# Development of a Behavioral Intervention with Socially Assistive Robots to Enhance Magnification Device Use for Reading

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2021 · $270,667

## Abstract

Project Summary or Abstract
 The successful application of magnification devices for reading and daily tasks is predicated on their
correct use by individuals with low vision (LV), which can require several training sessions. Barriers related to
transportation, geography, and/or co-morbidities often limit LV patients' ability to attend several in-office training
sessions as part of low vision rehabilitation (LVR) to enhance visual function with magnification devices. A
promising solution is the provision of real-time magnifier training and motivational support from an affordable
socially assistive robot (SAR) to a LV patient at home. We propose to adapt and deploy SARs to promote
optimal use of magnifiers and long-term engagement by providing motivation and reinforcement of skills at
home. The SAR will be designed to help improve LV patients' reading efficiency, reduce their frustration, and
encourage the use of the magnification device for a greater number of tasks and/or duration, thus minimizing
the likelihood of abandonment of the magnifier device.
 Specifically, we propose to customize SAR interaction and data collection capabilities for use with
adults who have newly received a hand-held magnifier for near reading tasks. We will obtain feedback from LV
patients seen at the UCLA vision rehabilitation center to help guide the modifications throughout the
development process. We will generate new dialog and conversations for the SAR, as well as add the ability to
record, store and forward audio/video to document the LV patient performing reading tasks with their magnifier.
The SAR will engage in conversations pertaining to the use of the magnifier, and use a tablet screen to solicit
patients' input and display basic instructional videos. The SAR will utilize motivational dialog to enhance
patients' magnifier use by promoting acceptance, adherence, and skills reinforcement. Following this
development of a SAR to support magnifier use for reading, we will evaluate changes in patient outcomes
following in-home deployment of a SAR for LVR. We will use a small-scale randomized controlled trial with
crossover design to assess changes in reading function and/or psychosocial status among LV patients who
receive the SAR intervention developed in Aim 1 for a period of 8-weeks at home compared to a control group
who does not receive any intervention. After the initial 8-week evaluation period, the controls will crossover to
receive the SAR for 12-weeks. Outcome measures administered on a monthly basis throughout the six-month
study period will provide periodic estimates of effect size to assess for meaningful trends. We also aim to utilize
data from Bluetooth beacon sensor stickers attached to the hand-held portion of magnifiers during the study
period to quantify the frequency and duration of magnifier use, in order to assess behavior change in response
to the SAR. This work will evaluate the preliminary efficacy of the SAR intervention for LVR involvin...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10093051
- **Project number:** 5R21EY031126-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** AVA K BITTNER
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $270,667
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-02-01 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10093051

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10093051, Development of a Behavioral Intervention with Socially Assistive Robots to Enhance Magnification Device Use for Reading (5R21EY031126-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10093051. Licensed CC0.

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