Publications

The continuum of controlling an assistive robotic manipulator (ARM) ranges from manual control to full autonomy. Shared control of an ARM operates in the space between manual control and full autonomy. This paper reviews the status quo on shared control of ARMs. Though users and ARMs can divide responsibilities for a manipulation task in…

We developed and evaluated an assistive robotic manipulator called KitchenBot that operates along an overhead track built into the kitchen to assist individuals with upper extremity impairments for common kitchen tasks. Focus groups conducted with eleven participants from the potential user population revealed that potential users had very positive perceptions, opinions, and attitudes toward…

An alternative interaction method, called the circling interface, was developed and evaluated for individuals with disabilities who find it difficult or impossible to consistently and efficiently perform pointing operations involving the left and right mouse buttons. The circling interface is a gesture-based interaction technique. To specify a target of interest, the user makes a…

We have developed an intelligent single switch scanning interface and wheelchair navigation assistance system, called intelligent single switch wheelchair navigation (ISSWN), to improve driving safety, comfort and efficiency for individuals who rely on single switch scanning as a control method. ISSWN combines a standard powered wheelchair with a laser rangefinder, a single switch scanning…

We applied Morse code as an alternative input method for powered wheelchair navigation to improve driving efficiency for individuals with physical disabilities. In lab trials performed by four testers, it demonstrated significant improvement in driving efficiency by reducing the driving time, compared to traditional single switch wheelchair navigation.

Single-switch scanning is one of the slowest way for people with severe motor impairments to access a wide range of assistive technologies, such as entering text into computer applications, manipulating alternative and augmentative communication devices, and operating power wheelchairs. Automating scanning rate adjustment has been investigated as a means of improving selection rate by…

The successful use of micro computers is regarded as the fundamental necessity for an occupational and educational placement of people with visual impairments. People with visual impairments have long been actively adopting computers and assistive technology devices as integral parts of their lives. For example, 2002 NTIA survey reported that people with visual impairments…

In this paper we present a new design idea as an alternative to improve on-screen target acquisition for individuals who have difficulty pointing by inferring the user’s intended target from the user’s mouse movements. The intended target is inferred based on real-time mouse movement information and the properties of all user interface elements currently…