Technology and Disability - Volume 21, issue 1-2

Authors: Pithon, Thomas | Weiss, Tamar | Richir, Simon | Klinger, Evelyne

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: Piloting a manual wheelchair is an important necessity for the everyday life and social activities of people with physical and sometimes cognitive disabilities. It requires complex capacities and may become tiring and stressful during indoor as well as outdoor activities. The enactment of laws relating to accessibility and discrimination, all around the world, has motivated researchers to verify building standards and to improve wheelchair ergonomics. Nowadays, the potential of Virtual Reality (VR) in training and daily living activities simulation is already well-known. The aim of this paper is to provide an updated review which explores various VR-based systems and studies …related to wheelchair simulators. In particular, we consider wheelchair simulator characteristics according to a user centred view driven by perception and interaction, and wheelchair behavioral simulation. We continue with a description of wheelchair simulator application fields as well as a review of the various objectives for carrying out wheelchair simulation studies. Show more

Keywords: Virtual wheelchair, simulator, perception, training, accessibility

DOI: 10.3233/TAD-2009-0268

Citation: Technology and Disability, vol. 21, no. 1-2, pp. 1-10, 2009

Authors: Lennox, Nicholas | Edie, Gavin | Taylor, Miriam | Rey-Conde, Therese | McPhee, Jude

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Objective: In this paper we describe the design of a website based on written information about diabetes for people with intellectual disability and their care providers. Methods: The design process was collaborative with adults with intellectual disability, care providers, and professionals. The design followed the W3C Guidelines – Accessibility Guidelines Double A . Results: Preliminary results are promising and the site is having about 850 pages accessed per month. Conclusion: The consultative and design processes used resulted in a unique and acceptable educational tool for people with intellectual disability who have diabetes and their …care providers. Show more

Keywords: Diabetes, intellectual disability, website, web-based learning, care providers

DOI: 10.3233/TAD-2009-0272

Citation: Technology and Disability, vol. 21, no. 1-2, pp. 11-18, 2009

Authors: King, Marcus J. | Verkaaik, Julian K. | Nicholls, Angela | Collins, Fiona

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: A new tenodesis orthosis is described for assisting people who have a cervical spinal injury resulting in reduced grasp function. The orthosis utilises wrist extension to produce a lateral key grip between the thumb and proximal or middle phalanx of the index finger. An assessment tool was developed to measure functionality using ADL tasks and a Preston pinch meter was used to measure grip strength. After 6-weeks training, use of the orthosis increased lateral key grip on average by 3 times and the number of tasks achieved increased from 6 to 11 out of the 13 tasks measured. The learning …effect from the training protocol was significant (P = 0.04) and use of the orthosis reinforced the movement pattern required to achieve a standard tenodesis grasp Show more

Keywords: Quadriplegia, tetraplegia, orthosis, lateral key grip

DOI: 10.3233/TAD-2009-0267

Citation: Technology and Disability, vol. 21, no. 1-2, pp. 19-23, 2009

Authors: Seelen, H.A.M. | Hemmen, B. | Schmeets, A.J. | Ament, A.J.H.A. | Evers, S.M.A.A.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Electronically controlled prosthetic knee joints have been introduced to meet ambulation demands of leg amputees. This study assessed whether microprocessor-controlled knee joints or non-electronically controlled knee joints are to be preferred regarding costs and functional health. Thirteen participants with a unilateral knee/hip disarticulation or transfemoral amputation wore a prosthesis featuring a microprocessor-driven knee joint (C-group). Thirteen similar upper-leg amputees used a non-electronic knee joint (N-group). Direct and indirect costs were established using a cost questionnaire, the PRODISQ, and database records of the Hoensbroeck Rehabilitation Centre. Intervention costs, health care costs, patients/family costs, productivity costs and total costs were …calculated. Functional health was measured using the SF-36 (SF-6D). Total costs averaged from € 39,350 (C-group) to € 46,086 (N-group). In the C-group intervention costs were 28.2% higher (p = 0.043) as were prosthetics costs (p = 0.000). Patients/family costs amounted to € 7,094 (C-group) and € 12,992 (N-group) (p = 0.053). In the N-group housekeeping assistance cost € 4,058 more (p = 0.007), and productivity loss was higher (p = 0.051). SF-6D scores and SF-36 sub-scores were higher in the C-group (p-values between 0.001 and 0.071). Higher purchasing costs for prostheses with a microprocessor-controlled knee joint seem to be counterbalanced by lower costs in other domains. Functional health was clearly higher in the C-group. Show more

Keywords: Cost effectiveness analysis, leg prosthesis, rehabilitation

DOI: 10.3233/TAD-2009-0269

Citation: Technology and Disability, vol. 21, no. 1-2, pp. 25-34, 2009

Authors: Kurian, James | Saseendran Pillai, P.R.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper presents a guidance system for assisting the visually impaired people in structured indoor and partially outdoor environments. The system consists of a number of encoded infrared sheet of light beacons installed at appropriate locations and a small receiver module attached to the shoulder of the visually impaired person. The system is intended for use in indoor environments, such as home, office buildings, supermarkets and airports. The Digital Infrared Sheet of Light Beacons (DISLiB) transmit the encoded location information, while an infrared receiver module decodes this data and the appropriate message is retrieved from the corresponding memory in a …voice recorder/playback chip. The orientation of the person can also be informed through natural language for better assistance. Show more

Keywords: Encoded beacons, infrared guidance system, sheet of light, visually impaired assistance

DOI: 10.3233/TAD-2009-0270

Citation: Technology and Disability, vol. 21, no. 1-2, pp. 35-42, 2009

Authors: Reid, Denise | Wan, Cecilia | Hebert, Debbie

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper describes a new computerized test called Virtual City© designed to assess way-finding skills in persons with neurological problems. Virtual City is based on the theoretical premise that a left brain (verbal cognition) model and a right brain (visual spatial) model are important to the study of way-finding through two process-based modules, a visual map and verbal instructions. Preliminary work that assessed the clinical utility and validity of Virtual City is reported. Twenty-six healthy adults and nine adults with neurological damage completed the two test modules: map following (visual spatial), and reading instructions (verbal ability), on two separate occasions. …The results suggest that individuals with neurological damage require more time to complete both modules (map: 282.46s; reading: 410.31s) when compared to healthy adults (map: 275.99s, reading: 221.23s). These results confirm the declined cognitive resources available to person's with neurological damage. However, the suggested right-left brain hypothesis in relation to brain lesion site in the neurological population and performance pattern remains questionable. These preliminary findings suggest that Virtual City shows promise in differentiating adults with neurological damage from healthy adults. Individual data analyses suggest that clinicians may be able to identify whether certain patients tend to rely more of visual or verbal cues. This information may assist them to develop more effective rehabilitation strategies. More research is needed to confirm whether there is a clear right-left bias involved in performing virtual way-finding tasks. Show more

Keywords: Way-finding, neurological, virtual reality, verbal, visual

DOI: 10.3233/TAD-2009-0271

Citation: Technology and Disability, vol. 21, no. 1-2, pp. 43-52, 2009