PAPER PRESENTATION
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| Paper Session C2 – Assistive Technology and Society Rm 3.3 Day 1 – 23 April 2009 (THURSDAY) 11:00AM – 12:30PM |
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| Session | Description |
| 11:30AM – 11:45AM | C2–1 Cultural-Heritage-Friendly without Barriers (CHF-Bs) Budsakayt Intarapasan King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand Abstract
Set within Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), there are six comprising countries: Cambodia, The People's Republic of China, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. In this connection, the paper is based on three scenarios namely wonders of nature, urban, and historical heritage. What constitutes physical evidence of a cultural-heritage-friendly without barriers? Physical evidence of cultural-heritage-friendly sometimes may be found in the form of cultural-crossing borders in the application and practices of Universal Design. As such, consideration is given not only to physical access but also to alternative method of providing the tourism services. It is important that such changes are accounted for accurately so that the physical and human processes at work can be fully understood. The lack of consultation with two groups of respondents, experts referring to those stakeholders with professional role to play in relation to the survey of spaces and non-experts who are the general public, is a contributing factor. Consequently, the methodology of this study involves the preference judgment scale, open-ended questions and illustrations. Full text: PDF (100 kB) |
| 11:15AM – 11:30AM | C2–2 iPSL: Enabling Rehabilitation of Deaf Community in Pakistan Hassan Afzal, Sheheryar Nafees, Saad Nasir, Amina Tariq FAST National University Islamabad, Pakistan Abstract
This paper presents an initiative taken in Pakistan for the rehabilitation of deaf community, enabled by use of technology. iPSL is a system that primarily aims at facilitating communication between the hearing and the deaf community in Pakistan. There is a twofold approach to achieve that, first to implement a system that can translate signs made by deaf into natural language sentences. The second dimension is to implement tools that enable hearing people to understand and learn sign language by converting natural language sentences into sign language. This paper presents the progress made in the project so far in terms of design, implementation and evaluation. Full text: PDF (235 kB) |
| 11:30AM – 11:45AM | C2–3 Accessible Market: A Prototype for People with Disabilities in Thailand Benjamas Kutintara, Sayomphu Chaengsri, Supattra Suanlim, Keshanon Phankong, Theerayut Chumnanprai, Worawut Sonsiri, Amaraporn Wongma, Pornpun Somboon* King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Thailand *Mahidol University, Thailand Abstract
Most Thai people like to purchase food at local markets; however, research studies on accessibility to local markets by people with disabilities were still limited. The objective of this study was to develop a prototype of an accessible market for people with disabilities in Thailand by a selected market where people with disabilities often go as a case study. Participants in this study consisted of a market owner, food stall owners, assistive technology specialists, general customers, and customers with disabilities. Data were collected by observing environmental features in the market and interviewing several participants. Major findings indicated that people with disabilities could not access the market because of lack of accessible parking zone for people with disabilities, no ramps, walkways with obstacles, unsuitable public restrooms, no zoned area for the food court, and no standards for food stalls. All inaccessible data were analyzed and a prototype for parking spaces, ramps, walkways, public restroom, food court, and food stalls were designed to make the market accessible. Full text: PDF (176 kB) |
| 11:45AM – 12:00PM | C2–4 On Thailand's REAT Institute's Experience in Developing Digital Hearing Aids for Rural Usage Pasin Israsena, Apit Hemakom, Anukool Noymai National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), Thailand Abstract
This paper discusses REAT institute's experience in developing alternative digitals hearing aids targeted for rural usage, where desirable features such as cost-effectiveness, ease of use and maintenance, and fully digital processing capability are imperative. The result shows that modern technology has reached the point where locally developed solutions that are complementary to existing products are feasible. Technological capability, however, is only part of the solution. Any successful hearing rehabilitation program, however, will also need strong leadership from doctors and audiologists, who are the professional experts, and a good servicing model. Full text: PDF (206 kB) |
| 12:00PM – 12:15PM | C2–5 The Implementation Status of Thailand's National Social Equality in ICT Master Plan Proadpran Punyabukkana, Suchai Thanawastien*, Songporn Komolsuradej** Chulalongkorn University, Thailand *Sripatum University, Thailand **Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Thailand Abstract
The National Social Equality in Information and Communication Technology Master Plan provides a three-year road map for bridging the digital divide, supporting the use of assistive technology and promoting the creation of an assistive technology industry so that the disabled in Thailand will be able to afford the acquisition of the assistive technology. After the first year of implementation, 42% of the Year 1 projects have been implemented, with satisfactory results. The main output has been the training of 150 web designers who can handle the redesign of government websites to conform to the WCAG 1.0 standard at an AA conformance level. Three government websites have been transformed to attain AA conformance as initial pilot projects. Full text: PDF (163 kB) |
| 12:15PM – 12:30PM | C2–6 Model development of Assistive Technology Centers in Thailand Phatcharaporn Kongkerd, Salin Ruangsri, Terdkiat Shaijarung, Daranee Suwapan Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation Centre (SNMRC), Thailand Abstract
The model development of assistive technology centers illustrates a new innovation of assistive device provision in Thailand as they provide services specialized in assistive devices for people with disabilities. The services delivery process emphasizes on the assessment, prescription and training. Eleven assistive technology centers have been developed as a network which could increase the accessibility for assistive devices for disabled people living in all regions of Thailand. However, knowledge and skills of staff are the main limitation of the provision which need to be strengthened in this specialized field. For further development, wheelchair service and seating provision has been considered as the main theme of the next step as wheelchairs are the main type of devices needed for people with disabilities. Full text: PDF (147 kB) |