Catálogo de publicaciones - libros

Ubiquitous healthcare is introduced in terms of technology and service, considering the current technology as well as the future technology and services. In the first section, we introduce the key techniques of ubiquitous healthcare for next-generation medical treatment services. In the second section, we introduce the wireless sensor network (WSN) and ANTS (an Evolvable Network of Tiny Sensors). In the last section, we discuss real-time health-monitoring network for the disabled and elderly people using an inexpensive and effective Web server and health-monitoring sensors in a wrist phone.

In our modern 21st century, daily life would be unthinkable without computers. Multimedia and virtual reality are useful for people with spein medical informatics, rehabilitation and assistive & preventive healthcare. This chapter deals with multimedia applications intended for use by medical doctors, nurses and other interested persons. It describes ways in which multimedia can assist in their work. These include the areas of diagnosis and the application to training. Matters that are important to patients are also dealt with. Some of these are how multimedia can help their rehabilitation.

In our modern 21st century, daily life would be unthinkable without computers. Multimedia and virtual reality are useful for people with special needs. This chapter presents a general overview of the use of virtual reality in medical informatics, rehabilitation and assistive & preventive healthcare.

This chapter addresses the concept and the fundamental ideas of the digital talking book (DTB), with a particular focus on DTBs in the DAISY format. A possible way to structure a digital production and distribution flow is presented, and the way in which this given structure influences the end user’s access to information is discussed. In connection to this, the concepts ‘Customised end-user product’, ‘Search and generator machine’ and finally ‘Server based interactive talking web sites’ are described.

This chapter first presents a review of existing locomotion assistance devices for the blind. These devices are merely proximeters, that measure the distance to the closest obstacles, and convey this information to their users. We introduce the measurement methods (infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, laser telemeters) and the user interfaces (sounds and tactile vibrations). Then, we analyse the shortcomings of these systems, and thus explain what additional features new devices could offer. To study the feasibility of such systems, we tackle the different issues raised in the process: localizing users, modeling their environment and adding semantic annotations. Finally, we explain how such devices could fit into a view of ambient intelligence, and how the problems raised extend beyond the field of assistance to blind people.

A Multimedia communication system for blind users is developed. The system is named MIMIZU and its terminal is composed of a refreshable tactile graphic display and a stylus pen device that utilizes ultrasonic technologies. Blind users can make drawings directly on the tactile display surface with the stylus pen. It was originally developed as a drawing system with an erasing function. As the research progresses, we have noticed that it has a potential as a communication system for the blind with multimedia interactions. To implement the system, we made a pair of terminals and connected them by a network cable and developed communication software for a whiteboard application. Using the system, a pair of blind users can make and share tactile image information with each other. We describe results of a simple experiment in which one subject tried to transmit simple drawings to the other subject using this system. The tactile display’s resolution presented the difficulty in transmitting a circle, but the results were useful when transmitting shapes based on straight lines. Even when the subject is a circle, it is recognized when prior information is available. In addition to the communication software, we developed a type of ping-pong game for the system. The ball is shown by four pins arranged in a square and it moves from side to side. To play the game, players must hit the ball with a racket controlled by the stylus pen. The experiment with blind players showed that they could enjoy this game.

In our modern information and communication society, daily life would be unthinkable without technology. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is also very useful for people with special needs. As the acoustic channel is barred to the deaf, all acoustic data have to be presented in visual form, ideally in sign language. This chapter presents a general overview of the use of ICT for deaf people using current as well as future technologies. The focus is on communication, e-learning and barrier-free access to information. Various projects of the Center for Sign Language serve as practical examples, and illustrate the Austrian situation.

This Gait Training system is designed to simulate the effects of gait training in a swimming pool. The weight of the subject is supported by a slinging system, while the subject walks on force plates placed on a round track. The slinging force is controlled by the data collected from the force plates. The purpose of the system is to control the slinging force to maintain the most effective load on the subject’s lower extremity during training, and to adapt the slinging force to the subject’s recovery. The training effects are evaluated on the basis of the data that are obtained from the force plate etc. This system is tested by impaired people to evaluate its performance and efficacy. A major problem of deficient body alignment of the walking posture was found as a result of the tests. We propose mounting a display so that the results of this improvement can be verified. The effects on the walking posture using the Gait Training System were also tested on normal persons. The difference of the posture in normal gait and device-supported gait is shown.