Showing papers by "Barbara Leporini published in 2020"

Design and Validation of the Readable Device: A Single-Cell Electromagnetic Refreshable Braille Display

Abstract: Blindness represents one of the major disabling societal causes, impacting the life of visually impaired people and their families. For what concerns the access to written information, one of the main tools used by blind people is the traditional Braille code. This is the reason why in the recent years, there has been a technological effort to develop refreshable Braille devices. These consist of multiple physical dots that dynamically change their configuration to reproduce different sequences of the letters in Braille code. Although promising, these approaches have many drawbacks, which are mainly related to costs, design complexity, portability, and power consumption. Of note, while many solutions have been proposed for multi-cell devices, the investigation of the potentialities of single-cell refreshable systems has received little attention so far. This investigation could offer effective and viable manners to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, likely fostering a widespread adoption of such assistive technologies with end-users. In this article, we present the design and characterization of a new cost-effective single-cell Electromagnetic Refreshable Braille Display, the Readable system. We also report on tests performed with blindfolded and blind expert Braille code readers. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of our device in correctly reproducing alphanumeric content, opening promising perspectives in every-day life applications.

Designing assistive technology for getting more independence for blind people when performing everyday tasks: an auditory-based tool as a case study

Abstract: Everyday activities and tasks should in theory be easily carried by everyone, including the blind. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been widely used for supporting solutions. However, the solutions can be problematic for the visually impaired since familiarity with digital devices is often required. Or, indeed the procedure can be perceived as fiddly or impractical particularly for repetitive tasks due to the number/type of steps required to complete the task. This paper introduces a simple audio-based tool aimed at supporting visually-impaired people in the seemingly simple activity of checking whether the light in a room is on or off. It is an example of potential low tech devices that can be designed without the need for specific skills or knowledge by the user, and that functions in a practical way. In this context, we discuss the main issues and considerations for totally blind users in identifying whether a light is switched on. The proposed prototype is based on a simple circuit and a form of auditory feedback which informs the user whether they are switching on or off the light. Two prototypes have been designed and built for two different kinds of installation. For the subsequent second prototype, three different versions are proposed to provide a blind person with further support in easily identifying the light status at home. The new design includes enhanced auditory feedback and modifications to the dimensions. The evaluation conducted by involving various groups of end-users revealed the usefulness of the proposed tool. In addition, a survey conducted with 100 visually-impaired people reported the limitations and difficulties encountered by the blind in using existing devices. Moreover, the study revealed the interest from 94% of the participants for a potential (new) basic tool integrable with the existing lighting system. This study gives a contribution in the ambient intelligence field by (1) showing how an auditory-based tool can be used to support totally blind people to check the lights in an autonomous and relatively simple way; (2) proposing an idea that can be exploited in other application cases that use light feedback; and (3) proposing seven potential recommendations for designing assistive technology tools and common everyday devices, based on information gathered from the online survey.

Design Guidelines for an Interactive 3D Model as a Supporting Tool for Exploring a Cultural Site by Visually Impaired and Sighted People

Abstract: Being able to explore and familiarise themselves with the structure and details of a cultural site before actually visiting it is fundamental for orienting visually impaired people during the visit; otherwise, it is particularly difficult to gain a global understanding of the structure and an overall impression of a square, a church, or a large monument. Our project addressed this problem by using low cost 3D models combined with audio descriptions to enable visually impaired users to explore the cultural site autonomously. Audio descriptions are organised into three groups (for historical, practical, and architectural information), and for each group, several tracks are recorded giving increasing levels of details. Users can easily navigate through the audio tracks to follow their tactile exploration by listening to the information they are most interested in. Relevant details are reproduced separately and linked to the main model via the audio tracks. A goal of our model is to enhance the understanding of the cultural site also for partially sighted as well as sighted people, making them able to appreciate the details of the architectural design using both visual and auditory senses. We exploited low-cost and partially open-source technologies, thus rendering our system easily replicable. We evaluated the interactive system with blind, partially sighted, and sighted users. Our user test confirmed the validity of our approach: (1) the 3D models and the tactile reproduction of details obtained via a low-cost 3D printing solution are well perceived by touch; (2) the semantic auditory information activated via perceptible buttons on demand and the different content levels for the audio tracks are suitable for an interactive, autonomous, and satisfying exploration; and (3) relevant details are well perceived. Finally, we propose guidelines to use in the 3D reproduction of buildings or large sites based on our experience.

The Technology Second Chance: Leveraging Creativity by Convergence of Serendipity and Exaptation Processes

Abstract: Technology “second life” refers to discovering happen accidentally, by chance, as side effects of other experiments, or technology translated in another context, that the inventor was unable to image This is fundamental for triggering innovations and crucial advances in science and technology In both cases, sagacity and creativity lead to imagine how to apply or exploit observations and their linked data This chapter briefly recalls some famous cases in technology field showing how serendipity and exaptation are fuelled and interconnected by the source of emergent creativity We can show the importance of that “convergence” in research and applied policy (for science and industrial fields) of two main trajectories oriented, primarily (a) to hybridization of knowledge and applied crossing fields and, secondarily (b) to continuous contamination of extended specializations and competences in organization and/or in R&D department: new paths of open innovation process

ICT to Support Inclusive Education

Abstract: This short paper introduces five papers about different ways in which technology can be used to support the education of disabled children and young people. The topics covered include music education (two papers), for children with intellectual impairments in orphanages and autistic learners respectively, science education for hearing impaired students, classroom participation at a distance for autistic students and a recommender app for open learning resources. The approaches used include games, exercises, body motions, animations, a quiz and a robot based system with audio, video and vibro-tactile interfaces. Most of them were successful, but only tested with a small number of children and young people. The presentation of these papers is introduced by a brief discussion of the role of ICT in making education accessible to disabled people. It notes that there has been a tendency to develop learning technologies for specific groups of disabled people rather than for all learners and this is borne out in the papers.

Exploring WAI-Aria Techniques to Enhance Screen Reader Interaction: The Case of a Portal for Rating Accessibility of Cultural Heritage Sites

Abstract: Cultural heritage sites (museums, archaeological parks, exhibition spaces, etc.) do not always guarantee accessibility to all users, regardless of their abilities. Often services are not really as usable and functional as expected. Currently there is no website offering accessibility information on heritage sites in a format accessible to all. People with disability or their caregivers are forced to spend considerable time and effort to obtain accessibility information, sometimes encountering difficulties. The Axem portal aims to fill this gap by offering information on the degree of accessibility of cultural sites (museums, archaeological parks, libraries, art galleries, places of worship, exhibition spaces, etc.). It has been designed as a facility for people with disabilities and in general for all individuals who have special needs and require specific services. In this paper the Axem web site is presented as a case study to (1) investigate the use of web techniques for enhancing screen reading interaction, and (2) propose a portal to collect information on accessible services supported by the cultural sites. Regarding web accessibility, the use of WAI ARIA, an accessible web design, is discussed in order to improve screen reading interaction. Accessibility functions and features as well as the ranking algorithm for easy search and the rating mechanism are presented. This work offers a further contribution to the web accessibility field, while proposing a portal which could be exploited by cultural heritage sites and promote their accessible services to people with disability.

SelfLens: A Portable Tool to Facilitate All People in Getting Information on Food Items

Abstract: Independently selecting food items while shopping, or storing and cooking food items correctly can be a very difficult task for people with special needs. Product labels on food packaging contain an ever-increasing amount of information, which can also be in a variety of languages. The amount of information and also the features of the text can make it difficult or impossible to read, in particular for those with visual impairments or the elderly. Several tools or applications are available on the market or have been proposed to support this type of activity (e.g. barcode or QR code reading), but they are limited and may require the user to have specific digital skills. Moreover, repeatedly using an application to read the label contents can require numerous steps on a touch-screen, and consequently be time-consuming. In this work, a portable tool is proposed to support people in reading the contents of labels and acquiring additional information, while they are using the item at home or shopping at the supermarket. The aim of our study is to propose a simple portable assistive technology tool which 1) can be used by anyone, regardless of their digital personal skills 2) does not require a smartphone or complex device, 3) is a low-cost solution for the user.

App Inventor as a Developing Tool to Increase the Accessibility and Readability of Information: A Case Study

Abstract: In this work, App Inventor is presented as a potential tool to develop an accessible app in order to convey contents and information. As use case, we considered the readability of a leaflet used to provide useful information to the general public. Usually this type of contents is presented in a static PDF format, which cannot be easily read on a touch screen. In this work, App Inventor is used to convey information in a more interactive and readable way via a mobile app. The study was specifically aimed at investigating (1) the accessibility support provided by App Inventor, and (2) the usage of an interactive mobile app as a possible tool to enhance content readability on a touch-screen device. The designed app showed that accessibility is supported by App Inventor, although some minor issues have been detected in the user interface design. Finally a set of possible design suggestions has been proposed.

SelfLens: A Personal Assistive Technology to Support the Independence of People with Special Needs in Reading Information on Food Items

Abstract: Grocery shopping or handling food items (e.g. packets, boxes, etc.) can be a very difficult task for people with special needs. Object labels may contain much information that can be difficult to read because the data shown is a lot, and the text is difficult to read by many people. Blind people are unable to get that information autonomously, and many sighted persons (e.g. elderly people and visually-impaired) may have a lot of difficulty in reading labels. Several tools or applications are available on the market or have been proposed in the literature to support this type of activity (e.g. barcode or QR code reading), but they are limited and may require specific skills by the user. Moreover, repeatedly using an application to read label contents or to get additional information on a product can require numerous actions on a touch-screen device. This can make their use inaccessible or unusable for many users, especially while shopping or cooking. In this work, a portable tool is proposed to support people in simply reading the contents of labels and getting additional information, while they are at home or at the shop. Our study aims to propose a portable assistive technology which can be used by everyone both at home and in the shopping, independently from the personal skills and without requiring no smartphone or complex device, and that is a low-cost solution for the user. Such a product could be very useful for the people independence in a period like that one we are living due to the lockdown required by the Covid-19 situation.

A User-Centered Approach to Artificial Sensory Substitution for Blind People Assistance

Abstract: Artificial sensory substitution plays a crucial role in different domains, including prosthetics, rehabilitation and assistive technologies. The sense of touch has historically represented the ideal candidate to convey information on the external environment, both contact-related and visual, when the natural action-perception loop is broken or not available. This is particularly true for blind people assistance, in which touch elicitation has been used to make content perceivable (e.g. Braille text or graphical reproduction), or to deliver informative cues for navigation. However, despite the significant technological advancements for what concerns both devices for touch-mediated access to alphanumeric stimuli, and technology-enabled haptic navigation supports, the majority of the proposed solutions has met with scarce acceptance in end users community. Main reason for this, in our opinion, is the poor involvement of the blind people in the design process. In this work, we report on a user-centric approach that we successfully applied for haptics-enabled systems for blind people assistance, whose engineering and validation have received significant inputs from the visually-impaired people. We also present an application of our approach to the design of a single-cell refreshable Braille device and to the development of a wearable haptic system for indoor navigation. After a summary of our previous results, we critically discuss next avenues and propose novel solutions for touch-mediated delivery of information for navigation, whose implementation has been totally driven by the feedback collected from real end-users.