A Acessibilidade como veículo de inclusão social: proposta de dispositivo computacional para os deficientes visuais da cidade de Natal/RN

This study aims to propose a computing device mechanism which is capable to permit a tactile communication between individuals with visual impairment (blindness or low vision) through the Internet or through a local area network (LAN - Local Network Address). The work was developed under the research projects that currently are realized in the LAI (Laboratory of Integrated Accessibility) of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. This way, the research was done in order to involve a prototype capable to recognize geometries by students considered blind from the Institute of Education and Rehabilitation of Blind of Rio Grande do Norte (IERC-RN), located in Alecrim neighborhood, Natal/RN. Besides this research, another prototype was developed to test the communication via a local network and Internet. To analyze the data, a qualitative and quantitative approach was used through simple statistical techniques, such as percentages and averages, to support subjective interpretations. The results offer an analysis of the extent to which the implementation can contribute to the socialization and learning of the visually impaired. Finally, some recommendations are suggested for the development of future researches in order to facilitate the proposed mechanism.

Qualidade do serviço de informação digital :um estudo exploratório em web sites de Programas de Pós-Graduação

This dissertation of Mestrado investigated the performance and quality of web sites. The target of the research is the proposal of an integrated model of evaluation of services of digital information in web educational sites. The universe of the research was constituted by eighteen Brazilian Universities that offer after-graduation courses, in the levels of mestrado and doutorado in the area of Engineering of Production. The adopted methodology was a descriptive and exploratory research, using the technique of systematic comment and focus group, for the collection of the data, using itself changeable independent dependents and, through the application of two instruments of research. The analysis protocol was the instrument adopted for evaluation and attainment of qualitative results. E the analysis grating was applied for evaluation and attainment of the quantitative results. The qualitative results had identified to the lack of standardization of web sites, under the attributes of content, hierarchy of information, design of the colors and letters. It of accessibility for carriers of auditory and visual special necessities was observed inexistence, as well as the lack of convergence of medias and assistivas technologies. The language of the sites also was evaluated and all present Portuguese only language. The general result demonstrated in grafico and tables with classification of the Universities, predominating the Good note As for the quantitative results, analysis method ed was estatistico, in order to get the descriptive and inferencial result between the dependent and independent variaveis. How much a category of analysis of the services of the evaluated sites, was found it props up and the index generality weighed. These results had served of base for ranking of existence or inexistence the Universities, how much of the information of services in its web sites. In analysis inferencial the result of the test of correlation or association of the independent variaveis (level, concept of the CAPES and period of existence of the program) with the caracteristicas, called was gotten categories of services. For this analysis the estatisticos methods had been used: coefficient of Spearman and the Test of Fisher. But the category you discipline of the Program of Mestrado presented significance with variavel independent and concept of the CAPES. Main conclusion of this study it was ausencia of satandardization o how much to the subjective aspects, design, hierarchy of information navigability and content precision and the accessibility inexistence and convergence. How much to the quantitative aspects, the information services offered by web sites of the evaluated Universities, still they do not present a satisfactory and including quality. Absence of strategies, adoption of tools web, techniques of institucional marketing and services that become them more interactive, navigable is perceived and with aggregate value

Fatores que afetam a satisfação de pacientes em serviços de saúde :um estudo em setor ambulatorial de hospital

This thesis shows concepts and models related to customer satisfaction measurement, focusing in detail on patients satisfaction evaluations in a policlinic sector of a hospital located in Natal RN. To reach this aim, two hundred and fifty one patients of this hospital were interviewed. The methodology approach includes a theoretical basis through a review and study of previous research on the topic, governmental initiatives and management systems which deal with excellence and need more reports concerning customers perceptions about satisfaction. Furthermore, it was included some models of nationals index about customer satisfaction. The Norwegian model was used in this thesis. The use of this approache, together with a multiple regression analysis, led to results that shows the factors which affect patients satisfaction in a policlinic sector. They are four as following: The evaluation of physician attendance; its results; simplicity of accessibility when health services are needed; and both support and tranquility given by the hospital. The study results can support researches of a conceptual model to determinate the aspects which affect the patient s satisfaction and could be a contribution to a development of a national costumer satisfaction index

Abordagem da ergonomia para a análise da acessibilidade de uma instituição de longa permanência para idosos da cidade de Natal-RN

This dissertation presents and discusses the results of an applied research on the accessibility of residents in a Long Term Care Institution (LTCIs) in the city of Natal- RN. The main objective of this research is to suggest projectual improvements that maximize the accessibility in a LTCIs of Natal-RN, considering the aspects of mobility, safety, comfort and independence of elderly residents. Moreover, one should consider the specific characteristics of the user population, capabilities and limitations of the biological process of aging, which causes damage to the neurological system, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular and progressively affects on visual acuity, balance and locomotion of elderly people. This research has a qualitative approach and divided into four phases: exploratory, bibliographical and documentary research, mapping of the LTCIs of Natal-RN, case study. The phase of the mapping presented an overview of accessibility on LTCIs of Natal-RN. The institution of the case study was defined based on the overall assessment of accessibility and ergonomics criteria, preceded by an application of an Ergonomic Work Analysis to understand the accessibility of the elderly people. Interactional and observational methods were used to collect field data. To this end, an intense process of social construction was conducted, involving the elderly residents, caregivers, health professionals and general servants and LTCIs´ managers. It was found that the NBR 9050 is not comprehensive to solve the diversity of accessibility problems found in LTCIs. All LTCIs investigated were in disconformity to the NBR 9050. In the case study, it was found that the inappropriate design hinders the daily activities of the elderly people and is a source of risk of accidents. The environment, facilities and lack of assistive technologies hinder the autonomy of the elderly people, and this LTCI requires ergonomic intervention to improve the accessibility, autonomy and security of the elderly people

Abordagem da ergonomia para análise da acessibilidade a hóspedes com deficiência visual em hotéis: soluções de inclusão de pessoas cegas e com baixa visão

This study evaluates the level of accessibility for people with visual impairment (blindness and low vision) hotels in the city of Natal-RN, Brazil, and provides principles, guidelines and means of projective make hotels accessible, to promote comfort, autonomy and security of these people. We used a qualitative research methodology and quantitative trait descriptive, analytical and interpretive. Was taken as a base for field studies Ergonomic Analysis of Work, beginning with a study of the demands of accessibility of hotels and analyzing the modeling activity in these establishments through the application of interactional and observational techniques, such as film, photographic records, conversational actions and observation protocols. A protocol was developed and applied to evaluate the compliance of accessibility of hotels in the face of Brazilian technical standard NBR 9050 (2004). We used methods of Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA) associated with simulated activities to identify the processes of decision making and analyzing the observables of the activities performed by people with visual impairment (POS). Interviews were conducted with people who are blind and low vision in various cities in order to meet accessibility difficulties they faced in hotels and recommendations for improvement that they indicate. The mapping results showed that of 16 hotels 4 and 5 star studied in Natal-RN, reached only 7% of the 50 items of the protocol, while none of them reached 70% of the items. About the results obtained in simulated activities and analyzed from the ATC, we saw that the hotel where it was performed this step shows a need to adequately address the guests with visual impairments

Análise funcional do design das órteses para rizartrose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the utilization of two models of orthotics used in the conservative treatment of rizartrose in patients/consumers that were referred by the medical clinic to the LAI (Laboratory of Integrated Accessibility). It describes this group s perception related to the functional aspects of the two models, evaluates the value of the product attributed by the patient/consumer and describes the importance attributed to each model. The research s objective consists in identifying which model this is preferred from the point of view by the patients that use either the dorsal or ventral models used in the conservative treatment of rizartrose . This work is then based on the exploratory research through the investigation of the bibliography available and in the research field. The research field used the case study methodology to investigate the phenomenon in the real context. The data were collected using a patient questionnaire during two times after the use of the dorsal orthotic and after the use of the ventral orthotic. The questionnaire was used to identify the relationship between the patients/consumers and the two different types of orthotics. A general descriptive analysis was used in order to verify the patient s abilities executing certain activities daily living using the dorsal and ventral orthotics, the product s functional aspects and its value from the patient s/consumer s point of view. The results show that the preference for the dorsal or ventral models is determined by the individual needs of each person. The results also show that other variables, such as the use of the orthotic on the dominant or non-dominant hand, play a role in the preferred model by the patient/consumer and need to be further investigated

Uma solução para geração automática de trilhas em língua brasileira de sinais em conteúdos multimídia

Deaf people have serious difficulties to access information. The support for sign languages is rarely addressed in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Furthermore, in scientific literature, there is a lack of works related to machine translation for sign languages in real-time and open-domain scenarios, such as TV. To minimize these problems, in this work, we propose a solution for automatic generation of Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS) video tracks into captioned digital multimedia contents. These tracks are generated from a real-time machine translation strategy, which performs the translation from a Brazilian Portuguese subtitle stream (e.g., a movie subtitle or a closed caption stream). Furthermore, the proposed solution is open-domain and has a set of mechanisms that exploit human computation to generate and maintain their linguistic constructions. Some implementations of the proposed solution were developed for digital TV, Web and Digital Cinema platforms, and a set of experiments with deaf users was developed to evaluate the main aspects of the solution. The results showed that the proposed solution is efficient and able to generate and embed LIBRAS tracks in real-time scenarios and is a practical and feasible alternative to reduce barriers of deaf to access information, especially when human interpreters are not available

Sistema web didático para a supervisão de redes fieldbus

Technological evolution of industrial automation systems has been guided by the dillema between flexibilization and confiability on the integration between devices and control supervisory systems. However, there are few supervisory systems whose attributions can also comprehend the teaching of the communication process that happens behind this technological integration, where those which are available are little flexible about accessibility and reach of patterns. On this context, we present the first module of a didactic supervisory system, accessible through Web, applied on the teaching of the main fieldbus protocols. The application owns a module that automatically discovers the network topology being used and allows students and professionals of automation to obtain a more practical knowledgment by exchanging messages with a PLC, allowing those who are involved to know with more details the communication process of an automation supervisory system. By the fact of being available through Web, the system will allow a remote access to the PLC, comprehending a larger number of users. This first module is focused on the Modbus protocol (TCP and RTU/ASCII)

ISE-SPL: Uma abordagem baseada em linha de produtos de software aplicada à geração automática de sistemas para educação médica na plataforma E-learning

E-learning, which refers to the use of Internet-related technologies to improve knowledge and learning, has emerged as a complementary form of education, bringing advantages such as increased accessibility to information, personalized learning, democratization of education and ease of update, distribution and standardization of the content. In this sense, this paper aims to develop a tool, named ISE-SPL, whose purpose is the automatic generation of E-learning systems for medical education, making use of concepts of Software Product Lines. It consists of an innovative methodology for medical education that aims to assist professors of healthcare in their teaching through the use of educational technologies, all based on computing applied to healthcare (Informatics in Health). The tests performed to validate the ISE-SPL were divided into two stages: the first was made by using a software analysis tool similar to ISE-SPL, called SPLOT and the second was performed through usability questionnaires to healthcare professors who used ISESPL. Both tests showed positive results, proving it to be an efficient tool for generation of E-learning software and useful for professors in healthcare

Desenvolvimento de uma cadeira de rodas robótica para transporte de portador de necessidades especiais

The objective of the dissertation was the realization of kinematic modeling of a robotic wheelchair using virtual chains, allowing the wheelchair modeling as a set of robotic manipulator arms forming a cooperative parallel kinematic chain. This document presents the development of a robotic wheelchair to transport people with special needs who overcomes obstacles like a street curb and barriers to accessibility in streets and avenues, including the study of assistive technology, parallel architecture, kinematics modeling, construction and assembly of the prototype robot with the completion of a checklist of problems and barriers to accessibility in several pathways, based on rules, ordinances and existing laws. As a result, simulations were performed on the chair in various states of operation to accomplish the task of going up and down stair with different measures, making the proportional control based on kinematics. To verify the simulated results we developed a prototype robotic wheelchair. This project was developed to provide a better quality of life for people with disabilities

Propostas e discussões para o ensino de astronomia nos 1º e 2º ciclos do nível fundamental e na educação de jovens e adultos

This work aims to propose and to discuss methodologies and practical activities for Astronomy teaching in the 1st and 2nd cycles of the primary education and in the adult education. The proposals presented here were applied to students from the metropolitan region of Natal (RN), including students of the called normal education (formerly magisterial education) and of the undergraduate formation in pedagogy at the Instituto de Formação Superior Presidente Kennedy , and also, in particular, to teachers and students of public municipal school Escola Municipal Djalma Maranhão at the district of Felipe Maranhão II, also analyzing some didactic books used by these institutions. Several elements which we confronted with during this didactic-pedagogical experience were systematized, indicating principles, contents, reflections and procedures related to Astronomy teaching to students of those levels of education. Doing this we aim to make such an experience accessible to those interested in developing a similar approach involving the themes treated here as well as other ones related to Astronomy for those levels of education. The resources and practices implemented here aim to contribute to the effective realization of an interdisciplinary and contextualized education according to orientations proposed by the Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais (Brazilian National Curricular Guidelines). In order to guarantee a broad accessibility to what we propose in this work, we intend to make available in printed form and also in an Internet page the procedures, instruction materials and texts we developed

Um sonho distante: reflexões sobre acessibilidade nos conjuntos habitacionais do pmcmv faixa 1 na região metropolitana de Natal

This dissertation seeks to reflect on the accessibility of the governmental program Minha Casa Minha Vida, track 1, which comprehends people who made 0 to 3 minimum wages within the metropolitan region of Natal RN between the years of 2009 and 2012. The research covers the municipalities benefited by the program: Ceará-Mirim, Extremoz, Macaíba, Monte Alegre, Natal, Nísia Floresta, Parnamirim and São Gonçalo do Amarante. We have investigated the extensions of PMCMV on the context of the access to the city, debating some concepts attached to the capitalist mode of production such as residential segregation and peripherization. We have aimed to identify the accessibility conditions in the new housing complexes from three primal categories, namely, the localization of the complexes, the disponibility of public equipments, services, leisure and cultural properties on the neighborhood and the offer of public transport. Our theorical references are based on the ideas of the british geographer David Harvey on his work Social Justice and the City , from 1980. Harvey s studies made us debate on the locational choice for the social-matter habitation, and also let us discuss the price to accessibility on these new programs and its implications on the income of those who are benefited by them, specially because this is about a low-income population. To the achievement of these objectives, we made use of case study, including desk research, photographic documentation, records of field observations and informal conversations with locals, composing a qualitative study. In light of what has been researched and considering the guiding research questions, we reflect on aspects of the program that can greatly influence the processes of residential segregation and housing periphery of the lowincome population from the precarious conditions of accessibility to the referred population

Custos e benefícios de um programa de exercício aeróbios na doença pulmonar obstrutica crônica: ensaio cliníco aleatório controlado

Pulmonary Rehabilitation, especially due to aerobic exercise, positive impact in reducing morbidity/mortality of patients with COPD, however the economic impact with costs of implementing simple programs of aerobic exercise are scarce. This is a blind randomized clinical trials, which aimed to evaluate the costs and benefits of a simple program of aerobic exercise in individuals with COPD, considering the financial costs of the Public Health System and its secondary endpoints. We evaluated lung function, the distance walked during six minutes of walking, the respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, quality of life related to health (QLRH), body composition and level of activity of daily living (ADL) before and after eight weeks of an aerobic exercise program consisting of educational guidance for both groups, control and intervention and supervised walks to the intervention group. The health costs generated in both groups were calculated following table Brazilian Public Health System. The sample consisted of forty patients, two being excluded in the initial phase of desaturation during the walk test six minutes. Were randomized into control and intervention group thirty-eight patients, three were excluded from the control group and one was excluded from the intervention group. At the end, thirty-four COPD comprised the sample, 16 in the control group and 18 in the intervention group (FEV1: 50.9 ± 14% pred and FEV1: 56 ± 0.5% pred, respectively). After for intervention, the intervention group showed improvement in meters walked, the sensation of dyspnea and fatigue at work, BODE index (p <0.01) in QLRH, ADL level (p <0.001) as well as increased strength lower limbs (p <0.05). The final cost of the program for the intervention group was R $ 148.75, including: assessments, hiking supervised by a physiotherapist and reassessments. No patient had exacerbation of IG, while 2 patients in the CG exacerbated, generating an average individual cost of R $ 689.15. The aerobic exercises in the form of walking showed significant clinical benefits and economic feasibility of its implementation, due to low cost and easy accessibility for patients, allowing them to add their daily practice of aerobic exercises

Centros de especialidades odontológicas: avaliação da atenção de média complexidade na rede pública da Grande Natal

The Specialized Dental Care Centers (CEO) were developed to provide specialized dental care to the population, given the accumulated needs of health since the past. They must operate as units of reference for the Oral Health Team of the Primary Care, complementing the dental procedures performed at this level of attention. This study aims to assess the performance of CEOs of the Grande Natal Health Region as a strategy of Secondary Care consolidation in oral health through users, dentists and managers. For this to try to identify factors about access, hosting and satisfaction with the service, the actions developed in these centers, integration between the CEOs and the Basic Health Units (UBS), considering the reference and counter reference. Data were collected through semi-structured interview, conducted in four CEOs, among 253 users, 31 dentists and 4 managers. It was submitted to descriptive statistical analysis and to content analysis by software ALCESTE 4.5. The results revealed that the specialties of prosthesis, endodontics and surgery were the most sought by 38.2%, 23.7% and 21.7% of respondents, respectively. It was noticed that among users aged 18 to 30 years-old the greatest demand is for the specialty of endodontics (44.4%) and over 50 years for prosthesis (76.4%). There is a weakness in the reference and counter reference between UBS and CEO, because part of users goes directly to the centers without going before to the Primary Care and the majority does not want to return to the dentist of Health Unit. Satisfaction with care was reported by 90.9% of users, because they resolved the problems needed and were welcomed by the team. But the delay in care was the main factor for not satisfaction. For most dentists, some users could solve their problems completely in Primary Care, which shows the existence of unnecessary referrals to the CEOs, however they consider the existence of limiting factors in UBS that compromise the service. Most dentists revealed that some users do not get to CEOs with the basic dental treatment done, and some of them do not counter reference users. It can be concluded that the studied CEOs are being resolutive for those who access them, offering necessary care for the population, and if they don t account with this service, will encounter obstacles to resolution of problems, ranging seek care service in particular, in another public sector, or even giving up treatment. However, it is perceived the need of professionals training to understand the importance of the reference and counter reference, to that they can better serve and guide users. It is also important that cities offer better conditions to UBS and CEOs, so they can work together, with complementary actions of oral health, seeking full care, aiming for better resolution to the users' health problems

Avaliação em saúde bucal na perspectiva do usuário: enfoque ao estudo da acessibilidade organizacional

Due to the fact of oral health sector reestructuration within Brazilian public health politics, this work had the object of evaluating, under users point of view, the accessibility to oral health services in Santa Cruz (RN), focusing on the organizational aspect. To achieve this, questionnaires were given to users in their homes, considering the censitary sector. Nine sectors of the urban zone were evaluated, selected by chance, and one from the rural zone, selected by convenience. The sample was composed by 194 users, calculated considering the estimated prevalence of event represented by the indicator I ve never been to the dentist + I ve been to the dentist more than three years ago from the Projeto SB Brasil Report . To complement the results, interviews were made with others actors involved in the process of oral health care: professionals (dentists) and manager (Health Municipal Secretary). From the data obtained it was possible to identify that 12,9% of the population had never visited the dentist, and that the search for the service was not influenced by the users individual and socioeconomics characteristics, excepting the gender. It was verified that 36,1% of the users went to the dentist in less than one year, with the youngests (p<0,05) being among those who went to the dentist more frequently. 63,3% of the interviewed related that they found some kind of difficulty when they search for dentistry services, with the difficulties for schedule, the queues and the long wait among the most cited. It was identified that 43,2% of the users wait three weeks or more for the appointment. It is still pointed out that 71,4% of the interviewed find difficulties to get urgency appointment, the long wait to be attended by the dentist was the most found. 92,9% and 94,1% of the interviewed had never been headed to especialized appointments and complementary exams, respectively. Due to the data founded, it was possible to verify that the accessibility to oral health services in Santa Cruz (RN) is damaged by factors related to the organization of public polices developed, mainly in relation to the working process