The access options for people with disabilities who rely on their hands to control an assistive device have not improved in many years. The proposed project creates a new input method for assistive devices in which the size, shape, and function of the access area are customizable to the needs and abilities of the user. To accomplish this we will use the remote control for the Nintendo Wii to track hand movements over an image palette and translate these movements into computer-control functions. This access method combines the advantages of low-tech and high-tech access techniques to create a new access method that we have named Wii-see. During this Phase 1 project, the research team will design and build a first generation prototype of Wii-see. Consumers and assistive technology professionals will evaluate this prototype so that reviewers of the Phase 2 proposal can judge the effectiveness, efficiency, and user acceptance of Wii-see as an access method.
Public Health Relevance: Computers enable many people with substantial disabilities to participate in home, work, and leisure activities. The proposed research aims to reduce the physical fatigue associated with computer access so that these people can participate more fully.
Public Health Relevance Statement: Project Narrative Computers enable many people with substantial disabilities to participate in home, work, and leisure activities. The proposed research aims to reduce the physical fatigue associated with computer access so that these people can participate more fully.
NIH Spending Category: Assistive Technology; Bioengineering; Networking and Information Technology R&D; Rehabilitation
Project Terms: AAC Device; AAC Intervention; Area; Assistive Technology; Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention; Augmentative and Alternative Communication device; Calibration; Code; Coding System; Computer Programs; Computer software; Computers; Custom; Data; Designing computer software; Devices; Disabled Persons; Disabled Population; Effectiveness; Electronics; Ensure; Evaluation; Fatigue; Generations; Hand; Handicapped; Home; Home environment; Housing; Human; Human, General; Image; Lack of Energy; Leisure Activities; Letters; Life; Light; Location; Mammals, Mice; Man (Taxonomy); Man, Modern; Measurement; Measures; Methods; Methods and Techniques; Methods, Other; Mice; Monitor; Movement; Murine; Mus; Names; Paper; People with Disabilities; Performance; Persons with Disabilities; Phase; Photoradiation; Position; Positioning Attribute; Process; Program Evaluation; R01 Mechanism; R01 Program; RPG; Research; Research Grants; Research Project Grants; Research Projects; Research Projects, R-Series; Resolution; Running; Self-Help Devices; Services; Shapes; Software; Software Design; Specialist; Specific qualifier value; Specified; Surface; System; System, LOINC Axis 4; TXT; Techniques; Technology; Text; Translating; Translatings; Visual; Wheel Chairs; Wheelchairs; Wireless Technology; Work; Writing; artist; assistive device; base; body movement; computer program/software; cost; design; designing; disability; disabled; disabled people; imaging; improved; input device; language translation; mobile assistance device; mobile assistance system; mobile assistive device; mobile assistive system; prototype; public health relevance; tool; usability; wireless
