New informatics technoligies for persons with disabilities

Computers in recent years become an integral part of our lives. The main reason for such a large development of computer and Internet is the access to a huge amount of information that can be found through them. Unfortunately, people with disabilities cannot fully enjoy the benefits offered by computers and the Internet, due to the lack of adaptation to its software. According to the research carried out by GUS in 2009 shows that in Poland, 11.1 % are persons with disabilities [1], according to NSP in 2011, the number of people with disabilities in general was about 4.7 million, representing 12.2 % of the population. The share of men among people with disabilities was 46.1 % compared to 53.9 % for women. But there are many innovations in informatics technologies that allow people with disabilities in full take advantage of opportunities provided with computers. New technologies for people with disabilities have been classified in this paper. Based on this classification software and devices to facilitate the use of computer have been described and selected. First described informatics technology, that make the life easier for people with disabilities, is a speech recognition system. There are plenty of solutions for English language, namely: Sphinx, Via Voice, Loquendo and many others, but also developed several applications that use the Polish language, namely: MagicScribe [2] and SkryBot [3] . One of the newest techniques, which allow reducing errors in speech recognition, is the use of artificial neural networks. Neural network in some way imitating the action of real brain and is a major achievement of modern technologies in artificial intelligence. Another informatics-technology novelty for people with disabilities is to control the computer through breathing. One of the applications of this technology is a product called Sensawaft, Zyxio company [7]. The example of software developed at the Lodz University of Technology is a program B-link. Without a doubt, B-Link is a unique application that allows paralyzed person to use a computer using eye blinking [8]. Another method that uses vision for persons with disabilities has been processed by scientists from the Gdansk University of Technology. Their software called Eye-trucker [11]. This program through the eye movement of paralyzed person can operate with a computer and communicate with it. Another program that allows people with disabilities to use computers is Head Mouse Extreme [12]. It allows you to control the movements of the cursor with a flick of the head. The most interesting and latest method of computer controlling a person with disabilities is technology of computer controlling using the “mind”. There are three ways to get the signal from the brain: invasive methods, partially invasive and non-invasive methods [13]. New informatics technologies allow persons with disabilities to communicate with other people increase motivation for actions, stimulate greater activity.