Journal of Assistive TechnologiesTable of Contents for Journal of Assistive Technologies. List of articles from the current issue, including Just Accepted (EarlyCite)https://www.emerald.com/insight/publication/issn/1754-9450/vol/10/iss/4?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestJournal of Assistive TechnologiesEmerald Publishing LimitedJournal of Assistive TechnologiesJournal of Assistive Technologieshttps://www.emerald.com/insight/proxy/containerImg?link=/resource/publication/journal/6899e880c5806c5f6473db7b8be1f69d/UNKNOWNhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/publication/issn/1754-9450/vol/10/iss/4?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestEditorialhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JAT-09-2016-0019/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestEditorialEditorial
Chris Abbott
Journal of Assistive Technologies, Vol. 10, No. 4, pp.177-177]]>
Editorial10.1108/JAT-09-2016-0019Journal of Assistive Technologies2016-12-19© 2016 Emerald Group Publishing LimitedChris AbbottJournal of Assistive Technologies1042016-12-1910.1108/JAT-09-2016-0019https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JAT-09-2016-0019/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2016 Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Acceptance of seniors towards automatic in home fall detection deviceshttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JAT-07-2015-0021/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestSenior citizen falls are one of the highest-cost factors of healthcare within this population group. Various approaches for automatic fall detection exist. However, little is known about the seniors’ acceptance of these systems. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the acceptance of automatic fall detection devices as well as the technological commitment and the health status in community-dwelling adults with a predefined risk of falling. Seniors with a risk of falling were equipped with either an accelerometer or an accelerometer with an additional visual and optical fall detection system in a sub-group of the study population for a period of eight weeks. Pre- and post-study questionnaires were used to assess attitudes and acceptance toward technology. In total, 14 subjects with a mean age of 75.1 years completed the study. Acceptance toward all sensors was high and subjects were confident in their ability to handle technology. Medical assessments showed only very mild physical and no mental impairments. Measures that assured subjects privacy protection were welcomed. Sensor technology should be as unobtrusive as possible. Privacy protection and uncomplicated use of the fall detection equipment led to high acceptance in seniors with high-technical commitment and good health status. Issues to further improve acceptance could be identified. Future research on different populations is necessary.Acceptance of seniors towards automatic in home fall detection devices
Florian Feldwieser, Michael Marchollek, Markus Meis, Matthias Gietzelt, Elisabeth Steinhagen-Thiessen
Journal of Assistive Technologies, Vol. 10, No. 4, pp.178-186

Senior citizen falls are one of the highest-cost factors of healthcare within this population group. Various approaches for automatic fall detection exist. However, little is known about the seniors’ acceptance of these systems. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the acceptance of automatic fall detection devices as well as the technological commitment and the health status in community-dwelling adults with a predefined risk of falling.

Seniors with a risk of falling were equipped with either an accelerometer or an accelerometer with an additional visual and optical fall detection system in a sub-group of the study population for a period of eight weeks. Pre- and post-study questionnaires were used to assess attitudes and acceptance toward technology.

In total, 14 subjects with a mean age of 75.1 years completed the study. Acceptance toward all sensors was high and subjects were confident in their ability to handle technology. Medical assessments showed only very mild physical and no mental impairments. Measures that assured subjects privacy protection were welcomed. Sensor technology should be as unobtrusive as possible.

Privacy protection and uncomplicated use of the fall detection equipment led to high acceptance in seniors with high-technical commitment and good health status. Issues to further improve acceptance could be identified. Future research on different populations is necessary.

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Acceptance of seniors towards automatic in home fall detection devices10.1108/JAT-07-2015-0021Journal of Assistive Technologies2016-12-19© 2016 Emerald Group Publishing LimitedFlorian FeldwieserMichael MarchollekMarkus MeisMatthias GietzeltElisabeth Steinhagen-ThiessenJournal of Assistive Technologies1042016-12-1910.1108/JAT-07-2015-0021https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JAT-07-2015-0021/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2016 Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Use of a sonification system for science learning by people who are blindhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JAT-11-2015-0032/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThe purpose of this paper is to examine a central need of students who are blind: the ability to access science curriculum content. Agent-based modeling is a relatively new computational modeling paradigm that models complex dynamic systems. NetLogo is a widely used agent-based modeling language that enables exploration and construction of models of complex systems by programming and running the rules and behaviors. Sonification of variables and events in an agent-based NetLogo computer model of gas in a container is used to convey phenomena information. This study examined mainly two research topics: the scientific conceptual knowledge and systems reasoning that were learned as a result of interaction with the listen-to-complexity (L2C) environment as appeared in answers to the pre- and post-tests and the learning topics of kinetic molecular theory of gas in chemistry that was learned as a result of interaction with the L2C environment. The case study research focused on A., a woman who is adventitiously blind, for eight sessions. The participant successfully completed all curricular assignments; her scientific conceptual knowledge and systems reasoning became more specific and aligned with scientific knowledge. A practical implication of further studies is that they are likely to have an impact on the accessibility of learning materials, especially in science education for students who are blind, as equal access to low-cost learning environments that are equivalent to those used by sighted users would support their inclusion in the K-12 academic curriculum. The innovative and low-cost learning system that is used in this research is based on transmittal of visual information of dynamic and complex systems, providing perceptual compensation by harnessing auditory feedback. For the first time the L2C system is based on sound that represents a dynamic rather than a static array. In this study, the authors explore how a combination of several auditory representations may affect cognitive learning ability.Use of a sonification system for science learning by people who are blind
Orly Lahav, Nuha Chagab, Vadim Talis
Journal of Assistive Technologies, Vol. 10, No. 4, pp.187-198

The purpose of this paper is to examine a central need of students who are blind: the ability to access science curriculum content.

Agent-based modeling is a relatively new computational modeling paradigm that models complex dynamic systems. NetLogo is a widely used agent-based modeling language that enables exploration and construction of models of complex systems by programming and running the rules and behaviors. Sonification of variables and events in an agent-based NetLogo computer model of gas in a container is used to convey phenomena information. This study examined mainly two research topics: the scientific conceptual knowledge and systems reasoning that were learned as a result of interaction with the listen-to-complexity (L2C) environment as appeared in answers to the pre- and post-tests and the learning topics of kinetic molecular theory of gas in chemistry that was learned as a result of interaction with the L2C environment. The case study research focused on A., a woman who is adventitiously blind, for eight sessions.

The participant successfully completed all curricular assignments; her scientific conceptual knowledge and systems reasoning became more specific and aligned with scientific knowledge.

A practical implication of further studies is that they are likely to have an impact on the accessibility of learning materials, especially in science education for students who are blind, as equal access to low-cost learning environments that are equivalent to those used by sighted users would support their inclusion in the K-12 academic curriculum.

The innovative and low-cost learning system that is used in this research is based on transmittal of visual information of dynamic and complex systems, providing perceptual compensation by harnessing auditory feedback. For the first time the L2C system is based on sound that represents a dynamic rather than a static array. In this study, the authors explore how a combination of several auditory representations may affect cognitive learning ability.

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Use of a sonification system for science learning by people who are blind10.1108/JAT-11-2015-0032Journal of Assistive Technologies2016-12-19© 2016 Emerald Group Publishing LimitedOrly LahavNuha ChagabVadim TalisJournal of Assistive Technologies1042016-12-1910.1108/JAT-11-2015-0032https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JAT-11-2015-0032/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2016 Emerald Group Publishing Limited
PROCEE: a PROstate Cancer Evaluation and Education serious game for African Caribbean menhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JAT-12-2015-0035/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestProstate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK. Black men are in a higher prostate cancer risk group possibly due to inherent genetic factors. The purpose of this paper is to introduce PROstate Cancer Evaluation and Education (PROCEE), an innovative serious game aimed at providing prostate cancer information and risk evaluation to black African-Caribbean men. PROCEE has been carefully co-designed with prostate cancer experts, prostate cancer patients and members of the black African-Caribbean community in order to ensure that it meets the real needs and expectations of the target audience. During the co-design process, the users defined an easy to use and entertaining game which can effectively raise awareness, inform users about prostate cancer and their risk, and encourage symptomatic men to seek medical attention in a timely manner. During focus group evaluations, users embraced the game and emphasised that it can potentially have a positive impact on changing user behaviour among high risk men who are experiencing symptoms and who are reluctant to visit their doctor.PROCEE: a PROstate Cancer Evaluation and Education serious game for African Caribbean men
Georgina Cosma, David Brown, Nicholas Shopland, Steven Battersby, Sarah Seymour-Smith, Matthew Archer, Masood Khan, A. Graham Pockley
Journal of Assistive Technologies, Vol. 10, No. 4, pp.199-210

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK. Black men are in a higher prostate cancer risk group possibly due to inherent genetic factors. The purpose of this paper is to introduce PROstate Cancer Evaluation and Education (PROCEE), an innovative serious game aimed at providing prostate cancer information and risk evaluation to black African-Caribbean men.

PROCEE has been carefully co-designed with prostate cancer experts, prostate cancer patients and members of the black African-Caribbean community in order to ensure that it meets the real needs and expectations of the target audience.

During the co-design process, the users defined an easy to use and entertaining game which can effectively raise awareness, inform users about prostate cancer and their risk, and encourage symptomatic men to seek medical attention in a timely manner.

During focus group evaluations, users embraced the game and emphasised that it can potentially have a positive impact on changing user behaviour among high risk men who are experiencing symptoms and who are reluctant to visit their doctor.

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PROCEE: a PROstate Cancer Evaluation and Education serious game for African Caribbean men10.1108/JAT-12-2015-0035Journal of Assistive Technologies2016-12-19© 2016 Emerald Group Publishing LimitedGeorgina CosmaDavid BrownNicholas ShoplandSteven BattersbySarah Seymour-SmithMatthew ArcherMasood KhanA. Graham PockleyJournal of Assistive Technologies1042016-12-1910.1108/JAT-12-2015-0035https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JAT-12-2015-0035/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2016 Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Virtual reality and robots for autism: moving beyond the screenhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JAT-09-2016-0018/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThis short paper reports on the fourth seminar in a seven-seminar series entitled, “Innovative Technologies for Autism: Critical Reflections on Digital Bubbles”, funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council. The purpose of this paper is to consider in more depth the technologies being developed and used in the autism field, and to critically reflect on their relative benefits and potential pitfalls. Presentations from key researchers and practitioners are reviewed, highlighting contemporary issues in the area of autism and technology. The presentations include descriptions of cutting-edge technologies as well as the role of technology in human-human interaction. Despite its potential, technology for autism is regarded by many with some caution: technology per se cannot provide solutions to key issues in the field. However, by looking in more depth at the features of new technologies and the interactions that take place with and around them, we can begin to build up a picture of best practice around technology for autism. This paper offers up-to-date insights from leading academics on the benefits and challenges of innovative technologies in the field of autism research and practice. Specifically, it highlights the importance of including a breadth of expertise in the design of such tools, and the need to consider technology as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself.Virtual reality and robots for autism: moving beyond the screen
Judith Good, Sarah Parsons, Nicola Yuill, Mark Brosnan
Journal of Assistive Technologies, Vol. 10, No. 4, pp.211-216

This short paper reports on the fourth seminar in a seven-seminar series entitled, “Innovative Technologies for Autism: Critical Reflections on Digital Bubbles”, funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council. The purpose of this paper is to consider in more depth the technologies being developed and used in the autism field, and to critically reflect on their relative benefits and potential pitfalls.

Presentations from key researchers and practitioners are reviewed, highlighting contemporary issues in the area of autism and technology. The presentations include descriptions of cutting-edge technologies as well as the role of technology in human-human interaction.

Despite its potential, technology for autism is regarded by many with some caution: technology per se cannot provide solutions to key issues in the field. However, by looking in more depth at the features of new technologies and the interactions that take place with and around them, we can begin to build up a picture of best practice around technology for autism.

This paper offers up-to-date insights from leading academics on the benefits and challenges of innovative technologies in the field of autism research and practice. Specifically, it highlights the importance of including a breadth of expertise in the design of such tools, and the need to consider technology as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself.

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Virtual reality and robots for autism: moving beyond the screen10.1108/JAT-09-2016-0018Journal of Assistive Technologies2016-12-19© 2016 Emerald Group Publishing LimitedJudith GoodSarah ParsonsNicola YuillMark BrosnanJournal of Assistive Technologies1042016-12-1910.1108/JAT-09-2016-0018https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JAT-09-2016-0018/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2016 Emerald Group Publishing Limited