SBIR-STTR Award

This project develops and field tests a prototype software/hardware assessment package to support assistive technology assessment personnel responsible for selection of appropriate control interface devices for persons who have difficulty interacting with their environment. This population includes individuals with learning, intellectual, or physical disabilities; very young persons; and/or elderly persons. The Control Interface Assessment System (CIAS) includes software designed to measure critical characteristics of the client's ability to interact with a variety of available and potentially useful control interface devices such as touch keyboards and adaptive switches. The Phase I prototype CIAS system will be compatible with standard microcomputers and utilize two specially designed control interface devices: a Membrane Keyboard Simulator (MKS) and a Universal Adjustable Microswitch (UAS). These devices will connect to a microcomputer and be operated by the client following a series of standardized test sequences under software control using visual, auditory, and kinesthetic prompting. CIAS has the capability to simulate a wide array of expensive, highly specialized control interface devices prior to a decision to acquire any particular one and is intended to greatly improve the accuracy of assessment procedures for determining appropriate devices for environmental manipulation and control.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:A number of spin-off products that can be marketed separately are likely to result from the successful completion of Phase I. These include a book based on the CIAS User's Guide; the seating and positioning kits with accompanying documentation; independent software products in the form of the DINO-SCAN single-switch software series for young children, new types of access devices for people with disabilities such as an adjustable force electronic switch modeled on the UAS and force-sensitive "smart" keyboards based on the MKS.National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

This project develops and field tests a software/hardware assessment tool for assistive technology personnel who select appropriate control interface devices for persons who have difficulty interacting with their environment. This population includes very young or elderly individuals with learning, intellectual, or physical disabilities. The Control Interface Assessment System (CIAS) includes software to measure critical characteristics of users ability to interact with many potentially useful control interface devices such as touch keyboards and adaptive switches. Based on successful Phase I prototypes, CIAS is compatible with standard microcomputers and utilizes specially designed control interface devices: a Membrane Keyboard Simulator, Universal Assessment Switch, and Joystick Simulator. These devices are operated by the user performing a series of assessment activities under software control employing visual, auditory, and kinesthetic prompting. CIAS measures actuating force, displacement, targeting accuracy, response latency, time duration of activations, and other factors. It improves the accuracy of assessment procedures and provides objective information professionals need to make more reliable and thorough control interface assessments. Secondary advantages include reduced fatigue and strain on the person assessed and elimination of the need to purchase and work with the wide array of commercial access devices now necessary to complete an assessment.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research: The Control Interface Assessment System will be useful to a variety of professionals involved in technology assessment procedures for persons in need of alternate ways of interacting with their environment. These professionals include physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech/language pathologists, educators, technology specialists, rehabilitation counselors, vocational counselors, medical personnel, and engineers. In addition, this system will be useful in audiology, ophthalmology orthopedics, neurology, rehabilitation nursing. It will be of special interest to state agencies involved in the implementation of The Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (PL 100-407).National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)