System to Improve Transportation Access for the Cognitively Impaired

描述(由申请人提供)：在这项第一阶段的研究中，Koronis Biomedical Technologies Corporation(KBT)将构建一个系统，以改善认知障碍者的行动能力和交通工具。拟议的系统旨在让认知障碍者更轻松和安全地使用公共交通系统、社区交通工具和为残疾人提供的专门交通服务。有认知障碍的人往往无法操作汽车，或者可能需要较长的恢复期才能恢复驾驶。公共交通系统是让这些人保持独立的重要手段。然而，公共交通系统可能会给认知障碍患者带来重大挑战。该项目的目标是开发一种系统，通过一种技术解决方案来减少这些障碍，该技术解决方案包括为认知受损用户及其照顾者或家庭成员开发的组件。第一阶段的工作将侧重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设备，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定位功能。第二个组件由一个管理应用程序组成，该应用程序使护理人员能够通过互联网远程配置和编程提醒和转运功能。针对认知障碍人群的用户界面开发给开发人员带来了挑战。为了确保最大的用户群体能够使用认知助理，将成立一个初步专家小组来指导开发活动。在原型系统完成后，将与有认知障碍的个人和家庭成员或照顾者一起进行试行人体测试，以评估这两个系统组成部分的可用性和可接受性。 与公共健康相关：拟议的系统将通过提供记忆提示和特定于交通的功能，帮助认知受损的用户使用交通系统。通过将它们基于GPS的坐标位置与从地理路线数据库获得的预期路线坐标进行比较，该系统将提供基于时间和位置的提醒以及检测错误。利用3G无线功能，该系统将使用在许多大都市地区提供的日益常见的公交车时刻表报告功能，为用户提供公交车时刻表的实时更新。该系统还将向可能位于远程的护理者提供管理界面。该界面将允许通过互联网对手持系统进行远程编程和配置，降低了用户要求。最后，实时远程跟踪功能将允许家人和照顾者跟踪运输过程中的进展。拟议的系统将为认知障碍患者提供更多的独立性、安全性和更高的生活质量。

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.