Stabilometric parameters analysis in children with visual disorder

Background: Although postural changes were already reported in blind adults, no previous study has investigated postural stability in blind children. Moreover, there are few studies which used a stabilometric instrument to measure postural balance. In this study we evaluated stabilometric paramaters in blind children. Methods: We evaluated children between 7 to 12 years old, they were divided into two groups: Blind (n = 11) and age-matched control (n = 11) groups by using computerized stabilometry. The stabilometric examination was performed taking the gravity centers displacement of the individual projected into the platform. Thirthy seconds after the period in which this information was collected, the program defined a medium-pressure center, which was used to define x and y axes displacement and the distance between the pressure center and the platform center. Furthermore, the average sway rate and the body sway area were obtained by dividing the pressure center displacement and the time spent on the task; and by an ellipse function (95% percentille), respectively. Percentages of anterior, posterior, left and right feet weight also were calculated. Variables were compared by using the Student’s t test for unpaired data. Significance level was considered for p <0.05. Results: Displacement of the x axis (25.55 ± 9.851 vs. -3.545 ± 7.667; p <0.05) and average sway rate (19.18 ± 2.7 vs. -10.55 ± 1.003; p <0.001) were increased in the blind children group. Percentage of left foot weight was reduced (45.82 ± 2.017 vs. 52.36 ± 1.33; p <0.05) while percentage of right foot weight was increased (54.18 ± 2.17 vs. 47.64 ± 1.33; p <0.05) in blind children. Other variables did not show differences. Conclusions: Blind children present impaired stabilometric parameters.

Educação sexual e sexualidade no discurso de uma pessoa com deficiência visual

Sexuality and sex education for visually impaired people are still a few subjects studied in the field of Education. The aim of this study was to investigate sexuality and sex education of the visually impaired, through an interview with an adult woman, blind from birth, for further analysis of thematic content. It is a descriptive-qualitative case study. The following categories were described in the results: (1) Concept of sexuality, (2) Sexual Education, (3) Sexuality and Disability, (4) Social issues and prejudice. The data confirm other studies showing the existence of social prejudice, sexual myths, no sex education or sex education with superficial information and difficulties predominantly psychosocial and not organic in relation to sexuality. We conclude that sexuality and sex education are important issues that should be considered in the general education of people with disabilities.

Aquisição da informação visual: controle da postura e do olhar

Postural control is needed to perform various daily activities, from staying in one posture, standing, to sports situations. Many studies have shown that sensory systems help to maintain posture stable; acquisition of perceptual information, particularly through head and eye movements, allows static and dynamic equilibrium. Research related to both motor behavior and physical activities such as gymnastics have contributed to a better understanding of complexities involved in human postural control. The purpose of this study was to review the related literature, searching for possible answers on how everyday and sports actions are performed, with respect to the control and maintenance of posture. Its focus was on how the human body acquires information from the sensory systems, vision in special, and how this information acts to support the control of posture and gaze

Utilização de resíduos agronômicos da mandioca para fabricação de papéis especiais como recurso alternativo para a comunicação visual

The air part of the cassava is a residue which presents possibilities of being used as a non-wooden raw material in the production of pulp due to the fact that its 81 % of the adult plants air part, besides having high availability and presenting a high concentration of fibers. Studies were developed with the purpose of producing the pulps through the kraft process, which is a mix of the Na2S and NaOH in water heated up to the temperature of 160º C for about 90 minutes to the extraction of lignin. The paper sheets obtained in the practices went through an experimenting process. Studies related to the paper characteristics were accomplished in order to assess its use in the visual communication through printing techniques, silk screen, pictures and others graphical processes. The research results are able to conclude the utilization viability of this material in graphics communication.

Educação inclusiva: concepções de professores de ciências com relação à inclusão de alunos com deficiência visual em aulas de astronomia

Despite of intense discussion over recent decades about the inclusion of disabled people and the influence of conception of teachers about that inclusion for the effectuation of it, this work sought to identify conceptions of science teachers regarding the inclusion of students with visual impairment in the classes of astronomy providing basis for future studies.

Diretrizes para análise e desenvolvimento de identidade visual: contribuições para o design ergonômico

Currently, too much visual information present in all media is form vehemently, for example, in print media and interfaces used for publicity in conjunction with informational design. This visual information has great influence in the lives of human beings, since the vision of these individuals is the sense most used. Studies on visual identity have not explored this issue in a satisfactory manner, favoring thus the subject of this little development projects in the area. Note the need for analyzes to enable implementation principles of projective, making them accessible to the understanding of most individuals. This study aimed to propose an evaluation of visual identities, which were analyzed by means of visual concepts of usability, design methodologies and Gestalt. We contacted design firms specializing in visual identity projects, places where interviews were conducted to collect the marks allowed for analysis. The results point to a frequent demand the employment of visual usability principles, design methodologies and design in Gestalt visual identities.

Entre o sonoro e o visual: relações e processos nas artes

Pós-graduação em Artes - IA