影響重度視覺障礙者使用輔助科技之因素－以博碩課業使用之輔助科技為例

A Study on the Use of Assistive Technology for Individuals with Severe Visual Impairments - Students in Doctor's and Master's Studies as an Example

本研究旨在了解影響攻讀博碩學位之重度視障者使用輔助科技相關因素。研究採質性研究法，藉由半結構式的訪談題綱，深度訪談六位2001至2010年之間，在國內外攻讀博碩學位的重度視障者並進行資料分析，研究結果如下：一、影響重度視障者於博碩課業使用輔助科技的相關因素影響重度視障者於博碩課業使用輔助科技的相關因素方面包含使用者個人因素，如生理、基礎能力、經濟能力或價值觀、特質與需用程度；外在環境因素則包括輔助科技不斷推陳出新、輔助科技相關資訊的傳播、廠商開立發票與申請補助、就讀不同系所的課務需求、在不同國家就讀等；至於輔具本身的因素則是輔具的品質、輔具與作業系統的相容性、輔具設計與視障者的適配性、輔具體積大小、輔具價格高低等五項因素。二、重度視障者於博碩課業使用輔助科技之問題重度視障者於博碩課業使用輔助科技之問題涵蓋層面包括一般電腦運用方面、輔具硬體設計方面、輔具的讀取與輸入方面、以及上網搜尋方面；且受訪者認為目前輔助科技尚未能解決的問題有圖形的問題、蒐集圖書參考資料的問題、與未能讀取與輸入報表數據和特殊符號等問題。最後研究依據本研究之研究結果，分別針對影響重度視障者使用輔助科技之因素與其所面臨的問題提出具體建議。

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of individuals with severe visual impairments to adopt assistive technology for graduate study. This study utilized a qualitative method which involved semi-structured and in-depth interviews for data collection. Moreover， this study selected six graduate students with severe visual impairments as study participants. These study participants have been in doctoral or master's programs in Taiwan or other countries between 2001 and 2010. The findings were as follows: The factors inf luencing these interviewees to use AT fell into three dimensions: personal， external， and technological. The personal factors were related to physiology， fundamental capability， financial situation (or values)， characteristics and necessity for AT. The external factors included new products constantly brought by new technology， broadcasting of AT information， invoices from vendors to apply gra nts， different requirements for curricula of different departments， and study environments in different countries. The technological factors were quality， compatibility with operation system， design for suitability， size， and， certainly， the price. The problems of using AT for individuals with severe visual impairments in graduate studies fell into four aspects: common computer operation， designing of devices' hardware， inputting or reading interface， and surfing on the Internet. Finally， based on research findings， concrete suggestions were made for the research and development of AT devices， provision of AT services， and the possible future studies.