Anomaly Detection to Increase Commuter Safety for Individuals with Cognitive Impairments

Abstract

This study assesses the possibility of using handheld devices to increase commuter safety for adults with cognitive impairments. The system uses a commercial off-the-shelf PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) with built-in GPS (Global Positioning System), enabling individuals to respond to unexpected situations without staff intervention. This study was performed according to an ABAB reversal design, in which A represented the baseline and B represented intervention phases. The data show that participants’ awareness of anomalies significantly increased in target response, thus improving trip safety during intervention phases. Practical and developmental implications of the findings are discussed.