Assistive and Augmentive Communication for the Disabled: Intelligent Technologies for Communication, Learning and Teaching

344 Pages·2011·6.647 MB·English

by  Lau Bee Theng, Lau Bee Theng

Assistive and Augmentive
Communication for the
Disabled:
Intelligent Technologies for
Communication, Learning and
Teaching
Lau Bee Theng
Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
http://avaxhome.ws/blogs/ChrisRedfield
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Assistive and augmentive communication for the disabled : intelligent technologies for communica-
tion, learning and teaching / Lau Bee Theng, editor.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Summary: “This book provides benefits to professionals and researchers working in various
disciplines in the field, such as special education, healthcare, computational intelligence and
information technology offering insights and support to individuals who are concerned with the
development of children and adults with disabilities”--Provided by publisher.
ISBN 978-1-60960-541-4 (hbk.) -- ISBN 978-1-60960-542-1 (ebook) 1. People with disabilities-
-Means of communication. 2. Communication devices for people with disabilities. 3. Assistive
computer technology. I. Theng, Lau Bee, 1974-
HV1568.4.A83 2011
681’.761--dc22
2010054436
British Cataloguing in Publication Data
A Cataloguing in Publication record for this book is available from the British Library.
All work contributed to this book is new, previously-unpublished material. The views expressed in
this book are those of the authors, but not necessarily of the publisher.
Editorial Advisory Board
Bong Chin Wei, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia
Justo A. Diaz, University of Auckland, New Zealand
Lee Bee Wah, Cambodia Methodist International School, Cambodia
Lee Seldon, Multimedia University, Malaysia
Marlene Valerie Lu, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Nia Valeria, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Ong Chin Ann, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Wang Yin Chai, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia
Table of Contents
Preface ..............................................................................................................xiii
Chapter 1
2D Animated Social Story for Assisting Social Skills Learning of Children
with Autism Spectrum Disorder .................................................................................1
Vivi Mandasari, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Marlene Valerie Lu, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Lau Bee Theng, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Chapter 2
3D Assistive Technologies and Advantageous Themes for Collaboration and
Blended Learning of Users with Disabilities ...........................................................25
Georgios Dafoulas, Middlesex University, London, UK
Noha Saleeb, Middlesex University, London, UK
Chapter 3
A Face Based Real Time Communication for the Physically and Speech
Disabled People ........................................................................................................70
Ong Chin Ann, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Marlene Valerie Lu, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Lau Bee Theng, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Chapter 4
A Novel Application of Information Communication Technology to Assist
Visually Impaired People ......................................................................................103
Tee Zhi Heng, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus,
Malaysia
Ang Li Minn, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus,
Malaysia
Seng Kah Phooi, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus,
Malaysia
Chapter 5
Collaborative Virtual Learning for Assisting Children
with Cerebral Palsy ................................................................................................127
Nia Valeria, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Marlene Valerie Lu, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Lau Bee Theng, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Chapter 6
Enabling Context Aware Services in the Area of AAC .........................................159
Lau Sian Lun, University of Kassel, Germany
Klaus David, University of Kassel, Germany
Chapter 7
Spatial Knowledge Communication to Visually Challenged People ....................193
Kanubhai K. Patel, Ahmedabad University, India
Sanjay Kumar Vij, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Technology,
India
Chapter 8
Statistical Analysis of Facial Expression on 3D Face Shapes ...............................224
Jacey-Lynn Minoi, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia
Duncan Gillies, Imperial College London, UK
Chapter 9
The Role of Augmented E-Learning Systems for Enhancing Pro-Social
Behaviour in Individuals with Non-Systemising Impairments .............................248
Jonathan Bishop, Glamorgan Blended Learning Ltd, UK
Chapter 10
The Outdoor Wireless Healthcare Monitoring System for Hospital Patients
Based on ZigBee ....................................................................................................273
Xiaoxin Xu, Zhejiang University, China
Mingguang Wu, Zhejiang University, China
Bin Sun, China JiLiang University, China
Jianwei Zhang, China JiLiang University, China
Cheng Ding, HangZhou Meacon Automatic Technology Co., Ltd, China
Compilation of References .............................................................................290
About the Contributors ..................................................................................321
Index .................................................................................................................325
Detailed Table of Contents
Preface ..............................................................................................................xiii
Chapter 1
2D Animated Social Story for Assisting Social Skills Learning of Children
with Autism Spectrum Disorder .................................................................................1
Vivi Mandasari, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Marlene Valerie Lu, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Lau Bee Theng, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Asperger Syndrome is a developmental disorder under the umbrella term of Autism
Spectrum Disorders, and it is a milder variant of autism. It is characterized by a
significant difficulty in communication, prominently in social interaction and non-
verbal communication. Since a decade ago, there have been a variety of tools for
teaching and assisting children with AS in the acquisition of social skills, ranging
from the simple picture exchange system to the high-end virtual reality system. This
chapter discusses on the effectiveness of integrating Social Story, 2D animations
and video instruction for teaching social skills to children diagnosed with Asperger
Syndrome in an interactive manner. The prototype has been developed, implemented,
and evaluated in an experimental way. This chapter will discuss on the evaluation
process, results, findings, and areas for further exploration.
Chapter 2
3D Assistive Technologies and Advantageous Themes for Collaboration and
Blended Learning of Users with Disabilities ...........................................................25
Georgios Dafoulas, Middlesex University, London, UK
Noha Saleeb, Middlesex University, London, UK
The significance of newly emergent 3D virtual worlds to different genres of users
is currently a controversial subject in deliberation. Users range from education
pursuers, business contenders, and social seekers to technology enhancers and
many more who comprise both users with normal abilities in physical life and those
with different disabilities. This study aims to derive and critically analyze, using
grounded theory, advantageous and disadvantageous themes, and their sub concepts
of providing e-learning through 3D Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs), like
Second Life, to disabled users. Hence providing evidence that 3DVLEs not only
support traditional physical learning, but also offer e-learning opportunities unavail-
able through 2D VLEs (like Moodle, Blackboard), and offer learning opportunities
unavailable through traditional physical education. Furthermore, to achieve full
potential from the above-mentioned derived concepts, architectural and accessibility
design requirements of 3D educational facilities proposed by different categories of
disabled students to accommodate for their needs, are demonstrated.
Chapter 3
A Face Based Real Time Communication for the Physically and Speech
Disabled People ........................................................................................................70
Ong Chin Ann, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Marlene Valerie Lu, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Lau Bee Theng, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
The main purpose of this research is to enhance the communication of the disabled
community. The authors of this chapter propose an enhanced interpersonal-human
interaction for people with special needs, especially those with physical and com-
munication disabilities. The proposed model comprises of automated real time be-
haviour monitoring, designed and implemented with the ubiquitous and affordable
concept in mind to suit the underprivileged. In this chapter, the authors present the
prototype which encapsulates an automated facial expression recognition system for
monitoring the disabled, equipped with a feature to send Short Messaging System
(SMS) for notification purposes. The authors adapted the Viola-Jones face detection
algorithm at the face detection stage and implemented template matching technique
for the expression classification and recognition stage. They tested their model with
a few users and achieved satisfactory results. The enhanced real time behaviour
monitoring system is an assistive tool to improve the quality of life for the disabled
by assisting them anytime and anywhere when needed. They can do their own tasks
more independently without constantly being monitored physically or accompanied
by their care takers, teachers, or even parents. The rest of this chapter is organized
as follows. The background of the facial expression recognition system is reviewed
in Section 2. Section 3 is the description and explanations of the conceptual model
of facial expression recognition. Evaluation of the proposed system is in Section
4. Results and findings on the testing are laid out in Section 5, and the final section
concludes the chapter.
Chapter 4
A Novel Application of Information Communication Technology to Assist
Visually Impaired People ......................................................................................103
Tee Zhi Heng, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus,
Malaysia
Ang Li Minn, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus,
Malaysia
Seng Kah Phooi, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus,
Malaysia
This chapter presents a novel application for wireless technology to assist visually
impaired people. As an alternative to the medical model of rehabilitation, the infor-
mation explosion era provides the foundation for a technological solution to lead
the visually impaired to more independent lives in the community by minimizing
the obstacles of living. A “SmartGuide” caregiver monitoring system is built as a
standalone portable handheld device linked. The objective of this system is to assist
blind and low vision people to walk around independently especially in dynamic
changing environments. Navigation assistance is accomplished by providing speech
guidance on how to move to a particular location. The system delivers dynamic
environmental information to lead the visually impaired to more independent lives
in the community by minimizing the obstacles of living. Information of changing
environments such as road blockage, road closure, and intelligent navigation aids is
provided to the user in order to guide the user safely to his or her destination. This
system also includes a camera sensor network to enhance monitoring capabilities
for an extra level of security and reliability.
Chapter 5
Collaborative Virtual Learning for Assisting Children
with Cerebral Palsy ................................................................................................127
Nia Valeria, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Marlene Valerie Lu, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Lau Bee Theng, Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia
Communication through speech is a vital skill, an innate ability in most human be-
ings intended to convey thoughts, needs, and it is the very foundation of literacy.
However, some people find it as one of the challenges in their lives, particularly
children with Cerebral Palsy. Children with such disability suffer from brain in-
juries before, during, and after birth that evidently affect their motor, cognitive,