Maria Lucia Leite Ribeiro Okimoto

Design of a Tactile Map: An Assistive Product for the Visually Impaired

Assistive Products that promote the learning of spatial mobility, route guidance and selection of destinations, can favor the independence and quality of life of blind people or with low vision. This paper presents the design process of a tactile map to assist in teaching the discipline of mobility and spatial orientation for blind and low vision people. The tactile map is an assistive product that aids in route selection and location of buildings and public spaces. Such a map has the different blocks through different textures with different reliefs. The project uses the methodology for development of assistive technologies aimed at accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities. The design process included needs data collection with a teacher of mobility and spatial orientation discipline. Later, with the objective to meet the requirements shown in the research, the researches elaborated sketches and alternatives. After this step, the tactile map was selected as the best option due to costs and resistance through 3D printing technology. The validation of the product will occur with visual impaired users who attend the discipline of mobility in the Blind Institute, located in the state of Parana, Brazil. The product generated can assist the institute’s teachers to explain the location of each building, street or public place with the help of differentiation through tactile textures.

Accessible Packaging: A Study for Inclusive Models for Visual Impairment People

This paper presents the study of a accessible packaging proposal that is accessible according to the users requirements, to facilitate the handling, opening and identification of the product information in packaging for the people with visual impairment. For data collection method, we performed usability tests and interviews, with film. There was five volunteers participants: four blind and one with 5% visual acuity who handled five packages of food products. The methodological procedure was the GODP - Guidance for Project Development. The tests were performed on November, 2017 at the Laboratory of Ergonomics and Usability, Parana Federal University, Brazil. The results indicate difficulties in reading and opening the packages. Suggests creation a briefing with guidelines for the development of accessible packaging that provides greater efficient communication of the information in packaging for the visually impaired.

Terrestrial Autonomous Vehicles: Exploratory Study and Perspectives of the Interaction of Blind People in the Urban Environment

This article contributes to the discussion about autonomous vehicles and impaired people. It presents a bibliographic survey, followed by the exploratory study with interviews with two blinded people and with an expert from automobile industry. It argues that to contain these emphases and gaps it is necessary to map the process of dislocation of blind people guided by a computational system, considering all type of obstacle encountered and to promote studies in the scope of Design, Engineering and Assistive Technology (AT).

The Relation of Attention Between Player Profiles: A Study on the Eye-Tracking and Profile BrainHex

The analysis of the profile of video game players predicts certain behaviors that the player will have during the game and, as result, can predict what the focus of attention of the players. In this research we used eye-tracking to measure the dynamic patterns of acquisition of visual information of the players, initially tracing the profile of the participants and subsequently collecting eye-tracking data. We assess the relationship of attention according to the player profile. Using the BrainHex questionnaire to profile the player, collecting eye movement data with Eye Tribe and using Ogama software to generate the attention of maps needed for the analysis. It was found that, as a rule, the focus of attention in certain actions corresponds to the player profile, while the rate of non-correspondence was insignificant.

Open Tool for Collecting Physiological Data: Collection of Emotional Data During Gameplay

Research in the emotional design area and games try to understand emotions that users have to relate to the artifact. To do so, the researchers use many tools like: questionnaires, interviews, self-report, eye tracking, facial expressions and physiological responses. However, researchers with low purchasing power suffer with the high costs of data collection instruments. The aim of this work consist in the development of a low cost physiological data collection tool with a reasonable and open level of precision, allowing the improvement of the tool. We describe the software and hardware development process as well as the process of data collection and analysis. As a preliminary test of the tool, we collected the data of 4 people playing a game called “Limbo”. The data shows the limitations of the tool and the possibilities of use.

Information for Tactile Reading: A Study of Tactile Ergonomics of Packaging for Blind People

This article presents a gap identified during a research on accessible packaging and the difficulty in tactile reading of the braille system by blind individuals. The study was carried out with five users (four blind and one with visual acuity of 5%) being two of them braille readers. The study analyzed the difficulty in reading and identify the information contended in the food packaging. The data were collected through interview, photo and filming. The interviewees signed the TCLE (Consent Form Free and Informed) and then a questionnaire was carried out with open and closed questions. After some laboratory evaluations, the difficulties of recognizing some braille transcripts were identified; one of the problems was in the braille height. We compared the tactile information content in five different food products in Brazilian packages resulting in suggestions for improvements in the communication of information to visually impaired people. To obtain the results of this study, we also evaluated the physical characteristics of the Braille code printed on the packages, mainly the height of the system that allows the tactile reading. It was verified that the height values presented have a significant sample variation. These results help users with difficulties in understanding the information contained in packaging’s using the braille tactile reading.

Functional Fashion and Co-creation for People with Disabilities

There are annual inclusive fashion parades in Brazil, these encourage designers and student designers to develop collections with features that promote the accessibility, autonomy and high self-esteem of people with disabilities. The authors believe that participants face difficulties in developing these collections. The literature does not present methods that aid in this development. Through the application of questionnaires with 26 participants this research investigates if the fashion designers of these parades have difficulties in the development of inclusive and functional fashion; and asks if they believe that co-creation would be favorable in the development process of these products. It has been found that among the bigger difficulties of the designers are: the data collection with the users regarding accessibility and how to dress, the selection of trims, and the development of the patterns. The use of co-creation in a method that aid the development of functional fashion products was considered favorable for 88% of respondents.

Development of a Device for the Aid in Locomotion Child with Physical Disabilities

The inclusion of children with physical disabilities is difficult by the prejudice of society and the inability to move around on their own. For these locomotion is possible, it is necessary to use devices that assist in their autonomy. An alternative Assistive Technology that provides the march to the handicapped child is a walker. The walkers models found on the market are designed to meet most of the physical, generalizing them; This makes in some cases, unsuitable or little effect. The purpose of this study consists of a mechanical walker project to assist in the motor development of the lower limbs of a child with cerebral palsy diplegia type, providing her well-being and security. For this, the most important functions of some existing models on the market and related to key customer needs were surveyed through a case study. From this information and improvements identified during the development of this study, it was developed and tested functional device prototype that met the expected purpose, validated by a special child with the problem described.

Study and Design of a Tactile Map and a Tactile 3D Model in Brazil: Assistive Technologies for People with Visual Impairment

This paper presents the study and the design method for the development of a Tactile Map and 3D Tactile Model in Brazil to be used as assistive technology for people with visual impairments. In this context, we present bibliographic review that offers requirements to design various tactile products. The method presents techniques for measuring the usability of these products. Thus, researchers have been prototyping the tactile map on the fuser printer and the tactile 3D model on three-dimensional printer for a National Conference of Assistive Technology for the Integration between Design and Engineering in Brazil. Thus, from the perspective of built environment, researchers defined the location points in the products (map and 3D model, both tactile). The map and 3D model were adapted based on a user-centered design process of an individual with complete visual impairment. People with visual impairments have been testing this Assistive Technologies (AT) during the conference. The main objective of this study was to investigate the accessible production of inexpensive tactile aid products in order to improve the user experience and practices of visually impaired people. This paper shows that Tactile Map and 3D Tactile Model presented in this study were able to help individuals with vision impairments in the conference environment.

Requirements’ Literature Review for the Development of Furniture for People with Motor Impairments

This paper aims to identify requirements for the development of school furniture for students with motor impairments. In order to ensure access for People with physical disabilities or reduced mobility to school, it is necessary to go beyond the architectural adaptations, providing resources adapted for the effective participation of them. Therefore to achieve the goal a literature review was developed. The requirements identified to guide the development of school furniture for students with motor impairments were: (a) Student’s best comfort; (b) Easy assembly, adjustment and use; (c) Use conditions and maintenance resistance; (d) Adjustability of desk for wheelchair users; (e) Adjustability of chair for users with motor impairments; (f) Emotional aspects of users; (g) Safety; (h) Easy hygienization and disinfection; (i) Reduced maintenance (specific technical care is not need). It should be noted that there are few research to development of school furniture designed specifically for people with motor impairments.