Chi Nung Chu

Computerized Assessment Tool for Mouse Operating Proficiency

This paper substantiates the process of developing a computerized mouse proficiency assessment tool (CAT-MP), which could be used to measure proficiency of clients in mouse operating skills. Moreover, CAT-MP also helps evaluator to diagnose specific difficulties and provide individual remedies for the persons with limitations to access computer. Based on the results of task analysis of mouse operating, clinical experiences and related literature review, CAT-MP was designed containing four modules responsible for communicating interfaces and databases, organizing test tasks, collecting data and analyzing data respectively. Beside the contents of these modules, the tasks of four subtests, the procedure of measurement, and the results of reliability and validity of CAT-MP will be addressed in detail in this paper.

The Design of an Adaptive Web Browser for Young Children with Reading Difficulties

It is hard for the children with reading difficulties to manipulate complex traditional browser to surf and read over the Internet. The Adaptive Web Browser in our design, integrating the technologies of HTML interpreter, convenient human interface design, text-to-speech engine and picture communication symbols, facilitate comprehending the contents in the Internet with auxiliary speaking sound or picture communication symbol produced automatically as needed. This new interactive web browser, however, supplies an opportunity for novel children to learning through the Internet.

A study on the design and evaluation of an adaptive web browser for students with reading difficulties

Web-based learning has become an important channel for education improvement. However, children with reading difficulties, including the mental retardation and learning disabilities, have difficulties with word decoding and comprehension. To learn from the Internet, they are facing two challenges in manipulating a browser to read through the web and comprehending the contents on the web pages. The adaptive web browser (AWB) in our design, integrating the technologies of HTML interpreter, text-to-speech engine and picture communication symbols (PCS), facilitates comprehending the contents on web pages with auxiliary speaking sound or picture produced automatically as needed. In examining its usability, the result indicates that the adaptive web browser can help the students with reading difficulties facilitate access to the web and increase comprehension of contents on the web pages.

The Program for Improving the Working Interfaces and Increasing the Work Competencies of People with Severe Physical Disabilities: The Evaluation, Design, and Training of the Adaptive Computer Devices

Computer access is always a concern due to the fact that computer skills are often listed among the basic requirements for job application. In Taiwan, many people with disabilities do not get job offers because regular computer devices are not designed for their special needs. To help these people, the Adaptive Computer Technology Service Team (ACTST) was established to design and provide individualized needs evaluations and computer skill training. This paper aims to report the results of our efforts and discuss future plans.

A kinematic analysis of directional effects on trackball mouse control in novel normal users: an alternating treatments single subject design

To know the directional efficiency of cursor moving is important for the purpose of guiding the rearrangement of icons and toolbars in the window environment. This rearrangement resolution can achieve better computer access especially in the clients with quadriplegia. However, the information about the directional efficiency of cursor movement is not clear even in the typical persons. Therefore, before surveying the quadriplegics, typical persons were researched in this study. Four typical persons simulated quadriplegics to operate trackball with their right dorsal hand and the kinematic parameters of cursor moving were measured. The single subject experimental research (SSER) with alternating treatments design was used to compare the effects of four cursor moving direction (right to left, down to up, left to right, and up to down) on the kinematic variables. The prior auto-correlation coefficients and Bartletts ratio values were computed to make sure there was no any series dependence between measuring points before conducting parametric one-way repeated measures ANOVAs. From analyzing the parameter of deviation from the straight line, velocity, movement unit and execution time, the efficiency to move on the horizontal direction (left to right or right to left) was better than move on the vertical direction (up to down or down to up). To further know the cursor kinematic performances in patients with quadriplegics will be important.

Characteristics and Solutions of Digital Divide for People with Physical Impairments in Taiwan

The purpose of this study is to narrow down the digital gap between people with and those without physical impairments in Taiwan. To better understand the need of the digital learning for people with physical impairments, the authors have created the digital characteristic assessment scale, digital need assessment scale, and developed the mouse training system and on-screen keyboard assessment system. In order to comprehend the performance and practicability of the scales and systems, this integrated project have also applied these tools to evaluate and train the clients with muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy. To fulfill the need of training the clients and providing appropriate assistant facilities, the alternative input device and the adapted web platform have been developed. The result validates the feasibility of both software and hardware developed by our implementation.

Essential Competencies of Special Educator in Integrating Assistive Technology into the Curriculum

This study addresses the essential competencies of special educator in integrating assistive technology (AT) into the curriculum. Researchers identified ten categories of skills required to integrate assistive technology, after viewing deliberate literature. Fourteen professionals in special education, rehabilitation and assistive technology formed as a web-based Delphi panel and reviewed the importance of the competencies. Following three rounds of a web-based Delphi survey, 51 statements were determined to be important or very important to AT integration.

The Effect of Direction on Cursor Moving Kinematics

There have been only few studies to substantiate the kinematic characteristics of cursor movement. In this study, a quantitative experimental research method was used to explore the effect of moving direction on the kinematics of cursor movement in 24 typical young persons using our previously developed computerized measuring program. The results of multiple one way repeated measures ANOVAs and post hoc LSD tests demonstrated that the moving direction had effects on average velocity, movement time, movement unit and peak velocity. Moving leftward showed better efficiency than moving rightward, upward and downward from the kinematic evidences such as velocity, movement unit and time. Moreover, the unique pattern of the power spectral density (PSD) of velocity (strategy for power application) explained why the smoothness was still maintained while moving leftward even under an unstable situation with larger momentum. Moreover, the information from this cursor moving study can guide us to relocate the toolbars and icons in the window interface, especially for individuals with physical disabilities whose performances are easily interrupted while controlling the cursor in specific directions.

Adaptive reading: a design of reading browser with dynamic alternative text multimedia dictionaries for the text reading difficulty readers

The effectiveness of reading comprehension on a Reading Browser with Dynamic Alternative Text Multimedia Dictionaries was explored in this paper. Students with text decoding difficulty (N=62) were randomly assigned to one of three modes: auditory mode, pictorial mode, 5 full functions mode. A quasi-experimental design was used to measure reading comprehension. Although differences were not significant among all of the modes, the findings indicate that all modes of Reading Browser with Dynamic Alternative Text Multimedia Dictionaries were successful in promoting reading.

Requirements of the vision impairments for e-government services in Taiwan from accessibility to efficiency

According to W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0, there were 37 government department websites in Taiwan that were evaluated in this paper. Websites were investigated for the presence of various features dealing with information availability, service delivery, and public access. Features assessed include online publications, online database, audio clips, video clips, premium fees, user payments, disability access, security features, presence of online services, digital signatures, credit card payments, email address, and an English version of the website. The results of this survey provide suggestions for the development of e-government services in Taiwan.