RESUMEN
The inability to identify people during group meetings is a disadvantage for blind people in many professional and educational situations. To explore the efficacy of face recognition using smartphones in these settings, we have prototyped and tested a face recognition tool for blind users. The tool utilizes Smartphone technology in conjunction with a wireless network to provide audio feedback of the people in front of the blind user. Testing indicated that the face recognition technology can tolerate up to a 40 degree angle between the direction a person is looking and the camera's axis and a 96% success rate with no false positives. Future work will be done to further develop the technology for local face recognition on the smartphone in addition to remote server based face recognition.
Asunto(s)
Algoritmos , Biometría/métodos , Ceguera/rehabilitación , Teléfono Celular , Cara/anatomía & histología , Interpretación de Imagen Asistida por Computador/métodos , Reconocimiento de Normas Patrones Automatizadas/métodos , Humanos , Aumento de la Imagen/métodos , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Grabación en Video/métodosRESUMEN
Surface electrodes in modern myoelectric prosthetics are often embedded in the prosthesis socket and make contact with the skin. These electrodes detect and amplify muscle action potentials from voluntary contractions of the muscle in the residual limb and are used to control the prosthetic's movement and function. There are a number of performance-related deficiencies associated with external electrodes including the maintenance of sufficient electromyogram (EMG) signal amplitude, extraneous noise acquisition, and proper electrode interface maintenance that are expected to be improved or eliminated using the proposed implanted sensors. This research seeks to investigate the design components for replacing external electrodes with fully-implantable myoelectric sensors that include a wireless interface to the prosthetic limbs. This implanted technology will allow prosthetic limb manufacturers to provide products with increased performance, capability, and patient-comfort. The EMG signals from the intramuscular recording electrode are amplified and wirelessly transmitted to a receiver in the prosthetic limb. Power to the implant is maintained using a rechargeable battery and an inductive energy transfer link from the prosthetic. A full experimental system was developed to demonstrate that a wireless biopotential sensor can be designed that meets the requirements of size, power, and performance for implantation.
Asunto(s)
Miembros Artificiales , Suministros de Energía Eléctrica , Electrodos Implantados , Electromiografía/instrumentación , Diseño de Prótesis/instrumentación , Tecnología Inalámbrica/instrumentaciónRESUMEN
To explore the efficacy of using a far infrared thermal camera with a haptic display to assist blind people in identifying humans, we performed experiments with a prototype device on five low-vision (functionally blind) subjects. Infrared allows for easy detection of human shape due to typically high contrast in temperatures from a person against their surrounding environment. Infrared cameras can be made small and inexpensive with uncooled microbolometer technology. Our study showed a great willingness by the blind subjects to use such a device after a short training session and both successful and unsuccessful operation. Future work will further develop the technology and undertake more expansive testing.
Asunto(s)
Ceguera/fisiopatología , Discriminación en Psicología/fisiología , Percepción de Forma , Rayos Infrarrojos , Termografía/instrumentación , Termografía/métodos , Percepción Visual , Humanos , Modelos Biológicos , Estimulación Luminosa , Desempeño Psicomotor/fisiología , Visión Ocular/fisiología , Campos Visuales/fisiologíaAsunto(s)
Hernia Inguinal/cirugía , Conducto Inguinal/cirugía , Ligamentos/cirugía , Humanos , MétodosRESUMEN
Minnesota high school students were surveyed about their attitudes, beliefs, and opinions about health, illness, and medical care. Data were obtained from small group discussions conducted by the adolescents themselves in schools and agencies throughout the state. This paper reports their views toward adolescent medical services. Teenagers emphasized the idea of service appropriateness as central to promoting service utilization. Key to the concept of appropriateness were the components of staff, cost and confidentiality. Each of these dimensions is examined from the view of youth as to implications for increased appropriateness of services for both utilization and improved health. Findings are discussed in terms of differences in problem definition between the adolescent and professional, and their implications for medical care in conventional and alternative settings.