Publications
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Towards Proactive Information Retrieval in Noisy Text with Wikipedia Concepts
Tabish Ahmed, Sahan BulathwelaMarch 29, 2023Academic Research PublicationsThis Centre for Artificial Intelligence paper from University College London looks at extracting useful information from the user history to clearly understand informational needs is a crucial feature of a proactive information retrieval system. Regarding understanding information and relevance, Wikipedia can provide the background knowledge that an intelligent system needs. This work explores how exploiting the context of a query using Wikipedia concepts can improve proactive information retrieval on noisy text. Formulating two models that use entity linking to associate Wikipedia topic with the relevance model. Experiments around a podcast segment retrieval task demonstrate that there is a clear signal of relevance in Wikipedia concepts while a ranking model can improve precision by incorporating them. The research finds that Wikifying the background context of a query can help disambiguate the meaning of the query, further helping proactive information retrieval.
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Assistive technology access in longitudinal datasets: a global review
Jamie Danemayer, Sophie Mitra, Catherine Holloway, Shereen HusseinMarch 29, 2023Academic Research PublicationsFunctional limitations become more prevalent as populations age, emphasising an increasingly urgent need for assistive technology (AT). Critical to meeting this need trajectory is understanding AT access in older ages. Yet few publications examine this from a longitudinal perspective. This review aims to identify and collate what data exist globally, seeking all population-based cohorts and repeated cross-sectional surveys through the Maelstrom Research Catalogue (searched May 10, 2022) and the Disability Data Report (published 2022), respectively. Datasets incorporating functional limitations modules and question(s) dedicated to AT, with a wave of data collection since 2009, were included.
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Improving access to Assistive Technology: spotlight on the Pan American Health Organization
GATE, World Health OrganizationMarch 29, 2023Case Studies and ReportsThe Pan American Health Organization/WHO Regional Office for the Americas works with the countries and territories of North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean to improve and protect people's health. The Region is making significant advances in its efforts to implement actions outlined in the WHO resolution 71.8 Improving access to assistive technology. This enews blast captures the range of activities, including those driven by AT2030 such at Training in Assistive Products.
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Wazi Impact Performance Snapshot
60DecibelsMarch 29, 2023UgandaCase Studies and ReportsWazi were part of AT2030's Assistive Tech Impact Fund, using catalytic capital with expert-led venture-building, to unlock new solutions for scale, building AT ecosystems and driving change. This report, developed by 60Decibels, explores more about Wazi customers, their profiles, outcomes and experiences - looking at key performance and impact metrics to discover customer loyalty, feedback and overall impact to lives.
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Personnel training in priority assistive products (TAP)
Global Disability Innovation Hub, World Health OrganizationMarch 29, 2023AT2030 ResourcesTrained personnel are essential for the proper assessment, fitting, user training, and follow-up of assistive products. Without these four key steps, assistive products are often of no benefit or abandoned, and may cause physical harm. Many countries however face significant challenges in deploying a workforce to implement these four steps. In order to improve access to assistive products at community- level, WHO with support from AT2030 has created the Training in Priority Assistive Products (TAP), a series of e-learning modules that will build the skills and capacity of primary healthcare workforce to safely and effectively provide basic assistive products.
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Health Systems Strengthening: Integration of Assistive Technology as Critical Component
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 28, 2023Case Studies and ReportsA digital webinar on Health Systems Strengthening, Integration of Assistive Technology as Critical Component, part of the Humanitarian Network Partnership on Assistive Technology.
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Hope Tech Plus: Innovation stack
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 27, 2023Case Studies and ReportsAssistive technology (AT) innovation is born out of the necessity to create a meaningful change that improves lives. This innovation stack is an example of disruptive technologies that facilitate independence. From a single successful smart cane product, Hope Tech Plus has been inventing new AT to support the independent and mobility of people with visual impairments across three continents.
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Responding to the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic with innovative data use: The role of data challenges
Jamie Danemayer, Andrew Young, Siobhan Green, Lydia Ezenwa, Michael KleinMarch 27, 2023Academic Research PublicationsThis study synthesizes learnings from three distinct datasets: innovator applications to the COVIDaction data challenges, surveys from organizers from similarly-aimed data challenges, and a focus group discussion with professionals who work with COVID-19 data. Thematic and topic analyses were used to analyze these datasets with the aim to identify gaps and barriers to effective data use in responding to the pandemic.
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Baseline Survey in Pakistan Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA)
World Health Organisation (Pakistan), Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination Government of PakistanMarch 1, 2023PakistanCase Studies and ReportsPakistan is the first country globally to conduct the rATA national survey with the objective to assess the needs and unmet needs of assistive technology and identify the barriers to access assistive technology in the population of Pakistan. Federal Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (NHSRC) in collaboration with World Health Organization successfully implemented the survey in 16 districts of the country, including over 9000 households and nearly 63000 respondents. The data collected provides useful insights into the current situation of access to assistive technology in the country, and offers recommendations to improve access.
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Experiences of lower limb prosthesis users in Kenya: a qualitative study to understand motivation to use and satisfaction with prosthetic outcomes
Catherine Holloway, Dr Ben Oldfrey, Grace Magomere, Kate Mattick, Maggie Kate Donovan-Hall, Joseph GakungaFeb. 27, 2023KenyaAcademic Research PublicationsThis paper explores the personal and system factors that motivate and enhance outcomes for patients accessing a prosthetic service and using a lower-limb prosthesis within a low resource setting. This study employed a qualitative approach to explore the motivations and satisfaction of individuals with lower limb loss engaging with a prosthetic service in Mombasa, Kenya. In-depth interviews were conducted over Microsoft Teams with 10 lower limb prosthesis users and thematic analysis was applied. Five key themes emerged: acceptance, self-determination, hope, clinician relationship and perception. These findings demonstrate the importance of hopeful thinking and a supportive community in overcoming physical and stigmatising challenges. The findings further highlight the value of the service provider relationship beyond just prescribing an assistive device.
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Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment and Its Association With Hearing Loss Among Adults Over 50 Years of Age: Results From a Population-Based Survey in Santiago, Chile
Dorothy Boggs, Sarah Polack, Tess Bright, Natalia Tamblay, Barbara Huidobro, Daniel Tapia-Mora, Katherine Anabalon, Carolina Delgado, Mariela C. TorrenteJan. 24, 2023ChileAcademic Research PublicationsThe purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cognitive impairment and explore its association with hearing loss and other sociodemographic and clinical risk factors, using an objective measurement of hearing levels, in adults over 50 years of age.
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Why inclusive design is important for climate and crisis resilience in cities
Global Disability Innovation Hub, Iain McKinnon, Mikaela Patrick, Annamae MuldowneyDec. 12, 2022Case Studies and ReportsCities worldwide are significantly exposed to the growing impact of climate crisis, from increased heat, intense weather changes, to disasters. At the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) we believe that in order to achieve resilience, everyone in the community must be enabled to respond to climate change and crisis on an equal basis. This is the foundation of inclusive climate resilience. With 80% of disabled people living in climate-vulnerable countries, embedding inclusive design into climate and crisis resilience strategies in cities are key to achieving this. Find out more in this article featured on The Access Association.
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Assistive Technology (AT), for What?
Global Disability Innovation Hub, World Health Organization, University College London Interaction Centre (UCLIC)Nov. 22, 2022Academic Research PublicationsFollowing the publication of the World’s first Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT) this paper explores how we are at the end of the beginning of the needed work. If AT is the mechanism, then some version of justice—however understood—is the goal to which it contributes. Hence, knowing what we mean by justice in this context feels like a vital next step to avoid perverse incentives and wasted effort. Now is the time to define “AT for what?” and ensure that every single actor knows how to contribute toward that goal.
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IPC Annual Report and how broadcasting the Paralympics can help tackle stigma in Africa
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC)Nov. 9, 2022Case Studies and ReportsIPC Annual Report and how broadcasting the Paralympics can help tackle stigma in Africa - featuring more on our AT2030 Sport Against Stigma Programme, and WeThe15 - a campagin that Global Disability Innovation Hub was a co-founder.
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Measuring Access to Assistive Technology using the WHO rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) questionnaire in Guatemala: Results from a Population-based Survey
Dorothy Boggs, Angelique Kester, Ana Cordón, Jonathan Naber, Sarah Polack, Gonna RotaNov. 9, 2022Case Studies and ReportsUsing the World Health Organisation (WHO) rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) tool, this study aimed to estimate the population level self-reported Assistive Technology use and unmet need in the province of Sololá in Western Guatemala.
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User feedback of Koalaa prosthetics by CHAI in Sierra Leone
Clinton Health Access InitiativeNov. 6, 2022Sierra LeoneCase Studies and ReportsUser feedback of Koalaa prosthetics by Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) in Sierra Leone. This document provides reporting on evidence from the experience of 27 Koalaa prosthetic users by the Clinton Health Access Initiative, in collaboration with AT2030, the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the Global Disability Innovation Hub - looking at outcomes and recommendations.
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Inclusive Infrastructure Case Study Solo Indonesia written in Bahasa Indonesia
Global Disability Innovation Hub, Kota Kita, UK AidNov. 3, 2022IndonesiaCase Studies and ReportsThe third case study as part of the Inclusive Infrastructure programme on Solo, Indonesia. This is the Bahasa Indonesia version of the report. This case study builds a picture of the current state of inclusion and accessibility in the built environment and infrastructure in Solo through engaging local stakeholders and communities and exploring the understanding of and potential for inclusive design to address some of the current barriers to inclusion.
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Inclusive Infrastructure Case Study Nairobi, Kenya
Global Disability Innovation Hub, Kilimanjaro Blind Trust, Kounkuey Design InitiativeNov. 3, 2022KenyaCase Studies and ReportsNairobi is experiencing rapid growth and investment in infrastructure which offers great potential to embed inclusion. The city has complex urban development challenges with roads and transportation commonly cited as major challenges. This case study explore the current state of the infrastructure provision - and makes recommendations for opportunities to imbed accessibility and inclusion.
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Towards Proactive Information Retrieval in Noisy Text with Wikipedia Concepts
UCL, Tabish Ahmed, Sahan BulathwelaSept. 18, 2022Academic Research PublicationsThis work explores how exploiting the context of a query using Wikipedia concepts can improve proactive information retrieval on noisy text. We formulate two models that use entity linking to associate Wikipedia topics with the relevance model. Our experiments around a podcast segment retrieval task demonstrate that there is a clear signal of relevance in Wikipedia concepts while a ranking model can improve precision by incorporating them.
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Paralympic Broadcasting in Sub-Saharan Africa: Sport, Media and Communication for Social Change
Dr. Jessica Noske Turner (LU London), Prof. Mufunanji Magalsi (UofMalawi), Jo TacchiAug. 29, 2022Academic Research PublicationsTokyo 2020 was boardcast to 49 territories across Sub-Saharan Africa. This commentry explores a historic moment in the development and expansion of Paralympic broadcasting and is at the same time an example of how Paralympic media is being harnessed as a pedagogical force and instigator for disability development agendas in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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