Users with disabilities: Maximum control with minimum effort

Abstract

People with disabilities can benefit greatly from services provided by computers and robots. Access to remote communications and information as well as to interpersonal communication and environmental control are assisted by current ubiquitous computers, wired and wireless networks and intelligent environments. Sensory, physical or/and cognitive restrictions to interacting with computers can be avoided by means of alternative interaction devices and procedures. Nevertheless, alternative methods are usually much slower than standard communications, frequently leading users with disabilities into unbalanced or unsafe situations. Therefore, the main challenge of human-machine interaction systems that have to be used by people with disabilities is to obtain the maximum communication and control with the minimum physical and cognitive effort from the user. This lecture overviews the main techniques used to optimize the control and communication flow, resulting in higher user satisfaction and security. © 2008 Springer-Verlag.