Development of communication support system using wireless networks for visual impairements and auditory difficulties

作为研究环境，我们在松山市构建了一个广域无线网络，该无线网络由10个无线路由器组成，端到端的面积为几公里。我们对吞吐量进行了检查，发现网络不稳定，丢包频繁发生。我们还利用爱媛大学校园网构建了一个有线网络，以便将以下应用程序的性能与无线网络上的性能进行比较。作为听觉障碍的辅助应用，我们搭建了一个电影传输系统，通过手语进行实时交流。我们调查了以手语为主要语言的五个人。通过阅读测试，我们发现5fps（帧/秒）足以“阅读”大部分手语。这表明，这个帧率是可能的，即使在无线网络上，只要它是稳定的。然而，应该注意的是，在这种框架下，舒适的歌唱语言交流是可能的。我们还为那些不使用手语的人建立了一个基于汉字的支持系统。该系统包含语音识别功能，并应用于爱媛大学的部分班级。基于WWW、e-mail和原有的服务器应用，构建了一个远程盲文打印系统。人们只需在爱媛大学的WWW页面上放一个BSE（盲文格式）文件，然后打印出来。WWW页面是为那些有视觉障碍的人设计的。（支持增强字符和更改字符或背景的颜色。）我们还实现了一个数据转换过滤器程序，该程序将HTML格式文件转换为盲文布局文件。不熟悉盲文的用户也可以使用此过滤器通过HTML格式将文字处理文件转换为盲文。最后，我们为患有自闭症谱系障碍的儿童开发了一个交流应用程序。由于该应用程序是基于Java applet编写的，因此不需要任何特殊的程序，可以在任何连接到Internet的PC上运行。少

As a research environment, we constructed a wide-area wireless network in Matsuyama city The wireless network is composed of ten wireless routers, and the area is few kilometers tip to tip. We examined a through-put to find the network is not stable and frequent packet-losses took place. We also constructed a wired network using campus network in Ehime University in order to compare the performances of the following applications with ones on the wireless network.As an assistance application for auditory difficulties, we constructed a movie transfer system, which provides us with real-time communication by sign languages. We examined file people whose main language is sign language. Through the reading tests, we found that 5 fps (frames/second) is enough to "read" most of sign language. This suggests that this frame rate is possible even on the wireless network as long as it is stable. However, it should be noted that comfortable sing language communication is possible with this frame r … More ate. We also constructed a character-based support system for those who don't use sign language. Voice recognition are included in this system and applied to some classes in Ehime University.We also constructed a remote Braille printing system based on WWW, e-mail and original server application. One simply drops a BSE (Braille format) file on the WWW page to print it out at the Ehime University The WWW page is designed for those with visual impairments. (Enhancements of characters and change of colors of characters or backgrounds are supported.) We also implemented a data convert filter program, which converts HTML format file to Braille lay-out file. One, who is unfamiliar with Braille language, can convert word-processor file to Braille using this filter via HTML format.Finally we developed a communication application for children with autistic spectrum disorder. Since this application are programmed based on Java applet, it does not require any special program, and works on any PC which is connected with the Internet. Less