Assistive Technology Laboratory (ATLab) / Project completed

Tablet and Apps for people with special needs

The aim of the project ATLab is to develop a flexible and simple system for the development of applications (Apps) for people with special needs on tablet computers. There are only in the German-speaking area more than 10 million people living with different disabilities.

Motivation

Special input devices as well as special adapted software applications are only limited available and usually very expensive. This is why the access to digital learning content is currently limited or even not possible for people with disabilities. At the same time nearly every day a new touchpad or tablet device is presented. These become now affordable for the consumer market. They have the potential to provide a cost-effective and easy access to digital learning content for training and therapy facilities for people with special needs.

Objectives

The system consists essentially of the following components:

• Software framework for easy and rapid development of accessible content for people with disabilities on different platforms
• Software components for easy integration of specific hardware controls (Microsoft Kinect, IntegraMouse Plus, Eyetracking, Tagged Objects, Button Control)
• Server system as basis for the implementation of new learning concepts and for targeted networking for people with special needs
  
  

To develop these components the specific needs of people with disabilities are analyzed and structured. After the selection of the appropriate architecture and the actual system specifications, a proof-of-concept is made regarding the terms of functionality, usability and accessibility. The permanent integration of end-users and experts guarantees a solution that is optimally tailored to the needs of all stakeholders involved.

Target Group/Beneficiaries

In particular these new technologies and interaction concepts offer opportunities to realize a better and more efficient access to digital learning content for the following target groups:

• People with learning disabilities
• People with (minor) motor impairments
• People with speech disabilities
  
  

This is applied to children, adolescents, adults and the elderly.