Development of Communication Assistive Technology for Persons with Deaf-Blindness and Physical Limitation

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2015:217:974-9.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a system that will provide communication assistance to persons with deaf-blindness and physical limitation, so that they will be able to communicate with others without the help of an interpreter. With this communication system, a person with deaf-blindness and physical limitation uses a control switch to perform input operations based on the duration of the operating time and combination of long and short pulses. When the input is correctly performed, the user receives a feedback from the tablet computer as vibratory stimuli. Similarly, the message that other person's input with a Bluetooth keyboard is transmitted to the user as vibration stimuli. Following the development, we conducted a one-year assessment of the developed communication system in an actual environment with the cooperation of one person with deaf-blindness and physical limitation. . We confirmed that our developed system was useful for such a person, and understood that we must improve upon several aspects. We shall pursue further study, and will aim at providing a better communication environment for persons with deaf-blindness and physical limitation in future.

MeSH terms

  • Communication Aids for Disabled*
  • Computers, Handheld*
  • Deaf-Blind Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Disabled Persons / rehabilitation*
  • Equipment Design
  • Feedback, Sensory*
  • Humans
  • Proof of Concept Study
  • Self-Help Devices*
  • Vibration