Teaching two teenagers with autism spectrum disorders to request the continuation of video playback using a touchscreen computer with the function of automatic response to requests

This study used a standard touchscreen computer with a newly developed Communication Request and Automatic Response Assistive Program (CRARAP) software package to evaluate whether two people with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) would be able to actively perform communication requests to continue their preferred environmental stimulation. The CRARAP software was specifically developed for this study to combine the functions of a standard touchscreen computer with a speech-generating device (SGD) and the feature of automatic response to requests. A multiple probe design across participants was adopted in this study. The results show that both participants significantly improved their target responses in terms of performing the correct alternative communication request during the intervention phase, and retained this effective performance in the maintenance phase. The practical and developmental implications of the findings are discussed.     

Assisting people with disabilities improves their collaborative pointing efficiency through the use of the mouse scroll wheel

This study provided that people with multiple disabilities can have a collaborative working chance in computer operations through an Enhanced Multiple Cursor Dynamic Pointing Assistive Program (EMCDPAP, a new kind of software that replaces the standard mouse driver, changes a mouse wheel into a thumb/finger poke detector, and manages mouse actions). The study used an ABAB design to evaluate whether four people (two pairs) with multiple disabilities, who have very limited voluntary muscle control and cannot use a standard mouse, would be able to improve their collaborative pointing performance using their finger poke ability with a mouse wheel through EMCDPAP software. The data showed that both pairs of participants improved their collaborative pointing efficiency through the use of the EMCDPAP software during the intervention phase. The practical and developmental implications of the findings are discussed.     

Assisting people with disabilities improves their collaborative pointing efficiency through the use of the mouse scroll wheel

This study provided that people with multiple disabilities can have a collaborative working chance in computer operations through an Enhanced Multiple Cursor Dynamic Pointing Assistive Program (EMCDPAP, a new kind of software that replaces the standard mouse driver, changes a mouse wheel into a thumb/finger poke detector, and manages mouse actions). The study used an ABAB design to evaluate whether four people (two pairs) with multiple disabilities, who have very limited voluntary muscle control and cannot use a standard mouse, would be able to improve their collaborative pointing performance using their finger poke ability with a mouse wheel through EMCDPAP software. The data showed that both pairs of participants improved their collaborative pointing efficiency through the use of the EMCDPAP software during the intervention phase. The practical and developmental implications of the findings are discussed.     

An adaptive dynamic pointing assistance program to help people with multiple disabilities improve their computer pointing efficiency with hand swing through a standard mouse

The latest research adopted software technology to redesign the mouse driver, and turned a mouse into a useful pointing assistive device for people with multiple disabilities who cannot easily or possibly use a standard mouse, to improve their pointing performance through a new operation method, Extended Dynamic Pointing Assistive Program (EDPAP), where the user can swing his hand on the desktop to quickly move the cursor to a target.However, EDPAP has lower pointing efficiency due to the cursor jumping in sequence amongst the targets once there are many targets on the screen. This study evaluated whether two people with multiple disabilities would be able to improve their pointing performance through a new target acquisition technique based on EDPAP, Adaptive Dynamic Pointing Assistive Program (ADPAP), where the cursor movement path is selected adaptively by users’ hand swing direction, as opposed to being sequential. This study used multiple probe design across participants. Participants typically received three 30-min ADPAP training sessions per week, for a period of about 6–7 weeks. Initially, both participants had their baseline sessions. Then intervention started with the first participant. When his performance was consolidated, new baseline and intervention occurred with the second participant. Finally, both participants were exposed to the maintenance phase, in which their pointing performance improved significantly. Data indicated that both participants improved their pointing efficiency with the use of ADPAP and remained highly successful through the maintenance phase. Results of this study showed that, with the assistance of ADPAP, participants can acquire targets quickly, easily, and accurately, thus helping the disabled to solve their pointing problems.     

Extended Automatic Pointing Assistive Program—A pointing assistance program to help people with developmental disabilities improve their pointing efficiency

The latest research adopted software technology to improve pointing performance is through an Automatic Pointing Assistive Program (APAP). However, APAP has some limitations. This study evaluated whether two children with developmental disabilities would be able to improve their pointing performance through an Extended Automatic Pointing Assistive Program (EAPAP), which solves the limitations of APAP. Initially, both participants had their baseline sessions. Then intervention started with the first participant. When her performance was consolidated, new baseline and intervention occurred with the second participant. Finally, both participants were exposed to the maintenance phase, in which their pointing performance improved significantly. Data indicated that both participants improved their pointing efficiency with the use of EAPAP and remained highly successful through the maintenance phase. Results of this study showed that, with the assistance of EAPAP, participants can position targets quickly, easily and accurately, thus helping the disabled to solve their pointing problems.     

Assisting people with developmental disabilities to improve computer pointing efficiency through Multiple Mice and Automatic Pointing Assistive Programs

This study combines multi-mice technology (people with disabilities can use standard mice, instead of specialized alternative computer input devices, to achieve complete mouse operation) with an assistive pointing function (i.e. cursor-capturing, which enables the user to move the cursor to the target center automatically), to assess whether two people with developmental disabilities would be able to improve their pointing performance through a Multiple Mice Automatic Pointing Assistive Program (MMAPAP), where driver technology is adopted to enable people with disabilities to export the remaining ability of each limb to complete the mouse operation. At the beginning of the study, both participants received their baseline sessions. Then the first participant started his intervention session. The second participant had her intervention when the first participant's performance was consolidated. In the end, both participants were exposed to the maintenance phase, in which their pointing performance improved significantly. Data showed that both participants improved their pointing efficiency with the use of MMAPAP and remained highly successful through the maintenance phase. Implications of the findings are discussed.     

Assisting people with multiple disabilities to improve computer typing efficiency through a mouse wheel and On-Screen Keyboard software

The main purpose of this study was to find out whether three students with multiple disabilities could increase their keyboard typing performance by poking the standard mouse scroll wheel with the newly developed Dynamic Typing Assistive Program (DTAP) and the built-in On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) computer software. The DTAP is a software solution that allows users to complete typing tasks with OSK software easily, quickly, and accurately by poking the mouse wheel. This study was performed according to a multiple baseline design across participants, and the experimental data showed that all of the participants significantly increased their typing efficiency in the intervention phase. Moreover, this improved performance was maintained during the maintenance phase. Practical and developmental implications of the findings were discussed.     

Assisting students with autism to actively perform collaborative walking activity with their peers using dance pads combined with preferred environmental stimulation

The purpose of this study was to provide students with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) the opportunity to cooperate with their peers. This experiment was designed so that students with ASD and their partners were required to perform the collaborative walking activity using dance pads combined with preferred stimulation. With the foot-pressing position detection program (FPPDP) software, standard dance pads could be used as foot-pressing position detectors to detect participants’ collaborative walking activities. An ABAB design was adopted in this experiment, where A represented baseline phases, and B represented intervention phases. The experimental results show that the participants increased their willingness to perform the assigned task and the actual amount of collaborative walking activity also increased during the intervention phases compared to the baseline phases. Practical and developmental implications of the findings are discussed.     

An automatic Drag-and-Drop assistive program developed to assistive people with developmental disabilities to improve Drag-and-Drop efficiency

The latest researches adopted software technology to improve pointing performance; however, Drag-and-Drop (DnD) operation is also commonly used in modern GUI programming. This study evaluated whether two children with developmental disabilities would be able to improve their DnD performance, through an Automatic DnD Assistive Program (ADnDAP). At first, both participants had their baseline sessions. Then the first participant entered into intervention. New intervention began with the second participant when his performance was consolidated. Finally, maintenance phase occurred with both participants, in which their DnD performance improved significantly. Data showed that both participants improved their DnD efficiency with the assistance of ADnDAP, and remained highly successful through maintenance phase. Implications of the findings are discussed.     

Using an Extended Automatic Target Acquisition Program with dual cursor technology to assist people with developmental disabilities improve their pointing efficiency

The latest research adopting software technology to improve pointing performance is through an Extended Automatic Pointing Assistive Program (EAPAP). However, EAPAP has some limitations. This study evaluated whether two children with developmental disabilities would be able to improve their pointing performance through an Extended Dual Cursor Automatic Pointing Assistive Program (EDCAPAP), which solves the limitations of EAPAP. Initially, both participants had their baseline sessions. Then intervention started with the first participant. New baseline and intervention occurred with the second participant when his performance was consolidated. Finally, both participants were exposed to the maintenance phase, in which their pointing performance improved significantly. Results of this study showed that, with the assistance of EDCAPAP, participants can position targets quickly, easily, and accurately, thus helping the disabled to solve their pointing problems.     

Assisting people with developmental disabilities improve their collaborative pointing efficiency with a Multiple Cursor Automatic Pointing Assistive Program

This study evaluated whether four persons (two groups) with developmental disabilities would be able to improve their collaborative pointing performance through a Multiple Cursor Automatic Pointing Assistive Program (MCAPAP) with a newly developed mouse driver (i.e., a new mouse driver replaces standard mouse driver, and is able to intercept/simulate mouse action). The study was performed according to an ABAB design, in which A represented baseline and B represented intervention phases. Data showed that both groups of participants improved their collaborative pointing ability through the use of MCAPAP during the B (intervention) phase. Practical and developmental implications of the findings are discussed.     

Assisting people with disabilities improves their collaborative pointing efficiency with a Multiple Cursor Dynamic Pointing Assistive Program

This study evaluated whether four persons (two groups) with multiple disabilities and minimal motor behavior would be able to improve their collaborative pointing performance using finger poke ability with a mouse wheel through a Multiple Cursor Dynamic Pointing Assistive Program (MCDPAP) with a newly developed mouse driver (i.e., a new mouse driver that replaces the standard mouse driver, changes a mouse wheel into a thumb/finger poke detector, and intercepts/simulates mouse action). The study was performed according to an ABAB design, in which A represented the baseline and B represented intervention phases. Data showed that both groups of participants improved their collaborative pointing ability through the use of MCDPAP during the intervention phase. Practical and developmental implications of the findings are discussed.     

Assisting people with multiple disabilities to use computers with multiple mice

This study assessed the combination of multiple mice aid with two persons with multiple disabilities. Complete mouse operation which needed the physically functional sound, was distributed among their limbs with remaining ability. Through these decentralized operations, they could still reach complete mouse pointing control. Initially, both participants had their baseline sessions. Then intervention started with the first participant. When his performance was consolidated, new baseline and intervention occurred with the second participant. Finally, both participants were exposed to maintenance phase, in which their pointing performance improved significantly. Data indicated that both participants: (a) learnt to use multi-mice to realize pointing (b) remained highly successful through maintenance phase. Implications of the findings are discussed.     

Assisting people with developmental disabilities to improve pointing efficiency with an Automatic Pointing Assistive Program

This study evaluated whether two children with developmental disabilities would be able to improve their pointing performance through an Automatic Pointing Assistive Program (APAP) and a newly developed mouse driver (i.e. a new mouse driver replaces standard mouse driver, and is able to intercept mouse click action). Initially, both participants had their baseline sessions. Then intervention started with the first participant. When her performance was consolidated, new baseline and intervention occurred with the second participant. Finally, both participants were exposed to maintenance phase, in which their pointing performance improved significantly. Data indicated that both participants: (a) improved their pointing efficiency with the use of APAP and (b) remained highly successful through maintenance phase. Implications of the findings are discussed.     

Using an Extended Automatic Target Acquisition Program with Dual Cursor technology to assist people with developmental disabilities in improving their pointing efficiency

The latest research adopting software technology to improve pointing performance is through an Automatic Target Acquisition Program (ATAP), where the user can click on the mouse button when a dashed line is aimed at the desired target, instead of moving the cursor to the target. However, ATAP has one limitation - it cannot benefit from Mouseover effects because they only work when the cursor is over the target. This study evaluated whether two children with developmental disabilities would be able to improve their pointing performance through a Dual Cursor Automatic Target Acquisition Program (DCATAP), which solves the limitation of ATAP. At the beginning, both participants had baseline sessions. Then the first participant began his intervention sessions. New intervention occurred with the second participant when the first participant's performance was consolidated. Finally, both participants were exposed to the maintenance phase, in which their pointing performance improved significantly. With the assistance of DCATAP, participants can significantly improve their pointing performance, and can position targets quickly, easily, and accurately.     

Assisting people with multiple disabilities improve their computer pointing efficiency with thumb poke through a standard trackball

This study evaluated whether two people with multiple disabilities who could not easily use a computer through a standard input device (i.e., mouse or trackball) would be able to improve their pointing performance using thumb poke with a standard trackball through a Dynamic Trackball-Pointing Assistive Program (DTPAP) and a newly developed trackball driver (i.e., a new trackball driver replaces the standard trackball driver, and changes a trackball into a precise thumb poke detector, and intercepts trackball action). Initially, both participants were given baseline sessions, then intervention started with the first participant. When his performance was consolidated, new baseline and intervention occurred with the second participant. Finally, both participants were exposed to the maintenance phase. Data indicated that both participants improved their pointing performance significantly with the use of DTPAP and remained highly successful through the maintenance phase. Implications of the findings are discussed.     

Assisting people with developmental disabilities to improve pointing efficiency with a Dual Cursor Automatic Pointing Assistive Program

This study evaluated whether two persons with developmental disabilities would be able to improve their pointing performance through a Dual Cursor Automatic Pointing Assistive Program (DCAPAP) with a newly developed mouse driver (i.e., a new mouse driver replaces standard mouse driver, and is able to intercept/detect mouse movement action). First, baseline sessions started with both participants. Then the first participant had his intervention session. When his performance was consolidated, new baseline and intervention occurred with the second participant. Finally, both participants were exposed to maintenance phase, in which their pointing performance improved significantly. Data showed that both participants improved their pointing efficiency through the use of DCAPAP and retained their successful results through maintenance phase. Implications of the findings are discussed.     

A wireless object location detector enabling people with developmental disabilities to control environmental stimulation through simple occupational activities with Nintendo Wii Balance Boards

The latest researches have adopted software technology, turning the Nintendo Wii Balance Board into a high performance standing location detector with a newly developed standing location detection program (SLDP). This study extended SLDP functionality to assess whether two people with developmental disabilities would be able to actively perform simple occupational activities by controlling their favorite environmental stimulation using Nintendo Wii Balance Boards and SLDP software. An ABAB design was adopted in this study to perform the tests. The test results showed that, during the intervention phases, both participants significantly increased their target response (i.e. simple occupational activity) to activate the control system to produce environmental stimulation. The practical and developmental implications of the findings are discussed.     

Assisting people with multiple disabilities and minimal motor behavior to improve computer pointing efficiency through a mouse wheel

This study evaluated whether two people with multiple disabilities and minimal motor behavior would be able to improve their pointing performance using finger poke ability with a mouse wheel through a Dynamic Pointing Assistive Program (DPAP) and a newly developed mouse driver (i.e., a new mouse driver replaces standard mouse driver, changes a mouse wheel into a thumb/finger poke detector, and intercepts mouse action). Initially, both participants had their baseline sessions. Then intervention started with the first participant. When his performance was consolidated, new baseline and intervention occurred with the second participant. Finally, both participants were exposed to maintenance phase, in which their pointing performance improved significantly. Both participants improved their pointing efficiency with the use of DPAP and remained highly successful through maintenance phase. Implications of the findings are discussed.     

Assisting obese students with intellectual disabilities to actively perform the activity of walking in place using a dance pad to control their preferred environmental stimulation

This study used a standard dance pad with a newly developed foot-pressing position detection program (FPPDP) software program. FPPDP is a new software program which was used to turn a standard dance pad into a foot-pressing position detector to evaluate whether two people with intellectual disabilities would be able to actively perform the activity of walking in place in order to control their preferred environmental stimulation. This study was performed according to a multiple baseline design across participants. The data showed that both participants were more willing to perform the activity of walking activity to activate the environmental stimulation during the intervention phases than in the baseline phase, and retained this effective performance in the maintenance phase. The practical and developmental implications of the findings are discussed.