Accessible microscopy workstation for students and scientists with mobility impairments.
An integrated accessible microscopy workstation was designed and developed to allow persons with mobility impairments to control all aspects of light microscopy with minimal human assistance. This system, named AccessScope, is capable of performing brightfield and fluorescence microscopy, image analysis, and tissue morphometry requisite for undergraduate science courses to graduate-level research. An accessible microscope is necessary for students and scientists with mobility impairments to be able to use a microscope independently to better understand microscopical imaging concepts and cell biology. This knowledge is not always apparent by simply viewing a catalog of histological images. The ability to operate a microscope independently eliminates the need to hire an assistant or rely on a classmate and permits one to take practical laboratory examinations by oneself. Independent microscope handling is also crucial for graduate students and scientists with disabilities to perform scientific research. By making a personal computer as the user interface for controlling AccessScope functions, different upper limb mobility impairments could be accommodated by using various computer input devices and assistive technology software. Participants with a range of upper limb mobility impairments evaluated the prototype microscopy workstation. They were able to control all microscopy functions including loading different slides without assistance.
Duerstock
Bradley S
BS
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Paralysis Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D012108:Research Personnel; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*