2014
Autores
Fernandes, H; Costa, P; Paredes, H; Filipe, V; Barroso, J;
Publicação
Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
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.
2014
Autores
Fernandes, H; Filipe, V; Costa, P; Barroso, J;
Publicação
5TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENHANCING ACCESSIBILITY AND FIGHTING INFO-EXCLUSION, DSAI 2013
Abstract
Nowadays, navigation systems are widely used to find the correct path, or the quickest, between two places. These systems use the Global Positioning System (GPS) and only work well in outdoor environment since GPS signals cannot easily penetrate and/or are greatly degraded inside of buildings. Several technologies have been proposed to make navigation inside of buildings possible. One such technology is Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID). In the case of outside environments, some hybrid systems have been proposed that use GPS as main information source and RFID for corrections and location error minimization. In this article we propose a navigation system that uses RFID as the main technology to guide people with visual impairment in unfamiliar environments, both indoor and outdoor, complementing the traditional white cane and providing information about the user's geographical context. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
2013
Autores
Costa, LM; Pereira, JE; Filipe, VM; Magalhaes, LG; Couto, PA; Gonzalo Orden, JM; Raimondo, S; Geuna, S; Mauricio, AC; Nikulina, E; Filbin, MT; Varejao, ASP;
Publicação
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
Abstract
Numerous animal model studies in the past decade have demonstrated that pharmacological elevation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) alone, or in combination with other treatments, can promote axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury. Elevation of cAMP via the phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, rolipram, decreases neuronal sensitivity to myelin inhibitors, increases growth potential and is neuroprotective. Rolipram's ability to cross the blood-brain barrier makes it a practical and promising treatment for CNS regeneration. However, several studies have questioned the efficacy of rolipram when given alone. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of continuous administration of rolipram, given alone for 2 weeks, following a moderate T10 contusion injury in rat. Functional recovery was evaluated using the 21-point Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor recovery scale and the beam walk. We used threedimensional (3D) instrumented gait analysis to allow detailed assessment and quantification of hindlimb motion. The amount of the damaged tissue and spared white matter was estimated stereologically. Our results show that administration of rolipram following acute spinal cord contusion results in improved motor performance at each time-point. Dynamic assessment of foot motion during treadmill walking revealed a significantly decreased external rotation during the entire step cycle after 8 weeks in rolipram-treated animals. Stereological analysis revealed no significant differences in lesion volume and length. By contrast, spared white matter was significantly higher in the group treated with rolipram. Our results suggest a therapeutic role for rolipram delivered alone following acute SCI.
2013
Autores
Gomes, J; Barbosa, L; Goncalves, R; Filipe, V;
Publicação
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2013 8TH IBERIAN CONFERENCE ON INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES (CISTI 2013)
Abstract
This article describes an application proposal since the analysis till the development of a software, which presents itself as a solution to the existent management problem in the Electronics Store in the Engineering Department of University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro. The study as followed a development methodology intrinsic to the problem and to all the features associated to management systems, with the main purpose to obtain a suitable solution by means of Information Technologies capable to support the users in the management of all services and resources of the store in a way completely integrated with the information systems that are more relevant to teaching activity. The solution was developed using Web technologies, enabling an optimized channel for accessing and managing all services and products provided by the store, increasing their efficiency, organization and ability to respond to requests made by all users.
2014
Autores
Magalhaes, LG; Sousa, JJ; Bento, R; Adao, T; Pereira, F; Filipe, V; Peres, E;
Publicação
CENTERIS 2014 - CONFERENCE ON ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SYSTEMS / PROJMAN 2014 - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PROJECT MANAGEMENT / HCIST 2014 - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES
Abstract
The use of Augmented Reality (AR) techniques to visualize virtual archaeological sites is neither a new or recent issue. In those approaches the virtual models are only visualized using the existent in situ illumination, which does not allow a visitor to have a similar visual experience to that which he would have at the time the structures were built. In Augmented Virtuality (AV) approaches the virtual world prevails, which is augmented with information from the real world, which allows a better control over the parameters of the Mixed Reality (MR) environment created. In some cases, there is the need to use both approaches (AR or AV), depending on some context conditions. This paper proposes an architecture and an information system for an adaptive MR system which main goal is to visualize in situ virtual reconstructions of archaeological sites that are seamlessly merged with the real scene. In this context, a new adaptive methodology will be defined to manage the level of mixing between the real and the virtual scene, identifying in each instant the most proper approach to use (AR or AV), as well as defining the way how transitions between approaches are made. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
2016
Autores
Fernandes, H; Paredes, H; Filipe, V; Barroso, J;
Publicação
Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Software Development and Technologies for Enhancing Accessibility and Fighting Info-exclusion, DSAI 2016, Vila Real, Portugal, December 1-3, 2016
Abstract
A general concept on the use of computer vision in a way in which objects in the scene act as visual markers is presented, with special focus on its ability to increase the contextual awareness of a blind user with relation to its surroundings. A demonstration of the concept has been developed and is presented in this work. Having a rough estimation of user location and previous knowledge, from memory, of which visual features should be present in an environment, the recognition of visual elements in a scene validates and provides a trust indicator about the estimated spatial context of a blind user of an assistive orientation device, reducing the gap naturally imposed by his impairment. © 2016 ACM.
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