Assistive technology has made it feasible for individuals with a wide range of impairments to engage in many activities, such as education and employment, in ways not previously possible. The key factor is to create consumer-driven technologies that solve the problems by addressing the needs of persons with visual impairments. Assistive Technology for Blindness and Low Vision explores a broad range of technologies that are improving the lives of these individuals. Presenting the current state of the art, this book emphasizes what can be learned from past successful products, as well as what exciting new solutions the future holds. Written by world-class leaders in their field, the chapters cover the physiological bases of vision loss and the fundamentals of orientation, mobility, and information access for blind and low vision individuals. They discuss technology for multiple applications (mobility, wayfinding, information access, education, work, entertainment), including both established technology and cutting-edge research. The book also examines computer and digital media access and the scientific basis for the theory and practice of sensory substitution. This volume provides a holistic view of the elements to consider when designing assistive technology for persons with visual impairment, keeping in mind the need for a user-driven approach to successfully design products that are easy to use, well priced, and fill a specific need. Written for a broad audience, this book provides a comprehensive overview and in-depth descriptions of current technology for designers, engineers, practitioners, rehabilitation professionals, and all readers interested in the challenges and promises of creating successful assistive technology.

The two-volume set LNCS 13341 and 13342 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the Joint International Conference on Digital Inclusion, Assistive Technology, and Accessibility, ICCHP-AAATE 2022. The conference was held in Lecco, Italy, in July 2022. The 112 papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 285 submissions. Included also are 18 introductions. The papers are organized in the following topical sections: Part I: Art Karshmer Lectures in Access to Mathematics, Science and Engineering; Digital Solutions for Inclusive Mobility: solutions and accessible maps for indoor and outdoor mobility; implementation and innovation in the area of independent mobility through digital technologies; haptic and digital access to art and artefacts; accessibility of co-located meetings; interactions for text input and alternative pointing; cognitive disabilities and accessibility; augmentative and alternative communication (AAC): emerging trends, opportunities and innovations; language accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Part II: Digital accessibility: readability and understandability; serious and fun games; internet of things: services and applications for people with disabilities and elderly persons; technologies for inclusion and participation at work and everyday activities; robotic and virtual reality technologies for children with disabilities and older adults; development, evaluation and assessment of assistive technologies; ICT to support inclusive education - universal learning design (ULD); design for assistive technologies and rehabilitation; assistive technologies and inclusion for older people. 11 Chapters are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Assistive technology has made it feasible for individuals with a wide range of impairments to engage in many activities, such as education and employment, in ways not previously possible. The key factor is to create consumer-driven technologies that solve the problems by addressing the needs of persons with visual impairments. Assistive Technology for Blindness and Low Vision explores a broad range of technologies that are improving the lives of these individuals. Presenting the current state of the art, this book emphasizes what can be learned from past successful products, as well as what exciting new solutions the future holds. Written by world-class leaders in their field, the chapters cover the physiological bases of vision loss and the fundamentals of orientation, mobility, and information access for blind and low vision individuals. They discuss technology for multiple applications (mobility, wayfinding, information access, education, work, entertainment), including both established technology and cutting-edge research. The book also examines computer and digital media access and the scientific basis for the theory and practice of sensory substitution. This volume provides a holistic view of the elements to consider when designing assistive technology for persons with visual impairment, keeping in mind the need for a user-driven approach to successfully design products that are easy to use, well priced, and fill a specific need. Written for a broad audience, this book provides a comprehensive overview and in-depth descriptions of current technology for designers, engineers, practitioners, rehabilitation professionals, and all readers interested in the challenges and promises of creating successful assistive technology.

The two-volume set LNCS 13341 and 13342 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the Joint International Conference on Digital Inclusion, Assistive Technology, and Accessibility, ICCHP-AAATE 2022. The conference was held in Lecco, Italy, in July 2022.The 112 papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 285 submissions. Included also are 18 introductions. The papers are organized in the following topical sections: Part I: Art Karshmer Lectures in Access to Mathematics, Science and Engineering; Digital Solutions for Inclusive Mobility: solutions and accessible maps for indoor and outdoor mobility; implementation and innovation in the area of independent mobility through digital technologies; haptic and digital access to art and artefacts; accessibility of co-located meetings; interactions for text input and alternative pointing; cognitive disabilities and accessibility; augmentative and alternative communication (AAC): emerging trends, opportunities and innovations; language accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Part II: Digital accessibility: readability and understandability; serious and fun games; internet of things: services and applications for people with disabilities and elderly persons; technologies for inclusion and participation at work and everyday activities; robotic and virtual reality technologies for children with disabilities and older adults; development, evaluation and assessment of assistive technologies; ICT to support inclusive education - universal learning design (ULD); design for assistive technologies and rehabilitation; assistive technologies and inclusion for older people.

The two-volume set LNCS 12376 and 12377 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs, ICCHP 2020, held in Lecco, Italy, in September 2020. The conference was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The 104 papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 206 submissions. Included also are 13 introductions. The papers are organized in the following topical sections:Part I: user centred design and user participation in inclusive R artificial intelligence, accessible and assistive technologies; XR accessibility - learning from the past, addressing real user needs and the technical architecture for inclusive immersive environments; serious and fun games; large-scale web accessibility observatories; accessible and inclusive digital publishing; AT and accessibility for blind and low vision users; Art Karshmer lectures in access to mathematics, science and engineering; tactile graphics and models for blind people and recognition of shapes by touch; and environmental sensing technologies for visual impairmentPart II: accessibility of non-verbal communication: making spatial information accessible to people with disabilities; cognitive disabilities and accessibility - pushing the boundaries of inclusion using digital technologies and accessible eLearning environments; ICT to support inclusive education - universal learning design (ULD); hearing systems and accessories for people with hearing loss; mobile health and mobile rehabilitation for people with disabilities: current state, challenges and opportunities; innovation and implementation in the area of independent mobility through digital technologies; how to improve interaction with a text input system; human movement analysis for the design and evaluation of interactive systems and assistive devices; and service and care provision in assistive environments11 chapters are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

The two-volume set LNCS 12376 and 12377 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs, ICCHP 2020, held in Lecco, Italy, in September 2020. The conference was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 104 papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 206 submissions. Included also are 13 introductions. The papers are organized in the following topical sections: Part I: user centred design and user participation in inclusive R artificial intelligence, accessible and assistive technologies; XR accessibility - learning from the past, addressing real user needs and the technical architecture for inclusive immersive environments; serious and fun games; large-scale web accessibility observatories; accessible and inclusive digital publishing; AT and accessibility for blind and low vision users; Art Karshmer lectures in access to mathematics, science and engineering; tactile graphics and models for blind people and recognition of shapes by touch; and environmental sensing technologies for visual impairment Part II: accessibility of non-verbal communication: making spatial information accessible to people with disabilities; cognitive disabilities and accessibility - pushing the boundaries of inclusion using digital technologies and accessible eLearning environments; ICT to support inclusive education - universal learning design (ULD); hearing systems and accessories for people with hearing loss; mobile health and mobile rehabilitation for people with disabilities: current state, challenges and opportunities; innovation and implementation in the area of independent mobility through digital technologies; how to improve interaction with a text input system; human movement analysis for the design and evaluation of interactive systems and assistive devices; and service and care provision in assistive environments 10 chapters are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.