Chidi's Computing Skills & Research Blog

A model  consistent with my major project theme (Benefits and Application of Assistive Technology) is the IMPACT2 Model. The IMPACT2 model supports the research, development, and implementation of assistive technology solutions. It helps in studying the effectiveness of technologies, evaluating user needs, and identifying suitable interventions for specific disabilities or contexts (Smith, 2016). By examining this model, we can not only see its approaches to the application of assistive technology (AT), but also the outcomes of implementing these technologies. References Smith, R., (2016) 'The emergence and emergency of assistive technology outcomes research methodology.'  Assistive Technology Outcomes & Benefits , 10(1), pp.19-37.

 I carried out a simple task on this software, which is translating a sentence from English to French. Google Translate provides real-time translation, which means that you also get suggested phrases and sentences while typing in the dialogue box. To verify that the translation was accurate, I swapped the languages by simply clicking on the overlapping arrows at the center of the screen. The original meaning of the sentence remained the same when translated back. Although language translation software in general my not provide 100% flawless translations, Google Translate has progressed over the years to an era of minimal translation errors.

There are several purposes of the Google Translate software. The default selected mode is 'Text', which converts  one written language to another. Additionally, a microphone icon is located at the bottom left corner of the input box, to provide Speech-To-Text (STT) aid. Alternatively, this software also allows translation of pictures by selecting the 'Images' tab, and files, by selecting the 'Documents' tab. Google translate also translates websites. This function has been embedded in some web browsers today, for efficiency. Translating from one language to another, involves selecting the language you speak, or letting the software identify it automatically, and then selecting the output language. Both methods may come in useful for converting a foreign language to one's own and vice versa. The selection for languages can be made by clicking on the dropdown, which displays all the languages that this software supports.

A software that I have chosen, which represents the ideas of my major project theme is Google Translate. Google Translate, as the name may imply, functions primarily as a translation software, that converts the user's language into any selected language.  Google translate it typically applied  by learners of foreign languages, and can be used in conferences, seminars, travel by tourists, and personal use. Like most other Google applications, the Google Translate is completely free. However, to access it, you are required to have access to the internet and a google account.  The freeware, Google translate, despite being widely knows does have some competition in the field. Other software like Microsoft translator and iTranslate also perform similar functions to Google Translate. Being a web application that can be accessed from any web browser, the only computational requirement this software requires is to have a working updated and supported web browser. Google translate...

Analysis of my Survey Questions In order to begin collecting information for my primary research on the topic of Assistive Technology, I structured my questions to enable draw a meaningful conclusion, when interpreting the data. I had forty-four (44) answers to my questionnaire, and the analysis are as follows. In order to retrieve information regarding the respondents' experience with assistive technology, I began my questionnaire enquiring what virtual assistants the user is accustomed to. Taking the lead, with 21 out of 44 replies was Siri, with 8 people using no virtual assistants at all. Because Siri is a virtual assistant used only with iOS devices, we can draw from this finding, that the most used device among these respondents is the Apple iOS. From the next question, as shown above, I was able access the benefits of assistive technology to the  efficiency and convenience of its users. Only a small percentage disagreed with these benefits, and the largest percentage of repl...

 In my previous post , I highlighted the demographic questions used to gather information from my Google form. In this post, I will be discussing the other 'general' questions I asked on the form. In order to gain information about the use and experiences of the user with assistive technology, I asked questions ranging from virtual assistants to voice recognition. The questions are enumerated below.

According to SurveyMonkey (2023), Demographic questions "allow you to better understand certain background characteristics of an audience, whether it’s their age, race, ethnicity, income, work situation, marital status, etc."  With that in mind, I drafted my questionnaire, having demographic questions relevant to my major project theme . The demographic information I requested for were age range, gender  and occupation, in order to allow me draw conclusions, during my research. References            SurveryMonkey (2023) Demographic survey questions: Why & how to ask , SurveyMonkey . Available at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/gathering-demographic-information-from-surveys/#:~:text=Demographic%20information%20examples%20include%3A%20age,of%20information%20with%20survey%20questions. (Accessed: 04 June 2023).

 Diagram for my Initial Idea 1 As stated in a previous blog post , my major project idea is a specification of my initial idea 1. In my initial idea, I opted for Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and my major project was Assistive Technology (AT). These topics, despite being different externally, are similar in nature, and convey similar ideas, therefore, I have attached an image that portrays this. For more information on HCI, kindly visit the blog post on Human-Computer Interaction.

  Diagram for my Major Project Theme For my major project theme titled: ' The Benefits and Applications of Assistive Technology', I have designed a representative diagram using the draw.io software. The diagram above represents my major project them. In my previous blog post on Assistive Technology, I explored the many applications of assistive technology to humans. Some of these, as represented above, include: Speech-To-Text (STT), Virtual Reality (VR), smart homes, smart watches and devices, etc.

 

(Racool_studio, 2020) Like in every discipline, there are a set of guidelines that order the behaviour and conduct of all within the discipline. "A popular example of computer ethics in practice are the Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics, created in 1992 by the Computer Ethics Institute" ( North Wales Management School, 2022). "The commandments include: Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people. Thou shalt not interfere with other people’s computer work. Thou shalt not snoop around in other people’s computer files. Thou shalt not use a computer to steal. Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness. Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid (without permission). Thou shalt not use other people’s computer resources without authorization or proper compensation. Thou shalt not appropriate other people’s intellectual output. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you are writing or the system you are d...

  According to Lutkevich (2021), "a  Gantt chart is a horizontal bar chart developed as a production control tool in 1917 by Henry L. Gantt, an American engineer and social scientist. Frequently used in project management, a Gantt chart provides a graphical illustration of a schedule that can be used to plan, coordinate and track tasks in a project". As part of the computer skills and research module, I have been assigned to create a Gantt chart showing my process in a timeline, relating to my blog. (Officetimeline, 2023) My first thoughts while using this software was how easy the user interface (UI) was, for someone like me, who prior to this lesson, barely know what a Ghant chart was. However, after using a pre-designed template, and inserting all my information, it still looked clustered, and some information especially the overlays were very illegible. I immediately began seeking ways to solve this problem. (Officetimeline, 2023) Not long after, I was able to solve the p...

Throughout the course of research into my major project theme , and events leading to its completion, I had to take each procedure one step at a time. The diagram below highlights the steps I took towards the completion of my main project theme, alongside the duration each step lasted for.

Draw.io This blog post will contain my major project theme. The decision for the topic of my major project theme has hugely been influenced by my initial idea , being that it is a component of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). With the help of draw.io I have designed the image above to convey the idea of this essay, titled 'The benefits and applications of assistive technology'.  The Benefits and Applications of Assistive Technology Vectorjuice (2021)  Assistive technology is a rapidly evolving field that has revolutionized our perception of disabilities. The University of Washington describes assistive technology as a range of technology designed to aid individuals with disabilities in performing tasks that they might otherwise be unable to perform. These may include, but are not limited to, hardware, software and peripherals that provide support for individuals with disabilities and provide them access to computers and information, as well as devices for mobility, such as wh...

(Pressfoto, 2019)   My second idea for my main project theme is Software engineering. To understand what this entails, one must first understand what software/programs are. According to  Loshin (2021),  a program in computing, "is a specific set of ordered operations for a computer to perform." Cote (2022)  describes computer programming as "the process of writing code to facilitate specific actions in a computer, application or software program, and instructs them on how to perform." He also states that the professionals in this field "create instructions for a computer to execute by writing and testing code that enables applications and software programs to operate successfully" ( Cote, 2022). While software developers are chiefly concerned with coding, software engineering involves more than just lines of code (Yasar, 2023). It encompasses the entire stages of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), ranging from the planning, building, analysis, inte...

(Rawpixel, 2021)   The first idea for my project topic is in line with my continuation route in De Montfort University, which is "Computer Science". The topic I chose in this field is Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).  According to the Interaction Design Foundation (IDF) (2022), "Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a multidisciplinary field of study focusing on the design of computer technology and, in particular, the interaction between humans (the users) and computers. While initially concerned with computers, HCI has since expanded to cover almost all forms of information technology design." Also referred to as Man-Machine Interaction, this field is chiefly associated with the design, usage and evaluation of "interactive computing systems for human use", and aims at discovering the areas surrounding this field (Sinha, Shahi, and Shankar, 2010).   The field of HCI deals with two main components, which are 'Functionality' and 'Usability'. ...

Macrovector (2019) In the present era of digital advancements, computers and technology have hugely become an integral part of both our personal and professional lives. Possessing software and hardware skills has become a fundamental requirement for individuals who aim to excel in the modern job market. Software is a collection of applications or data used to carry out specific tasks and operate computers. Its opposite, computer hardware, describes the physical components of a computer  ( Rosencrance, 2021). Over the years, society has increasingly become accustomed to the daily use of software such as:  Photoshop, Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube; and search engines including Google, Bing,  and Yahoo!, as well as Windows Operating System and Mac Operating System, for both personal and business use. Over the course of my previous module (E-commerce) I was also exposed to software applicatio...

(Pressfoto, 2019) Progressing with my studies in a higher institution has always been a no-brainer for me. As the fourth of five children, the upbringing we always had was to prioritize our education, and my parents would always echo that "whatever is worth doing is worth doing well". I had always envisioned myself studying in Europe, however somehow, the United Kingdom never came into question. After finally deciding to study in the UK, last year, I did some research on British universities, placing academic standards and international students' experiences as critical criteria. De Montfort University ticked all the right boxes, and I proceeded to make my application. My undergraduate program of study is Computer Science (BSc). The course outline from De Montfort University's page shows the following mandatory modules: First year Block 1: Database Design and Implementation Block 2: Fundamental Concepts of Computer Science Block 3: Computer Programming Block 4: Operat...

Freepik (2022)  Hello and welcome to the very first post in my blog for the Computer Skills and Research module! My name is Chidiere Oluoma, or 'Chidi' for short, and I am beyond thrilled to take you on this computing journey throughout the course of this module. I am from the south-eastern part of Nigeria, a country along the western coast of Africa, widely known for its richness in cultural diversity, food and music. I enjoy learning about other peoples and cultures. I believe this interest has been a huge spur in making me pick up words and phrases in several other languages. Another interest of mine is games and sports. However, unlike sports, which I excel at only a couple, I enjoy playing a vast array of games, ranging from role-Playing (RPG), action first-person shooter (FPS), arcade and simulations.  I have always been around computers, especially when I got my first pc at the age of six. Computers have always been an integral part of my education; and over the years, ...