Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-09-19T11:55:06Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação.pdf: 6509385 bytes, checksum: 4e73929fd551df58ba1478f503e9bb9f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-19T11:55:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação.pdf: 6509385 bytes, checksum: 4e73929fd551df58ba1478f503e9bb9f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-10 / Introdução: A Osteoartrite (OA) de mãos é uma doença articular com alta prevalência no Brasil e no mundo. É caracterizada por desgaste dos tecidos articulares e sintomas de dor, rigidez e limitação do movimento. Tem um alto potencial limitante por prejudicar a função manual e, consequentemente, a participação do indivíduo nas atividades do dia a dia, o que resulta em impacto negativo na qualidade de vida. O tratamento é voltado para o controle dos sintomas e, entre as modalidades não farmacológicas, estão as indicações de recursos de tecnologia assistiva, como por exemplo, os dispositivos de assistência (DA). Este recurso é utilizado com frequência na prática clínica dos Terapeutas Ocupacionais a fim de proteger as articulações adoecidas durante a realização das atividades do dia a dia, no entanto, poucos estudos que avaliem o efeito deste tratamento são encontrados na literatura. A nossa hipótese foi que os indivíduos com OA de mãos que usassem esse recurso, teriam melhora na função manual e no desempenho ocupacional. Objetivo:Avaliar os efeitos do uso de DA no desempenho ocupacional e na função manual de indivíduos com OA de mãos. Método:Tratase de um ensaio clínico randomizado, prospectivo, paralelo, cego para avaliadores, no qual foram comparados os desfechos antes e após as intervenções com os participantes que receberam os DA (grupo intervenção) e os participantes que receberam folheto de orientações (grupo controle), assim como comparados os resultados entre os grupos. A intervenção foi realizada através de um grupo de autocuidado que tinha como objetivo promover o conhecimento da patologia, ensinar técnicas de proteção articular com ênfase no uso de DA e treinar o uso dos dispositivos ofertados a fim de incluí-los na rotina dos indivíduos. Foram considerados desfechos primários o desempenho ocupacional, mensurado pela Medida Canadense de Desempenho Ocupacional (COPM) e a função manual avaliada por meio do Índice de Avaliação e Quantificação das Afecções Reumáticas Crônicas das Mãos(SACRAH). Os desfechos secundários foram dor medida pela Escala Visual Analógica (EVA) e a qualidade de vida mensurada pelo WOQHOL-bref, além dos dados obtidos pelos diários de analgésicos e diários dos DA. Todos foram avaliados no momento basal, 30 e 90 dias após a avaliação inicial. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa.Resultados: Dos 39 pacientes incluídos, 19 foram alocados para o grupo intervenção e 20 para o grupo controle. Apenas 2 pacientes do grupo controle não concluíram o seguimento. Mostrou-se que a função manual, o desempenho ocupacional, a dor e a qualidade de vida dos indivíduos com OA de mãos melhoraram após a intervenção (SACRAH – p< 0,001; COPM – p< 0,001; EVA – p < 0,001; WHOQOL – bref – p< 0,026). Quando comparados os resultados entre os grupos, houve diferença estatística no COPM (desempenho – p<0,001 e satisfação– p < 0,001), na primeira reavaliação realizada. Conclusão: O uso de DA se mostrou uma estratégia não farmacológica eficaz no tratamento da OA de mãos, apontada nesse estudo pela melhora do desempenho ocupacional e da função manual dos indivíduos. / Introduction: Hand osteoarthritis is a joint disease with high occurrence in Brazil and all over the world. Articular tissue wear characterize the disease, as well as symptoms of pain, stiffness, and limitation of movement. It has a high limiting potential as it harms regular hand function, hence harming the individual’s participation in daily activities, resulting in a negative impact on quality of life. The treatment aims to control symptoms and, among the non-pharmacological methods, there are recommendations of Assistive Technology resources, such as Assistive Devices. This resource is typical on Occupational Therapists’ clinical practice, with the goal to protect the affected joints during the execution of daily activities. However, few studies evaluating the treatment effect are available in the literature. Our hypothesis is that individuals with hand osteoarthritis and using this resource would have improved hand function and occupational performance. Objective: Verify the effects of a self-care program focusing on Assistive Devices in occupational performance and hand function with individuals having hand osteoarthritis. Method: A random, prospective, parallel, blind for evaluators, clinical trial in which were compared the results before and after the interventions of volunteers who received the Assistive Devices (intervention group) and the volunteers who received the orientation booklet,as well as the results between the groups. The intervention was implementedthrough a self-care program that had the objective of promoting knowledge of the pathology, teaching about joint-protection techniques with emphasis on the Assistive Devices usage, and training the users of the offered devices with the goal of including them inthe individuals’ routine. The primary results were the occupational performance, measured by the COPM – Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, and the hand function evaluated using SACRAH. The secondary results were pain, measured by the Analogical Visual Scale (EVA), and quality of life measured by WHOQOLBREF, in addition to the data obtained in the analgesic diaries, and assistive devices diaries. Evaluations occurred in the initial moment, 30 and 90 days after initial evaluation. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Results: From the 39 patients included, 19 were assigned to the intervention group and 20 to the control group. Only 2 patients of the control group did not finish the segment. It was shown that hand function,occupational performance, pain and life quality of the individuals affected by hand osteoarthritis improved after intervention (SACRAH - p < 0,001; COPM - p < 0,001; EVA – p < 0,001; WHOQOLBREF – p < 0,026). When compared to the results between the groups, there was statistical difference on COPM (performance - p <0,001 and satisfaction p < 0,001), at the first reevaluation. Conclusion: The self-care program with emphasis in the Assistive Devices showed itself as an effective non-pharmacological strategy for hand osteoarthritis, chosen in this study by the improvement on occupational performance and individuals’ hand function.

Submitted by Jessica Andrade (jessicastefanysa@gmail.com) on 2018-06-28T18:40:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 RONALDO.pdf: 1871721 bytes, checksum: 036a835627059100794789171ca42215 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Margareth Ferreira Pinto (margarethfpinto@hotmail.com) on 2018-07-16T21:51:47Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 RONALDO.pdf: 1871721 bytes, checksum: 036a835627059100794789171ca42215 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-16T21:51:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RONALDO.pdf: 1871721 bytes, checksum: 036a835627059100794789171ca42215 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016 / This paper presents a proposal for an assistive technology as a support in teaching and learning Portuguese as a second language for deaf education. The first language of deaf signers is the Libras, and the Portuguese must be learned as a second language in the written form, constituting the Bilingualism. Despite this plainness, there is still no teaching methodology and learning the Portuguese language for deaf that attends the needs of the languages concerned. The purpose of this work is to check how one Assistive Technology can contribute to the teaching and learning of the Portuguese language written by deaf. For the development environment will be used, PHP language, as well as, the SQL database construction and the AJAX for processing requests. For the qualitative authentication model it will be applied questionnaires techniques on specific texts that will be answered by deaf students. The tests will be performed in three different moments: first of all in a text in Portuguese, after with the help of the environment and, lastly, with the translated Libras text. This process will take place to consider what vocabulary they will be able to learn from the environmental aid. Thus, it is believed that an Assistive Technology it is able to contribute to the teaching and learning of Portuguese Language by the deaf. / Este trabalho apresenta a proposta de uma Tecnologia Assistiva como auxílio no ensino e aprendizagem da Língua Portuguesa como segunda língua para surdos. A primeira língua dos surdos sinalizadores é a LIBRAS, e o Português torna-se como segunda língua na modalidade escrita, constituindo o bilinguismo. Apesar dessa clareza, ainda não há uma metodologia de ensino da Língua Portuguesa para surdos que atenda às necessidades das duas línguas em questão. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver e verificar de que maneira uma Tecnologia Assistiva poderá contribuir no processo de ensino e aprendizagem da Língua Portuguesa pelos estudantes surdos. Para o desenvolvimento do ambiente utilizamos a linguagem PHP, bem como o SQL para a construção do banco de dados e o Ajax para o processamento das solicitações. No processo de tradução foram utilizados algoritmos, para recuperação de informação, e, como avaliação qualitativa, a técnica de questionários sobre textos específicos respondidos pelos surdos. Os testes foram realizados em três momentos distintos: primeiramente a partir de um texto em Língua Portuguesa, logo após com o auxílio do ambiente e, por último, com o texto traduzido para LIBRAS. Essas etapas se repetiram com textos diferentes, mas com vocabulários aproximados. Após a realização dos testes, foi possível constatar um acréscimo significativo no número de vocabulários aprendidos sobre a temática escolhida. Assim, é possível dizer que uma Tecnologia Assistiva é capaz de contribuir para o ensino e aprendizagem da Língua Portuguesa pelos surdos.

Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2015-04-28T17:11:40Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Wanessa Ferreira Borges - 2015.pdf: 2432056 bytes, checksum: 59887b73dd0349c49c23e334378d01fb (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2015-04-28T17:51:27Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Wanessa Ferreira Borges - 2015.pdf: 2432056 bytes, checksum: 59887b73dd0349c49c23e334378d01fb (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-28T17:51:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Wanessa Ferreira Borges - 2015.pdf: 2432056 bytes, checksum: 59887b73dd0349c49c23e334378d01fb (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The Assistive Technology is an area of knowledge that enables people with disability a more autonomous and independent life with higher life´s quality. When we considering the development of school students with disability we find the vital importance of these resources and services to the success or failure in the school. Nowadays the Specialized Educational Service takes characteristics as an Assistive Technology service where are offered resources and services that it helps in the activity execution before impossible by the disability. Furthermore, this service has like function to complement and/or to supplement the deaf students’ formation, pervasive developmental disorders and high abilities/gifted in order to provide access conditions, participation and learning in the regular education. Due the importance of the reading and writing ability development, in a literacy society, we problematize the conceptions and practices of teachers working in specialized educational assistance such as Assistive Technology in the promotion of access at the literacy practices of disability students. The goal of this investigation is to understand how has been characterized the conceptions and practices, according to some experiences, by some teachers about the Assistive Technology in the promotion of the access to the literacy of the disability students in the multifunctional resources classroom and of the specialized educational assistance center. This research belong to the Catalano Observatory of Special Education, that make a link with the National Observatory of Special Education and show as methodological way the collaborative action research, which aims to approximate the academic knowledge to the teachers practices, having as result the scientific co-production, as well as teachers formations. This research was done with eight specialized teachers of the schools from Catalão city. The information collection was done through group interviews and information was organized and categorized for analysis. They are: literacy; Assistive Technology; resources, the practices of reading and writing promotion and the conceptions and constructions of concept of Assistive Technology; teachers’ formation. The results demonstrate that the assistive technology resources and services generally has been not used and available to provide access to the practices of reading and writing in the specialized educational assistance area and that there is an inefficient formation to work with the specificities that there are in this work about resources and services of Assistive Technology that enable to the access to the reading and writing practices. It’s possible to assert yet that the practices related by the teachers seem a perspective of strategy and ludic resources than the actual conception of Assistive Technology. Thus, we understand the need structuration of the specialized educational assistance work focusing to a more efficient proposal of formation to these professionals, so, indeed be guaranteed the access and the use of the Assistive Technology in favor of a guarantee of the rights and equiparation of opportunities. / A Tecnologia Assistiva é uma área do conhecimento que possibilita às pessoas com deficiência uma vida mais autônoma, independente e com maior qualidade de vida. Ao considerarmos o desenvolvimento escolar de alunos com deficiência, constatamos a importância ímpar destes recursos e serviços para o sucesso ou fracasso escolar. Atualmente, o Atendimento Educacional Especializado assume características de serviço de Tecnologia Assistiva, em que são disponibilizados recursos e serviços que auxiliam na execução de atividades antes impossibilitadas pela deficiência. Além disso, este atendimento tem como função complementar e/ou suplementar a formação dos estudantes com deficiência, transtornos globais do desenvolvimento e altas habilidades/superdotação a fim de prover condições de acesso, participação e aprendizagem no ensino regular. Tendo em vista a importância do desenvolvimento das habilidades de leitura e escrita em uma sociedade letrada, problematizamos as concepções e práticas dos professores de Atendimento Educacional Especializado quanto à Tecnologia Assistiva na promoção do acesso às práticas de letramento dos alunos com deficiência. O objetivo desta investigação é compreender como vem se caracterizando as concepções e práticas, segundo relatos dos professores, quanto à Tecnologia Assistiva na promoção do acesso ao letramento dos alunos com deficiência no âmbito das salas de recursos multifuncionais e do centro de atendimento educacional especializado. Esta pesquisa faz parte do Observatório Catalano de Educação Especial, que se vincula ao Observatório Nacional de Educação Especial e apresenta como viés metodológico a pesquisa colaborativa, que busca aproximar conhecimentos acadêmicos à prática docente, gerando co-produção científica, bem como formação de professores. A pesquisa foi realizada com oito professores do atendimento educacional especializado das instituições jurisdicionadas à Secretaria Regional de Educação de Catalão. A coleta de dados se deu por meio de entrevistas coletivas e os dados foram organizados para análise de acordo com as seguintes categorias temáticas: letramento; Tecnologia Assistiva; recursos, promoção das práticas de leitura e escrita e as concepções e construção do conceito de Tecnologia Assistiva; formação de professores. Os resultados demonstram que os recursos e serviços de tecnologia assistiva geralmente não têm sido usados e disponibilizados para fornecer acesso às práticas de leitura e escrita no âmbito do atendimento educacional especializado, e que existe uma formação ineficiente ao atendimento quanto aos recursos e serviços de Tecnologia Assistiva que possibilitam acesso às práticas de leitura e escrita. Constata-se ainda que as práticas relatadas pelas professoras se aproximam mais de uma perspectiva de estratégia e recursos lúdicos, do que daquilo que se configura hoje como Tecnologia Assistiva. Portanto, reconhecemos a necessidade de uma nova estruturação dos serviços de Atendimento Educacional Especializado, enfocando-se uma proposta mais eficiente de formação destes profissionais, de maneira que realmente sejam garantidos o acesso e o uso de Tecnologia Assistiva em favor da garantia dos direitos e equiparação de oportunidades.

Esta pesquisa investigou as condições de acessibilidade às tecnologias de informação e comunicação oferecidas aos alunos com deficiência visual e física matriculados na rede municipal de ensino de São Paulo, como forma de garantir seu acesso e participação nas atividades curriculares. Para sua realização, optou-se pela abordagem qualitativa, por meio de análise da legislação e de documentos produzidos pelas equipes responsáveis pela Educação Especial e Informática Educativa, bem como entrevistas com os gestores destas áreas na referida secretaria municipal e nas regiões de Guaianases, Butantã e São Miguel. A análise dos dados considerou recomendações internacionais, das quais o Brasil é signatário, garantias legais nacionais e do município de São Paulo, além do referencial teórico referente ao direito à educação, à educação inclusiva e a importância das tecnologias na escolarização de alunos com deficiência. Observou-se que o município prevê em seus documentos legais a Educação Especial e a Informática Educativa e apresenta diversos aspectos relevantes para promover a acessibilidade as Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação e que o acesso a esses recursos pelos alunos com deficiência é considerado importante na visão dos profissionais que atuam na gestão dos projetos e no apoio aos alunos e professores, revelando algumas iniciativas de adaptação e aquisição de recursos e equipamentos para alguns alunos com deficiência. Como sugestões para o aprimoramento do trabalho realizado na referida secretaria foi apontada a necessidade de investimento em formação continuada e produção de materiais sistematizados a partir das práticas dos próprios professores, sendo, todo esse processo, construído a partir de um estudo mais detalhado das necessidades identificadas nas escolas da secretaria municipal com relação à acessibilidade as Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação Também são sugeridas estratégias para que a construção dessa proposta ocorra de forma articulada entre os profissionais das equipes de Educação Especial, Informática Educativa e Ensino Comum. Assim, espera-se contribuir com reflexões e com o planejamento das próximas ações tanto no referido município, como em outras localidades. / This research has investigated the conditions provided to the visual and physical impairment students enrolled in São Paulos municipal schools to access the information technology and communication as a way to ensure their access and participation in the curricular activities. In order to accomplish it, the qualitative approach was chosen by analyzing the legislation and documents produced by the teams responsible for Special Education and Information and Communication Technologies in Education, as well as interviews with the managers in these areas in São Paulo municipal secretariat and in Guaianases, Butantã and São Miguel zones. The data analysis took into consideration the international recommendations in which Brazil is signatory, national and São Paulo city legal warranties, and also the theoretical foundation referring to the right to have education, to the inclusive education, and the importance of the technologies in the education of disabled students. It was observed that the city predicts Special Education and Information and Communication Technologies in Education in its legal documents and presents several relevant aspects to promote the access to the Information and Communication Technologies. The access to these resources by the disabled students is also considered important from the professionals view, who perform in the projects management and support the students and teachers, revealing some initiatives in adaptation and acquisition of resources and equipment for some disabled students. As suggestions to the improvement of the accomplished work in the secretariat above, it was pointed the need of investment in continuing education and production of systematized materials for the practices of the teachers themselves, having all this process built from a more detailed study about the needs identified in the municipal secretariats school regarding the accessibility to the Information and Communication Technologies. It is also suggested strategies in order to make this proposal to be organized in an articulate way among the teams professionals in Special Education, Information and Technology Education and Regular Education. Thus, it is expected to contribute with reflections and with planning for the next actions both in São Paulo and other places.

O processo de hospitalização compromete diversos aspectos da vida do paciente, além das questões relacionadas a própria patologia o indivíduo vivencia a ruptura de seu cotidiano, afastando-se da realização de suas atividades, do convívio familiar e social, do trabalho e lazer. O terapeuta ocupacional atua no contexto hospitalar auxiliando o paciente a criar sistemas de apoio para que o mesmo tenha condições de enfrentar as dificuldades trazidas pela internação, Para isso, o profissional pode utilizar de vários recursos, entre esses a Tecnologia Assistiva, desenvolvida para permitir o aumento da autonomia e independência de idosos, de pessoas com deficiência ou com mobilidade reduzida em suas atividades. Este trabalho tem como objetivo conhecer as mesas auxiliares utilizadas por pacientes durante o processo de hospitalização, com suas possibilidades de adequações e diferentes usos, e propor requisitos de projeto para um novo modelo que possibilite uso dos indivíduos com diferentes capacidades. Para atingir estes objetivos foi realizado levantamento através de catálogos de produtos hospitalares das mesas auxiliares disponíveis no mercado nacional, descritas as características físicas desse móvel, além disso, Terapeutas Ocupacionais que atuam em hospitais foram convidados a participar respondendo um questionário sobre a mesa auxiliar disponível em seu local de trabalho. Esses profissionais indicaram as características físicas dos móveis e opinaram sobre ajustes e melhorias necessárias para otimizar o uso da mesa auxiliar a fim de permitir maior funcionalidade aos paciente. Ao todo foram identificados 38 modelos de mesa auxiliar nos catálogos de produtos hospitalares, 37 modelos possibilitam a regulagem de altura, através de mecanismos de guias cromadas na maioria das mesas. A base das mesas é confeccionada em aço inoxidável e 36 modelos possuem rodízios. Segundo os sujeitos da pesquisa para promover maior independência ao paciente internado torna-se necessário que esse móvel possibilite maior regulagem de altura, uso em diferentes situações, apresente base apoiada diretamente sobre o solo, bordas elevadas para evitar a queda de objetos e inclinação do tampo. Com base nos dados coletados nos catálogos, nas respostas dos participantes e considerando princípios ergonômicos propõem-se requisitos para o projeto de um móvel mais versátil que possibilite ao paciente a maior funcionalidade possível. / The hospitalization process commit various aspects of the patient\'s life in addition to issues related to the individual experiencing the pathology the disruption of their daily lives, moving away from performing their duties, the family and social life, work and leisure. The occupational therapist works in the hospital helping the patient to create support systems so that it is able to face the difficulties brought about by hospitalization for this, the practitioner can use various resources, among these the Assistive Technology, developed to enable the increased autonomy and independence of the elderly, people with disabilities or reduced mobility in their activities. This study aims to know the auxiliary tables used by patients during hospitalization, with its possibilities for adaptations and different uses, and to propose design requirements for a new model that allows use of individuals with different capabilities. To achieve these goals survey was conducted via product catalogs of the hospital auxiliary tables available in the domestic market, described the physical characteristics of mobile, in addition, Occupational Therapists working in hospitals were invited to participate by answering a questionnaire on the side table available in their workplace. These professionals have indicated the physical characteristics of the auxiliary table and commented on improvements and adjustments needed to optimize the its use to allow more functionality to the patient. Altogether 38 models were identified in the catalogs of hospital products, 37 models allow for height adjustment, through mechanisms of chrome guides at most tables. The basis of the tables is made of stainless steel and 36 models have casters. According to the research subjects to promote greater independence of the patient admitted it is necessary that the mobile enables greater height adjustment, use in different situations, present base resting directly on the ground, raised edges to prevent objects falling and tilting the top. Based on data collected in catalogs, participants\' responses and considering ergonomic principles are proposed requirements for the design of a more versatile mobile that allows the patient the greatest possible functionality.

Abstract Old age brings several physical and cognitive challenges for elderly people, which complicates the utilization of modern information and communication technology (ICT) for daily task assistance and for caretakers and family support. One factor hindering the adoption of ICT is that most existing user interfaces (UIs) require prior knowledge of use metaphors that many elderly people cannot learn to master. Research on developing assistive technology exists, such as phones for the elderly, but these often have UIs that require prior knowledge and use experience. Recent research has introduced Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) concepts for users’ homes, for example projecting guidance into the environment. However, only a few empirical studies have attempted to define the type of projection-based UIs that would be intuitive for the elderly, and the system design processes that would help in developing such AAL have not been researched thoroughly. This work presents three design iterations and their empirical evaluations. From these, a body of knowledge was produced for designing and developing AALs with projected Augmented Reality (AR) UIs. The first iteration had a sentence-building UI implemented for a wearable Projector-Camera (ProCam) system, which had limits in technical suitability for the elderly. The second iteration changed the use metaphor to a simple icon-based menu, and produced a requirement guideline for UIs in AAL. In the final iteration, the wearable was replaced with a fixed ProCam, allowing the elderly to make menu selections effectively. This iteration supported sequential tasks, such as taking medicine, with visual guides. The suitability of the new UI was tested with computer literate young adults and elderly users, many of the latter having memory and motor skill limitations. The comparison showed that the two groups performed similarly; however, the elderly needed a slower and more direct interaction technique adapted to their preferences in the UI. Assistance for the sequential tasks was found feasible. This work produced a set of UI-related and technical factors that AAL designers should take into account when developing projector-based AR systems for the elderly with memory problems. In addition, this work offers suggestions on how to conduct UI testing sessions with this user group to reduce the amount of work and improve the success of the iterative development process. / Tiivistelmä Ikääntyminen tuo useita fyysisiä ja kognitiivisia haasteita teknologian käytölle mikä puolestaan mutkistaa modernin informaatioteknologian käyttöä hoivatyöntekijöiden ja omaisten tukemana päivittäisten askareiden tukemisessa. Yksi este käytölle on käyttöliittyminen hallitsemiseen tarvittava osaaminen mitä vanhuksilla on haastavaa oppia. Avustavan teknologian tutkimusta on olemassa laitteille kuten vanhusten käyttöön suunnitellut matkapuhelimet jotka tarvitsevat tietämystä ja aiempia käyttökokemuksia. Uusimmat tutkimukset esittävät tietotekniikka-avusteisen asuminen mahdollisuuksia käyttäjien koteihin esimerkiksi projisoitujen opastuksien muodossa, mutta vain muutamia empiirisiä tutkimuksia on tehty määrittelemään kuinka projektiopohjaiset käyttöliittymät voisivat olla intuitiivisia vanhuksille, ja tutkimuksia kuinka näiden systeemien suunnitteluprosessit voisivat avustaa tietotekniikka-avusteisen asumisen suunnittelijoille ei ole tuotettu tarpeeksi. Tämä työ esittelee kolmen iteroinnin ja empiirisen arvioinnin luoman tietämysperustan kautta ratkaisuja systeemien suunnittelun ja luonnin tarpeisiin projektiopohjaisen lisätyn todellisuuden käyttöliittymien luomiseksi. Ensimmäisen iteroinnin tulos on lauserakenteeseen pohjautuva käyttöliittymä päälle puettavalle projektiojärjestelmälle, jonka todettiin omaavan teknisiä puutteita vanhuskäyttöön. Toinen iterointi esittelee ikonipohjaisen käyttöliittymän ja tuottaa vaatimusmäärittelyohjeistuksia käyttöliittymille. Viimeisessä iteroinnissa korvataan päälle puettava kiinteästi asennetulla järjestelmällä, joka mahdollistaa vanhuksille tehokkaamman valintamenetelmän valikoille, sekä tukee sarjamuotoisten tehtävien suorittamista visuaalisia ohjeistuksia käyttäen esimerkiksi lääkkeen annostelun tukemisessa. Käytön soveltuvuutta vertailtiin tehokäyttäjien ja vanhusten, joilla on usein motoriikan ja kognition ongelmia, kesken, ja vaikka nämä kaksi ryhmää ovat hyvin samankaltaisia on vanhuksille sopivampi menetelmä hitaampi ja perustuu suoraan interaktioon. Myös sarjamuotoisen tehtävän suorituksen tukeminen osoittautui saavutettavaksi. Tämä työ tuotti käyttöliittymien ja teknisten toteutusten suunnitteluun tarkoitettuja ohjeistuksia joita tietotekniikka-avusteisen asumisen suunnittelijoiden tulisi ottaa huomioon projektiopohjaisten lisätyn todellisuuden järjestelmien kehittämisessä muistihäiriöisten vanhusten tarpeisiin. Lisäksi suosituksia käyttäjätestien luomiseen tämän käyttäjäryhmän kesken ehdotetaan jolla voidaan vähentää työmäärää sekä parantaa oikein iteratiivista prosessia.

Doctor of Philosophy / Curriculum and Instruction Programs / Marjorie R. Hancock / No Child Left Behind legislation has required public schools to increase efforts to measure and track student performance through school, district, state and nation-wide assessments. Researchers argue that it is essential for all students, including special education students, to be included in accountability assessments in order to help measure and track educational progress and compare the performance of schools, districts and states in terms of achieving educational goals. One method for including more special needs students in accountability assessments is to use accommodations during testing. Assistive technology is an accommodation that is approved for use on accountability assessments in many states and has the potential to significantly impact the performance of special education students. The primary purpose of this research was to gather and analyze data from special service providers (staff of a special education cooperative) and educators and administrators (employees of the school districts the cooperative serves) on the subject of using assistive technology as an accommodation on Colorado State Assessment Project (CSAP) testing. The researcher conducted a survey to measure the attitudes and knowledge of educators and special service providers on this subject. The survey was a five point Likert scale comprised of ten items designed to measure "attitudes" and ten items designed to measure "knowledge". Data was analyzed using backward regression analysis to compare scores between groups and consider the impact that years of work experience had on survey scores. The researcher used responses from survey data to select ten survey respondents to participate in in-depth interviews. Interview data was analyzed using pentadic analysis, a method of rhetorical analysis designed by Kenneth Burke (1945). Survey results indicated that the knowledge and attitudes scores between the two groups were similar, however regression analysis identified a significant increase the attitude scores of employees of the special education cooperative as they gained work experience. Scores of district employees did not increase on either scale as participants gained work experience. Analysis of interview data provided rich description of participants’ knowledge and attitudes concerning the use of assistive technology as an accommodation and enabled the researcher to identify significant similarities and differences between groups of employees and the state standards intended to guide their decision making on this subject. Results of this research suggest a need for improving education on the subject of assistive technology, related state regulations and improving resources to foster the use of assistive technology as an accommodation on accountability assessments.

Magister Artium - MA / The purpose of the study was to investigate the everyday life information seeking behaviour of visually impaired students at Stellenbosch University. The study framed by the Every Day Life information behaviour model of Pamela McKenzie focused on the information behaviour of visually impaired students, how the visually impaired students obtain their information and the role of the Stellenbosch University library. The study was motivated by the vital need to seek out, listen to and act upon the voices of students with disabilities in an attempt to make higher education more inclusive to students with some form of disability or challenge. Twenty-one visually impaired students from various faculties of Stellenbosch University completed a questionnaire consisting of 23 questions administered by Stellenbosch University’s Braille Office. Students with visual impairments at Stellenbosch University will consult friends, family members and lecturers for information. They needed both personal and academic information. Students found it both easy and difficult to obtain needed academic information. The Internet was the major information resource used by all students. Students relied mainly on online full text journal articles and e-books obtained via the Internet, SU Library’s databases, SunScholar and e-journals for academic information. The main reasons for not using the SU library can be attributed to the inability to use printed resources, lack of facilities for visually impaired students, difficulty in navigating the physical library and lack of training in exploiting the library and its services. All students with visual impairment made use of assistive technology and relied heavily on the support and services of the Braille Office for additional academic information. The everyday behaviour of students with visual impairments at Stellenbosch University conform to McKenzie’s Everyday Life Information Behaviour model as these students sought actively to make contact with sources, identified likely sources, made use of serendipitous encounters, were were identified as information seekers and made use of people as gatekeepers to be referred to a source.

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.

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.