Denna studie undersöker hur olika professioner ser på hur lärare genom assisterande teknik kan öka delaktigheten i skolan för elever i läs- och skrivsvårigheter. Studien bygger på sex semistrukturerade intervjuer och deltagarna består av två specialpedagoger, en speciallärare, en logoped, en IT-pedagog och en forskare inom läs- och skrivsvårigheter samt assisterande teknik. Intervjuerna utgör empirin för studien, vilket har analyserats utifrån delaktighetsaspekterna tillhörighet, tillgänglighet och samhandling. Resultatet av vår analys visar att en elevs tillhörighet främst berör vilken skolform, skola eller klass hen är inskriven i men också huruvida lärare kan skapa möjligheter för en elev att uppleva tillhörighet i en grupp. Resultatet pekar också på att tillgänglighetsaspekten är en övergripande och essentiell del av en elevs delaktighet i skolan och berör bland annat hur lärare genom assisterande teknik kan erbjuda stöd till elever i läs- och skrivsvårigheter att delta i undervisningen. Vidare visar resultatet att tillgänglig assisterande teknik kan möjliggöra för en elevs samhandling, eftersom tekniken kan skapa förutsättningar för eleven att kunna delta och bidra i samma aktiviteter som kamraterna. Studien drar slutsatsen att delaktighet är komplext, men att tillgänglig assisterande teknik kan bidra till att skapa delaktighet för elever i läs- och skrivsvårigheter

The aim of this study was to analyze how high-tech assistive technology in the elderly care are represented in selected Swedish newspapers during the time between August 2018 and March 2020. The initial perspective of this study was to conduct a discourse analysis based on social constructivism. I have investigated what daily newspapers describe to be central needs for the elderly care and for elderly people. I have also looked at what the daily newspapers describe to be important for elderly people during implementation of high-tech assistive technology in the Swedish elderly care. In the study’s result, I concluded the need for autonomy was central for what the daily newspapers described as important for elderly people. The result also showed that the daily newspapers described high-tech assistive technology to be important for the organization, due to shortage of staff and demographic challenges.

OF MASTER DEGREE Name: Bc. Andrea Gebauerová Supervisor: Mgr. Anna Kuželková Consultant: PhDr. Milan Pešák Oponent: Title: Alternative communication for clients with pervasive developmental disorder Abstract: The main purpose of this thesis was to find out and describe options and meaning of accupational therapy intervention in the area of alternative communication for clients with pervasive developmental disorder. These clients always show specific disrupted areas, which are social interactions, game and communication. The areas are interconnected and restrict these individuals in their self-sufficiency and daily life. Most of these clients need a compensation tool for communication. The theoretical part deals with most used methods and tools in alternative communication. It describes the simplest communication systems to the latest assistive technologies, which are used mostly abroad. An important part for the clients is an interprofessional team of proffesionals, who together determine therapeutic purpose and problematic parts of clientś life. The practical part describes the most common interprofessional cooperation at the clients. Based on jointly stated purpose for six clients with pervasive developmental disorder was design ergotherapeutic intervention and were suggested optimal tools for...

With the changing laws and effective integration of assistive technology into the classroom environment, students can have the provision of multiple means to complete their work with greater independence. In post secondary education, any student who discloses a sensory, cognitive, or physical disability is eligible to request and receive assistive technology and other services. When used correctly, assistive technology can help students with reading, writing, math, and communication skills. With a possible influx of students, disability support staff must be prepared and willing to meet the needs and address issues relating to students with disabilities. If their needs are not met, this student population may be left to face accessibility challenges that will hinder their academic success. The goal was to make the college experience positive for all students by producing a resource guide for Disability Support Staff (DSS). This was accomplished by conducting an extensive literature review along with collecting data from DSS professionals from various community colleges within North Carolina. Analysis of the data resulted in recommendations on topics including, specific assistive technology solutions according to disability, training for students and faculty along with various outreach activities that can be used to increase awareness of services and accommodations provided by DSS.

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The aim of the thesis is to provide a qualitative analysis of the RightHear navigation system in the building of the Faculty of Education, Charles University (Magdalény Rettigové 4, Prague) as a means of providing assistance with spatial navigation and independent mobility to visually impaired people. In the introduction, the thesis provides an overview of various aids and systems supporting independent mobility of the visually impaired. It also discusses the RightHear navigation system. The research part of the thesis analyses the current configuration of the RightHear system and proposes ways to improve it in the Faculty of Education building. The research utilised the methods of participatory observation and an unstructured in-depth interview with two consultants. The output of the thesis is a proposal for a new configuration of the RightHear navigation system in the building and suggestions for general rules for creating descriptions used for indoor navigation with RightHear. This output is based on knowledge of spatial orientation, independent mobility of visually impaired people and indoor navigation systems as well as the consultants' comments. The thesis includes specific conclusions and recommendations for practice and future research.

Some individuals have difficulty using standard hand-manipulated input devices such as a mouse and a keyboard effectively. For such users who at the same time have sufficient control over face and head movement, a robust perceptual or vision-based user interface that can track face movement can significantly help them. Using vision-based consumer devices makes such a user interface readily available and allows its use to be non-intrusive. Designing this type of user interface presents some significant challenges particularly with accuracy and usability. This research investigates such problems and proposes solutions to create a usable and robust face tracking user interface using currently available state-of-the-art technology. In particular, the input control in such an interface is divided into its logical components and studied one by one, namely, user input, capture technology, feature retrieval, feature processing, and pointer behavior. Different options for these components are studied and evaluated to see if they contribute to more efficient use of the interface. The evaluation is done using standard tests created for this purpose. The tests were done by a single user. The results can serve as a precursor to a full-scale usability study, various improvements, and eventual deployment for actual use. The primary contributions of this research include a logical organization and evaluation of the input process and its different components in face tracking user interfaces, a common library for computer control that can be used by various face tracking engines, an adaptive pointing input style that makes pointing using natural movement easier, and a test suite that can be used to measure performance of various user interfaces for desktop systems.

The integration of automated vehicle technology into our transportation infrastructure is ongoing, yet the precise timeline for the introduction of fully automated vehicles remains ambiguous. This technological transition necessitates the creation of in-vehicle displays tailored to emergent user needs and concerns. Notably, driving-induced anxiety, already a concern, is projected to assume greater significance in this context, although it remains inadequately researched. This dissertation sought to delve into the phenomenon of anxiety in driving, assess its implications in future transportation modalities, elucidate design considerations for distinct demographics like the youth and elderly, and design and evaluate an affective in-vehicle system to alleviate anxiety in automated driving through four studies. The first study involved two workshops with automotive experts, who underscored anxiety as pivotal to sustaining trust and system acceptance. The second study was a qualitative focus group analysis incorporating both young and older drivers, aiming to distill anxiety-inducing scenarios in automated driving and pinpoint potential intervention strategies and feedback modalities. This was followed by two driving simulator evaluations. The third study was observational, seeking to discern correlations among personality attributes, anxiety, and trust in automated driving systems. The fourth study employed cognitive reappraisal for anxiety reduction in automated driving. Analysis indicated the efficacy of the empathic interface leveraging cognitive reappraisal as an effective anxiety amelioration tool. Particularly in the self-efficacy reappraisal context, this influence influenced trust, user experience, and anxiety markers. Cumulatively, this dissertation provides key design guidelines for anxiety mitigation in automated driving, and highlights design elements pivotal to augmenting user experiences in scenarios where drivers relinquish vehicular control. / Doctor of Philosophy / An extent amount of research has uncovered how negative affect, most prominently driving anger and road rage, impairs driving performance and experience. However, as driving automation will gradually relegate drivers to the position of vehicle occupants, a need exists to identify the impact of other negative emotions on driving experience. Some research suggests that anxiety could negatively influence trust and acceptance of automation, though it is still unclear how exactly this influence changes based on user profiles nor how to adequately respond to it in a vehicle. This dissertation aims at understanding the impact of anxiety on automated driving experience and trust, and how researchers can apply empathic interface design to mitigate its effects. A series of studies evaluated the impact of anxiety in automated driving, user concerns and needs in anxious driving situations, and the influence of an empathic interface seeking anxiety mitigation in automated driving. The voice-agent enabled interface that used cognitive reappraisal had a significant impact on user experience and trust in automated vehicles.

Background Individuals with intellectual disabilities need continued supports in completing daily living tasks to increase the likelihood of achieving independence. Fortunately, research has shown that assistive technology, and particularly video prompting helps support independent living for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Aims This study investigated the efficacy of a highly customizable task analysis smartphone application in assisting three young adults with intellectual disabilities learn how to cook three different multistep recipes. Materials & Methods Three young adults with intellectual disabilities enrolled in a four-year postsecondary education program (PSE) participated in a multiple probe design across participants to examine the effect of a Task Analysis app on the participants' completion of three cooking tasks. Results In this present study, the use of video prompting to teach a daily living skill resulted in large and meaningful effect size gains of 99%–100% for all three participants, as measured by Tau-U. Discussion Video prompting is an effective instructional strategy which allows the user to self-prompt and manage their ability to successfully complete daily living skills. In this current study, video prompting made a substantial difference in the safety of participants. Conclusion The use of video prompting can decrease the reliance on others (e.g., teachers and caregivers), improve self-confidence of the user, and improve the user's level of autonomy.

This report covers the design research process and results of the 9-week Thesis Project I.A hands-on, Research Through Design approach led the project through an iterative process with a focus on creating functional prototypes and validation with experts to answer the research question: How could proprioceptive wearable technology assist in improving the quality of life for patients of Parkinson’s Disease? Within this main question, focus points have been placed on designing for comfort (i.e. wearability) and well-being with attention to aesthetics. The project builds upon the theories of Design for well-being, Embodied Interaction and Wearable technology and is supported by research on proprioception, Parkinson’s Disease, postural instability and sensory stimuli. The result is a series of models, sketches and prototypes and this report covering the process. The final concept and prototype is a system that monitors upper body posture and provides vibro-tactile feedback on strategically placed areas of the body to guide the patient towards the desired posture.