In this paper, a user terminal interface is described realizing an application allowing autonomous and safe mobility of people on a wheelchair. The application has been developed in the framework of the NADIA research project, funded and promoted by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and implemented by Thales Alenia Space Italia with the collaboration of a mixed team of companies, university and user associations. The project has brought to the realization of a system exploiting the combined use of satellite navigation technologies based on GPS, EGNOS and augmentation signals, of hybridized technologies and of specific and user-oriented services implemented by terrestrial infrastructures. The user terminal selected is a consumer laptop, due to its flexibility, processing power, possibility of connection to other devices needed for the application. The user terminal has been made suitable to provide NADIA services also to wheelchair users presenting different kinds and degrees of upper limb disabilities, by means of a proper hardware solution overcoming limitations of existing technical aids for PC accessibility, not intended to be used in an autonomous mobility scenario. Also thanks to a proper control scheme of the application implemented by the terminal software, users may be provided with NADIA services by means of commercially available switch sensors specifically devoted to exploit user-specific residual abilities. The development of the solution has been constantly guided by hints and feedbacks from user associations, partners in the project. The NADIA prototype system has been successfully tested in several occasions by wheelchair users with upper limb disabilities.
The NADIA Terminal User Interface for People with Motor Disabilities
FANUCCI, LUCA;IACOPETTI, FABRIZIO;
2009-01-01
Abstract
In this paper, a user terminal interface is described realizing an application allowing autonomous and safe mobility of people on a wheelchair. The application has been developed in the framework of the NADIA research project, funded and promoted by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and implemented by Thales Alenia Space Italia with the collaboration of a mixed team of companies, university and user associations. The project has brought to the realization of a system exploiting the combined use of satellite navigation technologies based on GPS, EGNOS and augmentation signals, of hybridized technologies and of specific and user-oriented services implemented by terrestrial infrastructures. The user terminal selected is a consumer laptop, due to its flexibility, processing power, possibility of connection to other devices needed for the application. The user terminal has been made suitable to provide NADIA services also to wheelchair users presenting different kinds and degrees of upper limb disabilities, by means of a proper hardware solution overcoming limitations of existing technical aids for PC accessibility, not intended to be used in an autonomous mobility scenario. Also thanks to a proper control scheme of the application implemented by the terminal software, users may be provided with NADIA services by means of commercially available switch sensors specifically devoted to exploit user-specific residual abilities. The development of the solution has been constantly guided by hints and feedbacks from user associations, partners in the project. The NADIA prototype system has been successfully tested in several occasions by wheelchair users with upper limb disabilities.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
