Abstract
The combination of the potentialities of the interactive technologies, like exergames and the emerging motion capture devices with the ability of 3D virtual worlds for socialisation and context, can produce a platform to promote the physical activity of its users, which leverages its potential. The OnlineGym is an exploratory project based on an online 3D virtual worlds platform that allows users to interact with the system through the use of a motion capture device. This paper discusses the chosen technological approaches and the preliminary results of the experiments performed with users.

Abstract
Assistive technology enables people to achieve independence in the accomplishment of their daily tasks and enhance their quality of life. However, the development os assistive technology does not always follow user needs and expectations, comprising their usability and effectiveness. This paper discusses the design and evaluation strategies for assistive technologies applied to a blind navigation system case study. The research carried out focused on the gathering of user requirements for ensuring enhanced autonomy of blind people in their daily life. The picked requirements were used in an architecture that unifies the benefits of a redundant blind navigation system with a set of services that are provided by daily used information and communication technologies. The system combines guidance, navigation and information gathering, extending traditional aids with realtime knowledge of the surrounding environment to provide an enhanced assistive tool for autonomy of the blinds. Moreover, the developed solution fills the gap of existing solutions that require the users to carry a wide range of devices and, mostly, do not include mechanisms to ensure the autonomy of users in the event of system failure. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Abstract
The task of moving from one place to another is a difficult challenge that involves obstacle avoidance, staying on street walks, finding doors, knowing the current location and keeping on track through the desired path. Nowadays, navigation systems are widely used to find the correct path, or the quickest, between two places. While assistive technology has contributed to the improvement of the quality of life of people with disabilities, people with visual impairment still face enormous limitations in terms of their mobility. In recent years, several approaches have been made to create systems that allow seamless tracking and navigation both in indoor and outdoor environments. However there is still an enormous lack of availability of information that can be used to assist the navigation of users with visual impairments as well as a lack of sufficient precision in terms of the estimation of the user's location. Blavigator is a navigation system designed to help users with visual impairments. In a known location, the use of object recognition algorithms can provide contextual feedback to the user and even serve as a validator to the positioning module and geographic information system of a navigation system for the visually impaired. This paper proposes a method where the use of computer vision algorithms validate the outputs of the positioning system of the Blavigator prototype. © 2014 Springer International Publishing.

Abstract
In this work it is presented a system to help the users to maintain an active lifestyle. Our main objective is to evaluate the current mobile technologies for the development of systems to monitor the users' health and to promote a healthy lifestyle. It was developed a full system, including: an application for smartwatch; an application for smartphone; a back-end with a webservice in PHP. The application provides the functionalities to acquire the user's: heart rate; location, based on the GPS position; the number of steps; the position's elevation; etc. The back-end is used to register the data acquired and processed by the applications. The design was user centric and the development methodology was based on the agile paradigm, for which are described three development iterations.

Abstract
Deaf people face serious communication problems. The use of smartphones has been explored as a solution for breaking communication barriers and enhancing their communication, by providing access to basic services. This paper explores the usage of iconographic interfaces in smartphones as a means for contributing to further autonomy for deaf people. We applied the model for asynchronous and non-verbal communication through iconographic and interactive flows to develop the MyCarMobile application, a travel assistance android mobile application for deaf people. Our research explores a solution which enables travel assistance services without involving audio, using an iconographic interface to report road accidents. A user centered design approach was applied in the development of the prototype and usability tests were performed with eleven deaf users, in order to validate the mobile application. The results revealed a good performance and user satisfaction when interacting with the application.

Abstract
This paper presents an on-going work around accessibility issues within the use of social media. With a lack of background in this field, the purpose of the study was to analyze the accessibility levels of different social media websites and aggregators. Based on W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, we have selected three automatic evaluation tools in order to realize a first set of preliminary tests. We verified that none of the websites clearly passed in the evaluation process and our sample didn't meet the adopted accessibility guidelines. The errors occurrence within the social media aggregators' tests was less than in the social media websites. Therefore, it seems to be indisputable to propose a tool that allows users to manage their own social media websites accounts in a more accessible way. Thus, this study presents a list of defined requirements to implement an accessible social media aggregator solution. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.