voluntary movements using only four electrodes is presented. Histograms containing the spectral components of intracranial neural signals displaying power changes correlated with movement were unique for each of three movements performed with one limb. Off-line classification of the histograms allowed the identification of the performed movement with an accuracy of 89%. This movement identification system was interfaced with a neuroprosthesis for grasping, fitted to a tetraplegic individual. The user pressed a button triggering the random selection and classification of a brain signal previously recorded intracranially from a different person while performing specific arm movements. Correct identification of the movement triggered grasping functions. Movement identification accuracy was 94% allowing successful operation of the neuroprosthesis. Finally, two BMIs for the real-time asynchronous control of two-dimensional movements were created using a single electrode. One EEG-based system was tested by a healthy participant. A second system was implemented and tested using recordings from an individual undergoing clinical intracranial electrode implantation. The users modulated their 7 Hz-13 Hz oscillatory rhythm through motor imagery. A power decrease below a threshold activated a ``brain-switch''. This switch was coupled with a novel asynchronous control strategy to control a miniature remotely-controlled vehicle as well as a computer cursor. Successful operation of the EEG system required 6 hrs of training. ECoG control was achieved after only 15 minutes. The operation of the BMI was simple enough to allow users to focus on the task at hand rather than on the actual operation of the BMI.

Syftet med denna studie är att få fördjupad förståelse av några pedagogers erfarenheter av och inställningar till alternativa verktyg, när elever är i läs- och skrivsvårigheter med frågeställningarna: Vilken inställning har pedagoger till alternativa verktyg? Hur beskriver pedagoger att alternativa verktyg används när elever är i läs- och skrivsvårigheter? På vilket sätt kan alternativa verktyg främja lärandemöjligheter när det gäller elever i läs- och skrivsvårigheter sett ur pedagogers perspektiv? Vilka utmaningar finns, enligt pedagoger, i användningen av alternativa verktyg?

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.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an intervention drawing on the instructional principles of the Self-Regulated Strategy Development Model (SRSD) to support the use of three writing strategies (PREP, TALK and CHECK) combined with the use of assistive technology for post-secondary students with learning disabilities (LD) and writing difficulties. Participants were four students between the ages of 18 and 32, registered with a campus disability service office at a mid-sized western Canadian university. In a multiple-probe, multiple-baseline within-subjects design, participants received intervention support during one-on-one sessions with a writing tutor. Intervention support covered planning, composing and revision processes and the integration of speech-recognition technology into participants’ academic routines. Percentage of non-overlapping data points (PNDs) indicated strong effects for spelling error rate (PNDs = 100), correct word sequences (PNDs = 91.3) and rate of incorrect word sequences (PNDs = 100). Effects were moderate for word count (PNDs = 82.6) and small for punctuation (PNDs = 60) and précis quality (PNDs = 56.5). Results indicate that the intervention was effective for reducing errors in participants’ writing, particularly along the dimensions of spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar and semantics. Results also indicate that the intervention was strongly effective at increasing the sequences of correct words, and therefore aided participants in generating higher-quality writing assignments to meet the academic demands of university. Implications for educators and psychological service providers working with postsecondary students with disabilities are discussed. / Graduate / 2015-11-06 / 0525 / kellyleemcmanus@gmail.com

abstract: Social situational awareness, or the attentiveness to one's social surroundings, including the people, their interactions and their behaviors is a complex sensory-cognitive-motor task that requires one to be engaged thoroughly in understanding their social interactions. These interactions are formed out of the elements of human interpersonal communication including both verbal and non-verbal cues. While the verbal cues are instructive and delivered through speech, the non-verbal cues are mostly interpretive and requires the full attention of the participants to understand, comprehend and respond to them appropriately. Unfortunately certain situations are not conducive for a person to have complete access to their social surroundings, especially the non-verbal cues. For example, a person is who is blind or visually impaired may find that the non-verbal cues like smiling, head nod, eye contact, body gestures and facial expressions of their interaction partners are not accessible due to their sensory deprivation. The same could be said of people who are remotely engaged in a conversation and physically separated to have a visual access to one's body and facial mannerisms. This dissertation describes novel multimedia technologies to aid situations where it is necessary to mediate social situational information between interacting participants. As an example of the proposed system, an evidence-based model for understanding the accessibility problem faced by people who are blind or visually impaired is described in detail. From the derived model, a sleuth of sensing and delivery technologies that use state-of-the-art computer vision algorithms in combination with novel haptic interfaces are developed towards a) A Dyadic Interaction Assistant, capable of helping individuals who are blind to access important head and face based non-verbal communicative cues during one-on-one dyadic interactions, and b) A Group Interaction Assistant, capable of provide situational awareness about the interaction partners and their dynamics to a user who is blind, while also providing important social feedback about their own body mannerisms. The goal is to increase the effective social situational information that one has access to, with the conjuncture that a good awareness of one's social surroundings gives them the ability to understand and empathize with their interaction partners better. Extending the work from an important social interaction assistive technology, the need for enriched social situational awareness is everyday professional situations are also discussed, including, a) enriched remote interactions between physically separated interaction partners, and b) enriched communication between medical professionals during critical care procedures, towards enhanced patient safety. In the concluding remarks, this dissertation engages the readers into a science and technology policy discussion on the potential effect of a new technology like the social interaction assistant on the society. Discussing along the policy lines, social disability is highlighted as an important area that requires special attention from researchers and policy makers. Given that the proposed technology relies on wearable inconspicuous cameras, the discussion of privacy policies is extended to encompass newly evolving interpersonal interaction recorders, like the one presented in this dissertation. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Electrical Engineering 2011

abstract: Typically, the complete loss or severe impairment of a sense such as vision and/or hearing is compensated through sensory substitution, i.e., the use of an alternative sense for receiving the same information. For individuals who are blind or visually impaired, the alternative senses have predominantly been hearing and touch. For movies, visual content has been made accessible to visually impaired viewers through audio descriptions -- an additional narration that describes scenes, the characters involved and other pertinent details. However, as audio descriptions should not overlap with dialogue, sound effects and musical scores, there is limited time to convey information, often resulting in stunted and abridged descriptions that leave out many important visual cues and concepts. This work proposes a promising multimodal approach to sensory substitution for movies by providing complementary information through haptics, pertaining to the positions and movements of actors, in addition to a film's audio description and audio content. In a ten-minute presentation of five movie clips to ten individuals who were visually impaired or blind, the novel methodology was found to provide an almost two time increase in the perception of actors' movements in scenes. Moreover, participants appreciated and found useful the overall concept of providing a visual perspective to film through haptics. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Computer Science 2011

O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar a distribuição de pressão, no assento e no encosto, relacionada à variação do ângulo de tilt da cadeira de rodas e contribuir para uma melhor prescrição de sistemas de adequação postural na posição sentada. Para tanto, estruturou-se uma pesquisa descritiva composta por procedimentos tipo estudos de casos. A pesquisa foi direcionada a usuários com diagnóstico de Paralisia Cerebral, nível motor IV e V (GMFCS) e que necessitam de um melhor posicionamento no sentar. Para as análises, foram utilizadas as almofadas pré-fabricadas que acompanham a cadeira em conjunto com as técnicas de mapeamento de pressão e termografia. As principais variáveis analisadas foram a distribuição de pressão e de temperatura, por meio de diagramas, bem como foram avaliados estatisticamente os respectivos valores médios. Os resultados demonstraram que nenhum dos 15 usuários avaliados apresentou postura adequada no sistema de assento e encosto padrão da cadeira de rodas. A distribuição da pressão mostrou-se inadequada, em geral, com picos importantes atribuídos à falta de estabilidade da pelve e do tronco. A utilização de cadeira de rodas com tilt é indicada, porém, faz-se necessária uma cuidadosa análise desse ângulo, bem como dos suportes de apoio ajustáveis às necessidades individuais. Recomenda-se a personalização das almofadas de assento, de encosto e de apoio de cabeça, através da moldagem do corpo do usuário. Destaca-se que os dados obtidos neste estudo podem auxiliar na identificação das necessidades dos usuários e, consequentemente, no projeto de assentos para cadeira de rodas, proporcionando maior qualidade de vida aos usuários. / The objective of this study is to evaluate the pressure distribution on the seat and backrest related to the angle variations of the wheelchair tilt-in-space. It also aims to contribute to a more suitable prescription of positioning systems. In order to do that, the descriptive research was structured by using case studies. The survey was targeted to users that had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, gross motor function (GMFCS) IV and V who are need of a more appropriate wheelchair seating. Furthermore, for the analysis, the prefabricated chair cushions, the pressure mapping techniques and thermography had been used. The main variables analyzed were the distribution of pressure and temperature, through diagrams, which were statistically evaluated mean values. The results showed that none of the 15 members evaluated had an adequate posture in the standard seating system. The pressure distribution proved inadequate in general with important peaks attributed to the lack of stability of the pelvis and trunk. The use of the tilting wheelchair is recommended. However, it is required a more careful analysis of this angle, as well as the adjustable support brackets to individual needs. It is recommended to customize the seat cushions, backrest and headrest, through the user's body contour. It is noteworthy that the data obtained in this study can help identify the needs of users and consequently the seat design for a wheelchair, providing a higher quality of life to the users.

A presente pesquisa foi realizada através de trabalhos experimentais com estudos de casos onde foi possível avaliar o quanto o Design de equipamentos de Tecnologia Assistiva auxilia no processo de independência nas Atividades de Vida Diária de pessoas idosas e/ou deficientes, que se encontram institucionalizadas. Através de uma revisão de literatura foram identificados os objetivos das Tecnologias Assistivas, do Design Universal e da Acessibilidade, e o quanto estes podem facilitar o dia-a-dia de seus usuários com vistas à inclusão social. Desta forma, esta pesquisa se desenvolveu em uma Associação de Amparo que abriga mulheres idosas e deficientes, no município de Santa Maria - RS. Neste local foi possível perceber e reconhecer uma significativa demanda para a Tecnologia Assistiva. Ao analisar dados recentes, percebe-se o expressivo número de pessoas com alguma deficiência, sobretudo, com a crescente população de idosos em nosso país. Assim, a cada dia, profissionais das diferentes áreas – grupos interdisciplinares – devem buscar o aperfeiçoamento para através da “inovação tecnológica”, tendo em vista a melhoria dos serviços, garantirem o atendimento e a qualidade de vida destes protagonistas. Finalmente, com o desenvolvimento deste trabalho, o qual pretendeu proporcionar maior funcionalidade nas atividades cotidianas e com ganhos em autonomia, construíram-se caminhos e estratégias que contribuem para aprofundar o conhecimento científico desta área de caráter interdisciplinar onde converge o uso das Terapias da Saúde apoiadas pela Tecnologia Assistiva com o Design de “novos Produtos”, Engenharias de Materiais, Fabricação, Automação e outras. / This research was conducted through experimental work with case studies where it was possible to assess how the design of equipment for Assistive Technology assists in the process of independence in activities of daily living of elderly and / or disabled who are institutionalized. Through a literature review, identified the goals of Assistive Technologies, Universal Design and Accessibility, and how these can facilitate the day-to-day activities of its users with a view to social inclusion. Thus, this research has developed in an Association for the Support that houses disabled and elderly women in the municipality of Santa Maria - RS. This site was possible to perceive and recognize a significant demand for Assistive Technology. By analyzing recent data, one can notice the significant number of people with disabilities, especially with the growing elderly population in our country. So every day, professionals from different areas - interdisciplinary groups - should seek to improve through "technological innovation" in order to improve services, ensure the care and quality of life of these actors. Finally, with the development of this work, which sought to provide greater functionality in daily activities and gains in autonomy, we discuss ways and strategies that contribute to deepen the scientific understanding of this interdisciplinary area in which converges the use of therapies supported Health Assistive Technology for the Design of "new products", Engineering Materials, Manufacturing, Automation and others.

Standing up from a seated position, known as sit-to-stand (STS) movement, is one of the most frequently performed activities of daily living (ADLs). However, the aging generation are often encountered with STS issues owning to their declined motor functions and sensory capacity for postural control. The motivated is rooted from the contemporary market available STS assistive devices that are lack of genuine interaction with elderly users. Prior to the software implementation, the robot chair platform with integrated sensing footmat is developed with STS biomechanical concerns for the elderly. The work has its main emphasis on recognising the personalised behavioural patterns from the elderly users’ STS movements, namely the STS intentions and personalised STS feature prediction. The former is known as intention recognition while the latter is defined as assistance prediction, both achieved by innovative machine learning techniques. The proposed intention recognition performs well in multiple subjects scenarios with different postures involved thanks to its competence of handling these uncertainties. To the provision of providing the assistance needed by the elderly user, a time series prediction model is presented, aiming to configure the personalised ground reaction force (GRF) curve over time which suggests successful movement. This enables the computation of deficits between the predicted oncoming GRF curve and the personalised one. A multiple steps ahead prediction into the future is also implemented so that the completion time of actuation in reality is taken into account.