Using Augmented Reality and Internet of Things to improve accessibility of people with motor disabilities in the context of Smart Cities

TY - JOUR

T1 - Using Augmented Reality and Internet of Things to improve accessibility of people with motor disabilities in the context of Smart Cities

AU - Rashid, Zulqarnain

AU - Melià-Seguí, Joan

AU - Pous, Rafael

AU - Peig, Enric

PY - 2017/11/1

Y1 - 2017/11/1

N2 - Smart Cities need to be designed to allow the inclusion of all kinds of citizens. For instance, motor disabled people like wheelchair users may have problems to interact with the city. Internet of Things (IoT) technologies provide the tools to include all citizens in the Smart City context. For example, wheelchair users may not be able to reach items placed beyond their arm's length, limiting their independence in everyday activities like shopping, or visiting libraries. We have developed a system that enables wheelchair users to interact with items placed beyond their arm's length, with the help of Augmented Reality (AR) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies. Our proposed system is an interactive AR application that runs on different interfaces, allowing the user to digitally interact with the physical items on the shelf, thanks to an updated inventory provided by an RFID system. The resulting experience is close to being able to browse a shelf, clicking on it and obtaining information about the items it contains, allowing wheelchair users to shop independently, and providing autonomy in their everyday activities. Fourteen wheelchair users with different degrees of impairment have participated in the study and development of the system. The evaluation results show promising results towards more independence of wheelchair users, providing an opportunity for equality improvement.

AB - Smart Cities need to be designed to allow the inclusion of all kinds of citizens. For instance, motor disabled people like wheelchair users may have problems to interact with the city. Internet of Things (IoT) technologies provide the tools to include all citizens in the Smart City context. For example, wheelchair users may not be able to reach items placed beyond their arm's length, limiting their independence in everyday activities like shopping, or visiting libraries. We have developed a system that enables wheelchair users to interact with items placed beyond their arm's length, with the help of Augmented Reality (AR) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies. Our proposed system is an interactive AR application that runs on different interfaces, allowing the user to digitally interact with the physical items on the shelf, thanks to an updated inventory provided by an RFID system. The resulting experience is close to being able to browse a shelf, clicking on it and obtaining information about the items it contains, allowing wheelchair users to shop independently, and providing autonomy in their everyday activities. Fourteen wheelchair users with different degrees of impairment have participated in the study and development of the system. The evaluation results show promising results towards more independence of wheelchair users, providing an opportunity for equality improvement.

KW - Augmented reality

KW - Inclusion

KW - Motor disabled people

KW - Retail

KW - RFID

KW - Smart spaces

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85009165159&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.future.2016.11.030

DO - 10.1016/j.future.2016.11.030

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85009165159

SN - 0167-739X

VL - 76

SP - 248

EP - 261

JO - FUTURE GENERATION COMPUTER SYSTEMS

JF - FUTURE GENERATION COMPUTER SYSTEMS

ER -