Tecnologia assistiva para pessoas com deficiência visual: avaliação da eficiência de dispositivos para mobilidade pessoal
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Data
2019-02-06
Autores
Santos, Aline Darc Piculo dos
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Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Resumo
A ausência da visão altera o padrão da marcha e a velocidade de caminhada, aumentando a dependência social e as chances de quedas e acidentes, comprometendo assim a mobilidade independente e a participação social. Dessa forma, é necessário o uso de dispositivos de Tecnologia Assistiva (TA), dentre os quais destaca-se a bengala: um bastão manual com ponteira que auxilia o usuário na orientação da trajetória e detecção de obstáculos. Embora a bengala contribua para a segurança e independência na mobilidade, nota-se ainda resistência na sua utilização, que pode ser explicada pela sua limitação no alcance de obstáculos, podendo ocasionar acidentes e riscos à saúde dos usuários. A bengala eletrônica surge como uma solução para este problema. Através do sensor ultrassom, ela detecta obstáculos acima da linha da cintura emitindo sinais sonoros e táteis. Para avaliar se a nova tecnologia é de fato mais eficiente para mobilidade dos usuários, este projeto de pesquisa propôs a comparação da eficiência de dois tipos de bengala - a tradicional e a eletrônica - através da execução de um trajeto com obstáculos artificiais, analisando o desempenho através das variáveis velocidade de caminhada e porcentagem de detecção de obstáculos. O estudo foi dividido em dois grupos amostrais: participantes vendados sem deficiência visual (N = 31) e participantes com deficiência visual (N = 10). O estudo também avaliou a usabilidade dos dispositivos segundo a perspectiva dos participantes, a satisfação dos usuários de TA com seus recursos através do QUEST 2.0 e as suas percepções com relação à qualidade de vida através do WHOQOL-bref. Os resultados sugerem que a bengala eletrônica apresenta-se como uma vantagem sobre a bengala tradicional pela sua capacidade de detectar obstáculos acima da linha da cintura, podendo contribuir com uma mobilidade mais segura. Com relação ao parâmetro velocidade, a bengala eletrônica apresentou desempenho significativamente menor que a tradicional. Os sinais emitidos pela bengala podem ter sobrecarregado os participantes, o que pode ter reduzido suas velocidades. Estudos longitudinais de uso na rotina dos usuários podem trazer informações mais precisas sobre as contribuições do uso deste dispositivo. Os resultados também indicam que os usuários estão insatisfeitos com a estabilidade e segurança oferecidas por suas bengalas, demonstrando a necessidade do desenvolvimento de novos dispositivos. Com isso, este projeto contribui com diretrizes para o design de TAs com melhor usabilidade, oferecendo mais segurança e conforto aos usuários.
The absence of vision changes the gait pattern and the walking speed, increasing social dependence and the chances of falls and accidents, thus compromising the independent mobility and social participation. Therefore, the use of Assistive Technology (AT) devices is necessary, among which stands out the white cane: a hand stick with a tip that helps the user in the path orientation and obstacles detection. Although the white cane contributes for safety and independence in the mobility, it is noted the resistance in its use, which can be explained by its limitation in the range of obstacles, which may cause accidents and risks to the user's health. The electronic cane arises as a solution to this problem. By the means of an ultrasonic sensor, it detects obstacles above the waistline sending sound and tactile feedback. To evaluate if the new technology is indeed more efficient for the users' mobility, this research project proposed the comparison of efficiency between two types of canes - the traditional white cane and the electronic cane - by the means of a performance of a path with artificial obstacles, analyzing the performance through the variables walking speed and obstacles detection percentage. The study was split into two sample groups: blindfolded participants without visual impairment (N = 31) and participants with visual impairments (N = 10). The study also evaluated the usability of the devices according to the participants' perspective, the AT users' satisfaction with their resources by the means of QUEST 2.0 and their perceptions regarding quality of life through WHOQOL-bref. The results suggest that the electronic cane presents itself as an advantage over the traditional cane because of its ability in detecting obstacles above the waistline, which may contribute to safer mobility. Regarding the speed parameter, the electronic cane presented a performance significantly slower than the traditional white cane. The feedback sent by the cane may have overloaded the participants, which may have reduced their speeds. Longitudinal studies of the use in the users routine may bring more precise information about the contributions of use of this device. The results also indicated that the users are unsatisfied with the stability and safety provided by their canes, showing the need for the development of new devices. Thereby, this project contributes with guidelines for the design of ATs with better usability, offering more safety and comfort to the users.
The absence of vision changes the gait pattern and the walking speed, increasing social dependence and the chances of falls and accidents, thus compromising the independent mobility and social participation. Therefore, the use of Assistive Technology (AT) devices is necessary, among which stands out the white cane: a hand stick with a tip that helps the user in the path orientation and obstacles detection. Although the white cane contributes for safety and independence in the mobility, it is noted the resistance in its use, which can be explained by its limitation in the range of obstacles, which may cause accidents and risks to the user's health. The electronic cane arises as a solution to this problem. By the means of an ultrasonic sensor, it detects obstacles above the waistline sending sound and tactile feedback. To evaluate if the new technology is indeed more efficient for the users' mobility, this research project proposed the comparison of efficiency between two types of canes - the traditional white cane and the electronic cane - by the means of a performance of a path with artificial obstacles, analyzing the performance through the variables walking speed and obstacles detection percentage. The study was split into two sample groups: blindfolded participants without visual impairment (N = 31) and participants with visual impairments (N = 10). The study also evaluated the usability of the devices according to the participants' perspective, the AT users' satisfaction with their resources by the means of QUEST 2.0 and their perceptions regarding quality of life through WHOQOL-bref. The results suggest that the electronic cane presents itself as an advantage over the traditional cane because of its ability in detecting obstacles above the waistline, which may contribute to safer mobility. Regarding the speed parameter, the electronic cane presented a performance significantly slower than the traditional white cane. The feedback sent by the cane may have overloaded the participants, which may have reduced their speeds. Longitudinal studies of the use in the users routine may bring more precise information about the contributions of use of this device. The results also indicated that the users are unsatisfied with the stability and safety provided by their canes, showing the need for the development of new devices. Thereby, this project contributes with guidelines for the design of ATs with better usability, offering more safety and comfort to the users.
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Palavras-chave
Design, Deficiência visual, Tecnologia assistiva, Mobilidade, Visual impairment, Assistive technology, Mobility