Call for book chapters

Book title: Assistive Technologies, Disability Informatics and Computer Access for Motor Limitations

Editor: Georgios Kouroupetroglou, Department of Informatics, University of Athens

Call for Chapters:

Proposals Submission Deadline: April 30, 2012

Introduction

Over the last few decades, members of industry, academia, and various professional disciplines, including rehabilitation sciences, occupational therapy, computer engineering (mainly developers of human-computer interfaces, Web designers and Web content providers), ergonomics, and teaching (especially inclusive and special education) have expressed increasingly strong interest in assistive technology for the disabled.

The main forces that boost this interest come from: a) legislation and policy frameworks which support the disabled and their societal inclusion and participation and b) the demographics of an increasing aging population, given that the number of the disabled rises drastically for those over 65 years old (50% of those over 75 experience some loss of motor capability).

The number of persons with motor disabilities is not inconsiderable. For example, studies in Europe show that 0.4% of the general population uses wheel chairs, 5% cannot walk without an aid, 0.3% cannot use their fingers, 0.1% cannot use an arm, 2.8% have reduced strength, and 1.4% have reduced co-ordination. Moreover, 0.3% of the general population is speech impaired due mainly to motor limitations. These disabilities range from mild and moderate up to severe loss of capability. Some individuals have multiple disabilities.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) tends to address motor limitations with one of two approaches: 1) to provide smart Assistive Technologies for improving life at home, leisure, work and school, and 2) to attempt not to exclude persons with disabilities from the Information Society (i.e. to provide accessibility to Web content and Internet services). ICT achieves these objectives with international accessibility standards and by adopting Design for All or Universal Design methodologies. Universal design in particular plays a significant role in reducing of the cost of the Assistive Technologies. Recent and emerging ICT technological approaches target all kinds of motor limitations, including the situation-based (occasional or transient loss of motor functionality), and are applied to the whole spectrum of user devices (including personal computers, notebooks, mobile phones).

Objective of the Book

This book will focus on computer-based Assistive Technology and accessibility for individuals with motor limitations. Chapters will discuss the development of mature and smart computer-based assistive technologies and improved access for persons with motor limitations by:

addressing unfolding scientific, methodological, and technological issues
exploring how to systematically apply design principles, methodologies and tools
explaining diversity in technological platforms and contexts of use, including trends in mobile interaction and ambient intelligence environments
analyzing novel interaction methods and techniques for computer access for individuals with motor limitations, and
discussing a variety of applications in diverse domains.

The book will reflect recent developments, consolidate present knowledge, and point towards future perspectives on assistive technology and computer access for motor limitations. As a source of information for interdisciplinary and cross-thematic study, the book will provide a baseline for further in-depth studies, and serve as an important educational tool in an increasingly globalized research and development environment.

Target Audience

The book targets readers from industry, academia and a variety of professions, including advanced students, researchers, system designers and developers, professionals and practitioners in rehabilitation engineering, computer science and engineering (mainly developers of human-computer interfaces, Web designers and Web content providers), occupational therapy, ergonomics, teaching and special education, clinical engineering, and health care. This book might be utilized as a reference in the field, an upper-level course supplement, a resource for instructors, etc.

Submission Procedure

Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before April 30, 2012, a 2-3 page chapter proposal clearly explaining the mission and concerns of his or her proposed chapter. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by November 30, 2012. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project.

Publisher

This book is scheduled to be published in 2013 by IGI Global (formerly Idea Group Inc.), publisher of the Information Science Reference (formerly Idea Group Reference), Medical Information Science Reference, Business Science Reference, and Engineering Science Reference imprints. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit www.igi-global.com.

Important Dates

April 30, 2012:         Proposal Submission Deadline
August 10, 2012:       Notification of Acceptance
November 30, 2012:   Full Chapter Submission
January 15, 2013:       Review Results Returned
March 15, 2013:         Final Chapter Submission
April 10, 2013:               Final Deadline

Inquiries and submissions can be forwarded electronically (Word document):

Georgios Kouroupetroglou
koupe@di.uoa.gr