Universal Access

Iain MurrayCurtin University of Technology Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Laboratory

Introduction

Project Descriptions & DefinitionsMotivation & StrategyAccess MethodsAssistive Devices both High Tech and Low

Braille displays to pipe cleanersCurrent DevelopmentWhat now?

Rehabilitation Engineering is the systematic application of engineering sciences to design, develop, adapt, test, evaluate, apply, and distribute technological solutions to problems confronted by individuals with disabilities in functional areas, such as mobility, communications, hearing, vision, and cognition, and in activities associated with employment, independent living, education, and integration into the community.

(US Rehabilitation Act of 1973)

Who?

Rehabilitation Engineering is a multidisciplinary science and may include any or all of the following professions or areas of expertise.

Physical Therapist Occupational Therapist Rehabilitation Engineer Rehabilitation Engineering Technician Prosthetist Physician

Why?

19% of the Australian population have disabilities or functional limitations, which a major cause is aging (ABS, 1998).

Includes those. born with disabilities. whose abilities diminish during their lifetime through

disease, accident or ageing. There is a demographic trend toward a growing

elderly population (particularly as the "babyboomer" generation ages). Raises the prospect of a large number of consumers with

decreasing abilities.

Demographics

67% of Vision Impaired (VI) have another permanent illness or disability

35% of VI experience difficulty in hearing normal speech (50% for those over 75)

56% of VI children have at least one other impairment

Over half of VI people (in the UK) live alone(Gill, 2004)

Motivation

Develop systems and methodologies to assist people with sensory disabilities to gain access to education and technology

Resources

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Laboratory

Researchers2 academic staff1 technical staff6 Postgraduate students

2 Masters and 4 PhD

Over 30 Honours students (4th & 5th year engineering)

Industry & consumer advisors

Current Access Methods

For low vision users.Screen enlargement.

Zoomtext, Magic.Screen review programs.

Jaws, Slimware, Artic.Two output methods - speech and Braille displays.

Screen review software must rely on text output.Tactile Graphics

PIAFPrinted Braille and Audio recordings

Access Methods

Other DisabilitiesQuadriplegics.

Morse, Eye tracking, scan boards.Emphasis on keyboard/mouse replacement

issues.Deaf.

Subtitles, visual alerts, transcription of conferences/video.

Many others.

Current Research Projects Cisco Access for the Vision Impaired (CAVI) Curtin University Brailler (CUB) Wireless Stereo Headset Parakeet -Apple OS X Accessibility iView - Classroom Aid for Low Vision Students Dasher Auslan to Text Currency Identifier for the Blind Braille Scanner Ultrasonic White Cane/Seeing with Sound 7 Segment reader and colour sensor

Curtin University Brailler (CUB)

Perkins BraillerMechanical only

Mountbatten BraillerElectronic, very old technology

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (LZW) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Curtin University Brailler (CUB)

Low CostModern MaterialsForward & Back

TranslationUse by Deaf/Blind

CUB

Braille Scanner

Aimed at Sighted non-Braille ReadersConverts Braille to Expanded Text in

real time

Purpose of the Device

To overcome the written communications barrier between seeing and blind person’s Schooling system Workplace

As an aid to persons with Diabetic Peripheral Polyneuropathy (diabetes being the major cause of blindness is Australia)

No feasible commercial product exists for the portable translation of Braille into other mediums

Prototype Implementation

Image Capture

Image Capture Operation

QuickTime™ and aYUV420 codec decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

DSP Braille Recognition

Conclusion

Once commercialised, the device has potential to act as a written communication’s gateway between seeing and vision impaired person’s.

A Secure Dual Channel Wireless Headset for Multi-

user EnvironmentsFunded by Dept. of Training

Science & Technology GrantJoint Project

Association for the Blind WARAC (WA)

Project Objectives

Aim: To increase labor market opportunities for vision impaired persons (VIP’s) in call center environments. (Department of Training, 2002)

Why Wireless: VIP’s have prevailing difficulties with cable entanglement and cable jack damage

Why Secure: Call centers often deal with sensitive information, ie banking, government etc, and device must be protected against eavesdropping

Additional Criteria High quality, real time, duplex, stereo audio Low Power: Must be able to run for > 8 hours on

single battery charge Ergonomic: Low Headset weight (subject to

regulations). ie battery mAh/weight compromise Flexible: System must be able to accommodate

encryption, communications medium upgrades Low Cost Robust Sound Quality: Device must operate in

multi-user environments

Communications IssuesRF / 802.1x

Security an issue for call center operations involving banking details

Bandwidth issues for quality real time audioRAC Joondalup Call Center has over 300 operators

Power consumptionCurrent 802.11g devices draw over 300mA, ⇒ batteries for

all day operation would be impracticably large

Infrared Less Ergonomic (user movement restriction) Inherently secure, robust, lower power Satisfies System Requirements

Proof of Concept PrototypeDual channel, two-

way, high quality, low power infrared headset prototype which has been field tested by the ABWA and certified.

DSP based systemUpgradeable, flexibleUltra Low Power

Secure comm’sCurrent BOM < $150

…IR TxRx’s < $3Cellular Architecture

Current Form Ideal Form

The Future

Infrared / 802.1x HybridKeep low power, security, and bandwidth

benefits of infrared, but combine with 802.11g to overcome infrared mobility issue.

CommercialisationPackaging

Alternative marketsNavy

ParakeetThe project involves designing, building and

testing a screen reader application for Mac OS X operating system.A screen reader is an application that allows a

vision-impaired person to use a graphical user interface by providing audible feedback in the form of speech.

The screen reader interrogates the actions of the user via the Accessibility APIs and produces speech output using the text-to-speech (TTS) APIs. Both of these APIs are provided by Apple as part of

Mac OS X.

Dasher

Information-efficient text-entry interfacedriven by natural continuous pointing gestures.

operating a computer one-handedwith zero hands (i.e., by head-mouse or by

eyetracker).

The eyetracking version of Dasher allows an experienced user to write text as fast as normal handwriting - 25 words per minute; using a mouse, experienced users can write at 39 words per minute.

Auslan to Text

Auslan to Text

QuickTime™ and aVideo decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Currency Identifier

Australian Polymer notes are of a similar sizeHard to distinguish denomination if totally blind

Utilises the unique pattern in the clear window

Ultrasonic White Cane

Augments the standard long caneWarns of

Head height obstructionsDrop off (e.g. Stairs)

Simple user interface

QuickTime™ and aMicrosoft Video 1 decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Earcons

Earcons were first proposed by Meera Blattner in 1989.

They are abstract, musical tones that can be used in structured combinations to create auditory messages.

"non-verbal audio messages that are used in the computer/user interface to provide information to the user about some computer object, operation or interaction"

They are based on musical sounds.

CAVI

The Networking Academy program is an e-learning model that delivers Web-based educational content, online testing, student performance tracking, and instructor training and support, as well as hands-on labs. (Cisco,2002)

CAVI Project Description

Develop a method of course delivery to vision impaired studentsStandard CurriculumExisting lab bundlesCCNA initially

Long term aim to include other academy programs

Create a “bridge” between the curriculum and assistive technology

Includes instructor training

Student Motivation

Self EsteemIndependenceEmployment OpportunitiesEase the problems for other VIPs

Curriculum Access

Use text documentsExplain diagramsStress important but uniquely difficult points

The OSI modelLayer 2 technologies

Tactile objectsNetwork dominoesPipe cleanersFunction Generator

Some of the Students

QuickTime™ and aDV - PAL decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Number Systems & Subnetting

Access Methods

Speech Output JAWS screen review software Synthesised speech

Screen Magnification Zoomtext and MAGic

Braille Printed and displays

Tactile Graphics PIAF

And lots of home made aids

The OSI Model

Other Props

Braille Display

Diagrams

Host A sends SYN (seq =x)Host B receives SYN (seq=x) and sends SYN(seq=y, ack=x+1)Host A Receives SYN (seq=y, ack = x+1) and sends ACK (ack = y+1)Host B Receives ACK (ack = y+1)

Other CAVI Applications

Speech Friendly Packet SnifferBraille Transcription SoftwareRouter SimulatorXML to Descriptive Text

Conclusion

Cavi Project is a test benchIncludes most of the devices/techniques

currently being researchedFinal outcome

Deliver an “Academy in a Box”For Academies that wish to teach vision

impaired students

Questions?

http://www.ece.curtin.edu.au/~iain/accessibility http://cisco.netacad.net http://www.seeingwithsound.com/voice.htm http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/ www.tiresias.org (John Gill)

AsTeR

Audio System For Technical ReadingsA computing system for rendering technical

documents in audio Developed by T.V. Raman

The Target Demographic

In Western Australia8,800 legally blindNearly 2,400 under 65

The Association for the Blind75 new clients each month411 clients per year in technology training

(ABWA annual report 2001)

Extrapolate to the world marketThird world countries have higher rates of vision

impairment

Disability Discrimination Act

DDA is administered by the Human rights and Equal Opportunities Commission (HREOC).

Accepts that some differential treatment is unavoidable.

Commonwealth Departments and Agencies must develop action plans.

Emerging DDA standards on “Electronic Communication”.

Economic or Humanitarian?

Should the mainstream design of products include consideration of people who have disabilities or are elderly?From a humanitarian standpoint.This must also be considered in terms of

effects on personnel, curricula and economic perspectives.

Disabled and Elderly Persons

Can't the Needs of Disabled and Elderly Persons Be Handled Separately or As Exceptions? Many small groups together represent a large

portion of the population.Is it both economically and practically feasible

to include disabled and elderly persons in the design process for mass market products? Aging wealthier population.OS&H considerations and employee comfort.Discrimination suits.