System to Improve Transportation Access for the Cognitively Impaired

描述（由申请人提供）：在这个一期研究中，Koronis生物医学技术公司（KBT）将构建一个系统来改善认知障碍者的行动和交通。拟议的系统旨在让认知障碍人士更方便和安全地使用公共交通系统、社区交通和残疾人专用交通服务。有认知障碍的人通常无法驾驶汽车，或者可能需要很长一段时间才能恢复驾驶。公共交通系统是让这些人保持独立的重要手段。然而，公共交通系统可能给认知障碍患者带来重大挑战。该项目的目标是开发一个系统，通过技术解决方案来减少这些障碍，该技术解决方案由为认知受损的用户及其护理人员或家庭成员开发的组件组成。第一阶段的努力将集中于完成一个包含这两个要素的系统。第一个组件包括一个认知假体装置，具有传统的记忆提示和提醒以及定制的基于位置的交通特定功能。这款认知移动助手将利用廉价、功能强大的智能手机的计算能力和GPS定位能力。第二个组件包括一个管理应用程序，它为护理人员提供了通过互联网远程配置和编程提醒和传输功能的能力。针对认知障碍人群的用户界面开发对开发人员提出了挑战。为了确保最大的用户群体能够使用认知助手，将组织一个初步的专家小组来指导开发活动。在原型系统完成后，将对认知障碍者及其家庭成员或护理人员进行人体试验，以评估这两个系统组件的可用性和可接受性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In this Phase I research Koronis Biomedical Technologies Corporation (KBT) will construct a system to improve mobility and transportation access for the cognitively impaired. The proposed system is intended to allow the cognitively impaired to use public transportation systems, community transportation and dedicated transportation services for the disabled with greater ease and safety. Individuals with cognitive disabilities are often unable to operate an automobile, or may require a prolonged recovery period before resuming driving. Public transportation systems represent a significant means to allow these individuals to maintain independence. Yet public transportation systems can pose significant challenges to individuals with cognitive impairment. The goal of this project is to develop a system to reduce these barriers via a technological solution consisting of components developed both for the cognitively impaired user and their caregiver or family member. Phase I efforts will focus on the completion of a system containing these two elements. The first component consists of a cognitive prosthetic device featuring traditional memory cueing and reminders as well as custom location-based transportation specific functions. This cognitive mobility assistant will leverage the computing power and GPS location determination capabilities of inexpensive, powerful smart phones. The second component consists of a management application which offers caregivers the ability to configure and program the reminder and transit functions remotely via the Internet. User interface development for the cognitively disabled population presents challenges to the developer. To ensure that the cognitive assistant will be usable by the largest user population a preliminary expert panel will be conducted to direct development activities. Following completion of the prototype system a pilot human test will be convened with cognitively disabled individuals and family members or caregivers to assess the usability and acceptability of both system components. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed system will assist cognitively impaired users in their use of transportation systems by providing memory cues and transportation specific functions. By comparing their GPS based coordinate location with expected route coordinates obtained from geographic route databases, the system will provide time- and location-based reminders as well as detect mistakes. Using 3G wireless capabilities the system will offer the user real-time updates of the bus schedule using the increasingly common bus timetable reporting features offered in many metropolitan locations. The system will also provide a management interface to a caregiver that may be remotely located. This interface will allow the remote programming and configuration of the handheld system via the Internet reducing the user requirements. Finally, a real-time remote tracking feature will allow family members and caregivers to follow progress during transportation. The proposed system will provide individuals with cognitive disabilities more independence, safety and an improved quality of life.