1.

Identify human -Limitations that affect their interaction with computers and their suggested
assistive technologies.
2. identify all computers that humans interact with and find the different components
coresponding with human parts that aid an interaction.
3. Today humans are so attached to computers that they cannot do away with them. Justify the
statement.
Thank you.
Personal computers offer people with disabilities new possibilities for personal autonomy and social
integration. To be able to profit from computers, disabled users need interfaces that suit their skills and
assist them in overcoming physical and cognitive barriers. The first experiences in adaptation of the
equipment for people with disabilities were oriented to individual solutions and lacked generality. To
excel this "Patchwork" approach, another design philosophy, Universal Design was outlined. HCI
methods and tools are having a positive influence over interface design for people with disabilities and
helped in the way to Universal Design. Nevertheless a long way has to be walked until this philosophy is
widely generalized. For this goal some strategies are suggested: to use sound design methodologies
oriented to guarantee accessibility and usability; to ensure user involvement in the design process; and
to bear legal and ethical aspects in mind.
Assistive technology
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Adaptive technology" redirects here.
Disability
Theory and models[show]
Education[show]
Therapy[show]
Societal implications[show]
Personal / physical assistance[show]
Socioeconomic assistance[show]
Groups and organizations[show]
Disabled sports[show]
Culture[show]
Disability portal
Category: Disability
Category: Disability lists
v
t
e

Hearing aid
Assistive technology is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative
devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and
using them. Assistive technology promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform
tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by
providing enhancements to, or changing methods of interacting with, the technology needed to
accomplish such tasks.
Contents
1 Assistive technology and adaptive technology
2 Mobility impairment and wheelchairs
3 Mobility impairment and walkers
4 Personal emergency response systems
5 Accessibility software
6 Assistive technology for visual impairment
7 Augmentative and alternative communication
8 Assistive technology for cognition
9 Prosthesis
10 Assistive technology in sport
11 Computer accessibility
12 Home automation
13 See also
14 References
Assistive technology and adaptive technology
The term adaptive technology is often used as the synonym for assistive technology, however,
they are different terms. Assistive technology refers to "any item, piece of equipment, or product
system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase,
maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities",
[citation needed]
while
adaptive technology covers items that are specifically designed for persons with disabilities and
would seldom be used by non-disabled persons. In other words, "assistive technology is any
object or system that increases or maintains the capabilities of people with disabilities," while
adaptive technology is "any object or system that is specifically designed for the purpose of
increasing or maintaining the capabilities of people with disabilities."
[1]
Consequently, adaptive
technology is a subset of assistive technology. Adaptive technology often refers specifically to
electronic and information technology access.
[2]

Mobility impairment and wheelchairs
Main article: Wheelchair

A typical modern battery powered chair.
Wheelchairs are devices that can be manually propelled or electrically propelled and that include
a seating system and are designed to be a substitute for the normal mobility that most people
enjoy. Wheelchairs and other mobility devices allow people to perform mobility related activities
of daily living which include feeding, toileting, dressing grooming and bathing. The devices
comes in a number of variations where they can be propelled either by hand or by motors where
the occupant uses electrical controls to manage motors and seating control actuators through a
joystick, sip-and-puff control, or other input devices. Often there are handles behind the seat for
someone else to do the pushing or input devices for caregivers. Wheelchairs are used by people
for whom walking is difficult or impossible due to illness, injury, or disability. People with both
sitting and walking disability often need to use a wheelchair or walker.
Mobility impairment and walkers
Main article: Walker
A walker or walking frame or Rollator is a tool for disabled people who need additional support
to maintain balance or stability while walking. It consists of a frame that is about waist high,
approximately twelve inches deep and slightly wider than the user. Walkers are also available in
other sizes, such as for children, or for heavy people. Modern walkers are height-adjustable. The
front two legs of the walker may or may not have wheels attached depending on the strength and
abilities of the person using it. It is also common to see caster wheels or glides on the back legs
of a walker with wheels on the front.
[3]

Personal emergency response systems
Main article: Telecare

This voter with a manual dexterity disability is making choices on a touchscreen with a head
dauber.
Personal emergency response systems (PERS), or Telecare (UK term), are a particular sort of
assistive technology that use electronic sensors connected to an alarm system to help caregivers
manage risk and help vulnerable people stay independent at home longer. An example would be
the systems being put in place for senior people such as fall detectors, thermometers (for
hypothermia risk), flooding and unlit gas sensors (for people with mild dementia). Notably, these
alerts can be customized to the particular person's risks. When the alert is triggered, a message is
sent to a caregiver or contact center who can respond appropriately.
Accessibility software
Main article: Computer accessibility
In humancomputer interaction, computer accessibility (also known as accessible computing)
refers to the accessibility of a computer system to all people, regardless of disability or severity
of impairment, examples include web accessibility guidelines.
[4]
Another approach is for the user
to present a token to the computer terminal, such as a smart card, that has configuration
information to adjust the computer speed, text size, etc. to their particular needs. This is useful
where users want to access public computer based terminals in Libraries, ATM, Information
kiosks etc. The concept is encompassed by the CEN EN 1332-4 Identification Card Systems -
Man-Machine Interface.
[5]
This development of this standard has been supported in Europe by
SNAPI and has been successfully incorporated into the Lasseo specifications, but with limited
success due to the lack of interest from public computer terminal suppliers.
Assistive technology for visual impairment
Main article: Blindness Management
Many people with serious visual impairments live independently, using a wide range of tools and
techniques. Examples of assistive technology for visually impairment include the Canadian
currency tactile feature, which a system of raised dots in one corner, based on Braille cells but
not standard Braille.
[6]
For general computer use access technology such as screen readers,
screen magnifiers and refreshable Braille displays has been widely taken up along with
standalone reading aids that integrate a scanner, optical character recognition (OCR) software,
and speech software in a single machine. These function together without a separate PC.
[7]

Augmentative and alternative communication
Main article: Augmentative and alternative communication

An AAC user uses number coding on an eye gaze communication board
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is an umbrella term that encompasses
methods of communication for those with impairments or restrictions on the production or
comprehension of spoken or written language.
[8]
AAC systems are extremely diverse and depend
on the capabilities of the user. They may be as basic as pictures on a board that the are used to
request food, drink, or other care; or they can be advanced speech generating devices, based on
speech synthesis, that are capable of storing hundreds of phrases and words.
[9]

Assistive technology for cognition
Main article: Cognitive orthotics
Assistive technology for cognition (ATC)
[10]
is the use of technology (usually high tech) to
augment and assistive cognitive processes such as attention, memory, self-regulation, navigation,
emotion recognition and management, planning, and sequencing activity. Systematic reviews of
the field have found that the number of ATC are growing rapidly, but have focused on memory
and planning, that there is emerging evidence for efficacy, that a lot of scope exists to develop
new ATC.
[11]
Examples of ATC include: NeuroPage which prompts users about meetings,
[12]

Wakamaru, which provides companionship and reminds users to take medicine and calls for help
if something is wrong, and telephone Reassurance systems.
[13]

Prosthesis
Main article: Prosthesis
A prosthesis, prosthetic, or prosthetic limb is a device that replaces a missing body part. It is
part of the field of biomechatronics, the science of using mechanical devices with human muscle,
skeleton, and nervous systems to assist or enhance motor control lost by trauma, disease, or
defect. Prostheses are typically used to replace parts lost by injury (traumatic) or missing from
birth (congenital) or to supplement defective body parts. Inside the body, artificial heart valves
are in common use with artificial hearts and lungs seeing less common use but under active
technology development. Other medical devices and aids that can be considered prosthetics
include hearing aids, artificial eyes, palatal obturator, gastric bands, and dentures.
Prostheses are specifically not orthoses, although given certain circumstances a prosthesis might
end up performing some or all of the same functionary benefits as an orthosis. Prostheses are
technically the complete finished item. For instance, a C-Leg knee alone is not a prosthesis, but
only a prosthetic component. The complete prosthesis would consist of the attachment system to
the residual limb usually a "socket", and all the attachment hardware components all the way
down to and including the terminal device. Keep this in mind as nomenclature is often
interchanged.
The terms "prosthetic" and "orthotic" are adjectives used to describe devices such as a prosthetic
knee. The terms "prosthetics" and "orthotics" are used to describe the respective allied health
fields. The devices themselves are properly referred to as "prostheses" and "orthoses" in the
plural and "prosthesis" and "orthosis" in the singular.
Assistive technology in sport

A New York City Marathon competitor uses a racing wheelchair.
Assistive technology in sport is an area of technology design that is growing. Assistive
technology is the array of new devices created to enable sports enthusiasts who have disabilities
to play. Assistive technology may be used in adaptive sports, where an existing sport is modified
to enable players with a disability to participate; or, assistive technology may be used to invent
completely new sports with athletes with disabilities exclusively in mind.
An increasing number of people with disabilities are participating in sports, leading to the
development of new assistive technology.
[14]
Assistive technology devices can be simple, or
"low-tech", or they may use highly advanced technology, with some even using computers.
Assistive technology for sports may also be simple, or advanced.
[15]
Accordingly, assistive
technology can be found in sports ranging from local community recreation to the elite
Paralympic Games. More complex assistive technology devices have been developed over time,
and as a result, sports for people with disabilities "have changed from being a clinical therapeutic
tool to an increasingly competition-oriented activity".
[16]

Computer accessibility
Main article: Computer accessibility

A sip-and-puff device which allows a person with substantial disability to make selections and
navigate computerized interfaces by controlling inhalations and exhalations.
One of the largest problems that affect people with disabilities is discomfort with prostheses.
[17]

An experiment performed in Massachusetts utilized 20 people with various sensors attached to
their arms.
[17]
The subjects tried different arm exercises, and the sensors recorded their
movements. All of the data helped engineers develop new engineering concepts for
prosthetics.
[17]

Assistive technology may attempt to improve the ergonomics of the devices themselves such as
Dvorak and other alternative keyboard layouts, which offer more ergonomic layouts of the
keys.
[18][19]

Assistive technology devices have been created to enable people with disabilities to use modern
touch screen mobile computers such as the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The Pererro is a plug
and play adapter for iOS devices which uses the built in Apple VoiceOver feature in combination
with a basic switch. This brings touch screen technology to those who were previously unable to
use it.
Home automation
The form of home automation called assistive domotics focuses on making it possible for elderly
and disabled people to live independently. Home automation is becoming a viable option for the
elderly and disabled who would prefer to stay in their own homes rather than move to a
healthcare facility. This field uses much of the same technology and equipment as home
automation for security, entertainment, and energy conservation but tailors it towards elderly and
disabled users.
See also
Accessibility
Augmentative and alternative communication
Braille technology
Design for All (in ICT)
Durable medical equipment
Matching Person & Technology Model
OATS: Open Source Assistive Technology Software
Occupational Therapy
Transgenerational design
Universal access to education
References
Notes
1. "Tennessee Science Standards". Retrieved 2012-10-05.
2. "Assessing for Adaptive Technology Needs". Retrieved 2012-10-05.
3. C. Barru. Personalization and Shared Autonomy in Assistive Technologies. Ph. Thesis.
Universitat Politcnica de Catalunya. 2012
4. Web accessibility guidelines
5. CEN EN 1332-4 Identification Card Systems - Man-Machine Interface
6. Accessibility features - Bank Notes - Bank of Canada
[dead link]

7. "What is an electronic reading aid?". Royal National Institute of Blind People. 2009-12-
01. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
8. ASHA (2005).
9. Gilliam & Marquardt, pp. 356359.
10. LoPresti, E.F., Mihailidis, A. & Kirsch, N. (2004). Assistive Technology for cognitive
rehabilitation: State of the art. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 14, 5-39.
11. Gillespie, A., Best, C. & O'Neill, B. (2012). Cognitive function and Assistive Technology
for cognition: A systematic review. Journal of the International Neuropsychological
Society, 18, 1-19.
12. Wilson, et al. (1997). Evaluation of NeuroPage: A new memory aid. Journal of
Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 63, 113-115.
13. assistivetech.net: Telephone Reassurance. Accessed 2009-08-06.
14. Scherer, Marcia and Stefano Federici (2012). Assistive Technology Assessment
Handbook. CRC Press. p. 425. ISBN 9781439838655.
15. "Assistive technologies". Spaulding Framingham. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
16. Scherer, Marcia and Stefano Federici (2012). Assistive Technology Assessment
Handbook. CRC Press. p. 427. ISBN 9781439838655.
17. Abdullah, Hussein A.; Tarry, Cole; Datta, Rahul.; Mittal, Gauri S.; Abderrahim,
Mohamed (2007). "Dynamic Biomechanical Model for Assessing and Monitoring Robot-
Assisted Upper-Limb Therapy". Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development 44
(1): 4362. doi:10.1682/JRRD.2006.03.0025. PMID 17551857.
18. Chubon, R.A., Hester, M.R. (1988). "An enhanced standard computer keyboard system
for single-finger and typing-stick typing". Journal of Rehabilitation Research and
Development 25 (4): 1724. PMID 2973523.
19. Anson, D., George, S., Galup, R., Shea, B., Vetter, R. (2001). "Efficiency of the Chubon
versus the QWERTY keyboard". Assistive-Technology 13 (1): 405.
doi:10.1080/10400435.2001.10132032. PMID 12212435.
Sources
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2005). "Roles and Responsibilities of
Speech-Language Pathologists With Respect to Augmentative and Alternative
Communication: Position Statement". Archived from the original on 13 February 2009.
Retrieved 2009-01-23.
DeCoste, Denise C. (1997). "Chapter 10: Introduction to Augmentative and Alternative
Communication Systems". In Glennen, Sharon; DeCoste, Denise C. Handbook Of
Augmentative And Alternative Communication. San Diego, CA: Singular Publishing
Group. ISBN 1-56593-684-1.
Schlosser, R. W.; Wendt, O. (2008). "Effects of augmentative and alternative
communication intervention on speech production in children with autism: a systematic
review". American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 17 (3): 212230.
doi:10.1044/1058-0360(2008/021). PMID 18663107.
Beukelman, David R.; Mirenda, Pat (2005).
Assistive technology and adaptive technology
The term adaptive technology is often used as the synonym for assistive technology,
however, they are different terms. Assistive technology refers to "any item, piece of
equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized,
that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with
disabilities",
[citation needed]
while adaptive technology covers items that are specifically
designed for persons with disabilities and would seldom be used by non-disabled persons.
In other words, "assistive technology is any object or system that increases or maintains
the capabilities of people with disabilities," while adaptive technology is "any object or
system that is specifically designed for the purpose of increasing or maintaining the
capabilities of people with disabilities."
[1]
Consequently, adaptive technology is a subset
of assistive technology. Adaptive technology often refers specifically to electronic and
information technology access.
[2]

Mobility impairment and wheelchairs
Main article: Wheelchair

A typical modern battery powered chair.
Wheelchairs are devices that can be manually propelled or electrically propelled and that
include a seating system and are designed to be a substitute for the normal mobility that
most people enjoy. Wheelchairs and other mobility devices allow people to perform
mobility related activities of daily living which include feeding, toileting, dressing
grooming and bathing. The devices comes in a number of variations where they can be
propelled either by hand or by motors where the occupant uses electrical controls to
manage motors and seating control actuators through a joystick, sip-and-puff control, or
other input devices. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the
pushing or input devices for caregivers. Wheelchairs are used by people for whom
walking is difficult or impossible due to illness, injury, or disability. People with both
sitting and walking disability often need to use a wheelchair or walker.
Mobility impairment and walkers
Main article: Walker
A walker or walking frame or Rollator is a tool for disabled people who need additional
support to maintain balance or stability while walking. It consists of a frame that is about
waist high, approximately twelve inches deep and slightly wider than the user. Walkers
are also available in other sizes, such as for children, or for heavy people. Modern
walkers are height-adjustable. The front two legs of the walker may or may not have
wheels attached depending on the strength and abilities of the person using it. It is also
common to see caster wheels or glides on the back legs of a walker with wheels on the
front.
[3]

Personal emergency response systems
Main article: Telecare

This voter with a manual dexterity disability is making choices on a touchscreen with a
head dauber.
Personal emergency response systems (PERS), or Telecare (UK term), are a particular
sort of assistive technology that use electronic sensors connected to an alarm system to
help caregivers manage risk and help vulnerable people stay independent at home longer.
An example would be the systems being put in place for senior people such as fall
detectors, thermometers (for hypothermia risk), flooding and unlit gas sensors (for people
with mild dementia). Notably, these alerts can be customized to the particular person's
risks. When the alert is triggered, a message is sent to a caregiver or contact center who
can respond appropriately.
Accessibility software
Main article: Computer accessibility
In humancomputer interaction, computer accessibility (also known as accessible
computing) refers to the accessibility of a computer system to all people, regardless of
disability or severity of impairment, examples include web accessibility guidelines.
[4]

Another approach is for the user to present a token to the computer terminal, such as a
smart card, that has configuration information to adjust the computer speed, text size, etc.
to their particular needs. This is useful where users want to access public computer based
terminals in Libraries, ATM, Information kiosks etc. The concept is encompassed by the
CEN EN 1332-4 Identification Card Systems - Man-Machine Interface.
[5]
This
development of this standard has been supported in Europe by SNAPI and has been
successfully incorporated into the Lasseo specifications, but with limited success due to
the lack of interest from public computer terminal suppliers.
Assistive technology for visual impairment
Main article: Blindness Management
Many people with serious visual impairments live independently, using a wide range of
tools and techniques. Examples of assistive technology for visually impairment include
the Canadian currency tactile feature, which a system of raised dots in one corner, based
on Braille cells but not standard Braille.
[6]
For general computer use access technology
such as screen readers, screen magnifiers and refreshable Braille displays has been
widely taken up along with standalone reading aids that integrate a scanner, optical
character recognition (OCR) software, and speech software in a single machine. These
function together without a separate PC.
[7]

Augmentative and alternative communication
Main article: Augmentative and alternative communication

An AAC user uses number coding on an eye gaze communication board
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is an umbrella term that
encompasses methods of communication for those with impairments or restrictions on the
production or comprehension of spoken or written language.
[8]
AAC systems are
extremely diverse and depend on the capabilities of the user. They may be as basic as
pictures on a board that the are used to request food, drink, or other care; or they can be
advanced speech generating devices, based on speech synthesis, that are capable of
storing hundreds of phrases and words.
[9]

Assistive technology for cognition
Main article: Cognitive orthotics
Assistive technology for cognition (ATC)
[10]
is the use of technology (usually high tech)
to augment and assistive cognitive processes such as attention, memory, self-regulation,
navigation, emotion recognition and management, planning, and sequencing activity.
Systematic reviews of the field have found that the number of ATC are growing rapidly,
but have focused on memory and planning, that there is emerging evidence for efficacy,
that a lot of scope exists to develop new ATC.
[11]
Examples of ATC include: NeuroPage
which prompts users about meetings,
[12]
Wakamaru, which provides companionship and
reminds users to take medicine and calls for help if something is wrong, and telephone
Reassurance systems.
[13]

Prosthesis
Main article: Prosthesis
A prosthesis, prosthetic, or prosthetic limb is a device that replaces a missing body
part. It is part of the field of biomechatronics, the science of using mechanical devices
with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems to assist or enhance motor control lost
by trauma, disease, or defect. Prostheses are typically used to replace parts lost by injury
(traumatic) or missing from birth (congenital) or to supplement defective body parts.
Inside the body, artificial heart valves are in common use with artificial hearts and lungs
seeing less common use but under active technology development. Other medical devices
and aids that can be considered prosthetics include hearing aids, artificial eyes, palatal
obturator, gastric bands, and dentures.
Prostheses are specifically not orthoses, although given certain circumstances a prosthesis
might end up performing some or all of the same functionary benefits as an orthosis.
Prostheses are technically the complete finished item. For instance, a C-Leg knee alone is
not a prosthesis, but only a prosthetic component. The complete prosthesis would consist
of the attachment system to the residual limb usually a "socket", and all the
attachment hardware components all the way down to and including the terminal device.
Keep this in mind as nomenclature is often interchanged.
The terms "prosthetic" and "orthotic" are adjectives used to describe devices such as a
prosthetic knee. The terms "prosthetics" and "orthotics" are used to describe the
respective allied health fields. The devices themselves are properly referred to as
"prostheses" and "orthoses" in the plural and "prosthesis" and "orthosis" in the singular.
Assistive technology in sport

A New York City Marathon competitor uses a racing wheelchair.
Assistive technology in sport is an area of technology design that is growing. Assistive
technology is the array of new devices created to enable sports enthusiasts who have
disabilities to play. Assistive technology may be used in adaptive sports, where an
existing sport is modified to enable players with a disability to participate; or, assistive
technology may be used to invent completely new sports with athletes with disabilities
exclusively in mind.
An increasing number of people with disabilities are participating in sports, leading to the
development of new assistive technology.
[14]
Assistive technology devices can be simple,
or "low-tech", or they may use highly advanced technology, with some even using
computers. Assistive technology for sports may also be simple, or advanced.
[15]

Accordingly, assistive technology can be found in sports ranging from local community
recreation to the elite Paralympic Games. More complex assistive technology devices
have been developed over time, and as a result, sports for people with disabilities "have
changed from being a clinical therapeutic tool to an increasingly competition-oriented
activity".
[16]

Computer accessibility
Main article: Computer accessibility

A sip-and-puff device which allows a person with substantial disability to make
selections and navigate computerized interfaces by controlling inhalations and
exhalations.
One of the largest problems that affect people with disabilities is discomfort with
prostheses.
[17]
An experiment performed in Massachusetts utilized 20 people with various
sensors attached to their arms.
[17]
The subjects tried different arm exercises, and the
sensors recorded their movements. All of the data helped engineers develop new
engineering concepts for prosthetics.
[17]

Assistive technology may attempt to improve the ergonomics of the devices themselves
such as Dvorak and other alternative keyboard layouts, which offer more ergonomic
layouts of the keys.
[18][19]

Assistive technology devices have been created to enable people with disabilities to use
modern touch screen mobile computers such as the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The
Pererro is a plug and play adapter for iOS devices which uses the built in Apple
VoiceOver feature in combination with a basic switch. This brings touch screen
technology to those who were previously unable to use it.
Home automation
The form of home automation called assistive domotics focuses on making it possible for
elderly and disabled people to live independently. Home automation is becoming a viable
option for the elderly and disabled who would prefer to stay in their own homes rather
than move to a healthcare facility. This field uses much of the same technology and
equipment as home automation for security, entertainment, and energy conservation but
tailors it towards elderly and disabled users.
See also


Wiki Loves Africa: Share your African cuisine photos with the World !
Assistive technology
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Adaptive technology" redirects here.
Disability
Theory and models[show]
Education[show]
Therapy[show]
Societal implications[show]
Personal / physical assistance[show]
Socioeconomic assistance[show]
Groups and organizations[show]
Disabled sports[show]
Culture[show]
Disability portal
Category: Disability
Category: Disability lists
v
t
e

Hearing aid
Assistive technology is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative
devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and
using them. Assistive technology promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform
tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by
providing enhancements to, or changing methods of interacting with, the technology needed to
accomplish such tasks.
Contents
1 Assistive technology and adaptive technology
2 Mobility impairment and wheelchairs
3 Mobility impairment and walkers
4 Personal emergency response systems
5 Accessibility software
6 Assistive technology for visual impairment
7 Augmentative and alternative communication
8 Assistive technology for cognition
9 Prosthesis
10 Assistive technology in sport
11 Computer accessibility
12 Home automation
13 See also
14 References
Assistive technology and adaptive technology
The term adaptive technology is often used as the synonym for assistive technology, however,
they are different terms. Assistive technology refers to "any item, piece of equipment, or product
system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase,
maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities",
[citation needed]
while
adaptive technology covers items that are specifically designed for persons with disabilities and
would seldom be used by non-disabled persons. In other words, "assistive technology is any
object or system that increases or maintains the capabilities of people with disabilities," while
adaptive technology is "any object or system that is specifically designed for the purpose of
increasing or maintaining the capabilities of people with disabilities."
[1]
Consequently, adaptive
technology is a subset of assistive technology. Adaptive technology often refers specifically to
electronic and information technology access.
[2]

Mobility impairment and wheelchairs
Main article: Wheelchair

A typical modern battery powered chair.
Wheelchairs are devices that can be manually propelled or electrically propelled and that include
a seating system and are designed to be a substitute for the normal mobility that most people
enjoy. Wheelchairs and other mobility devices allow people to perform mobility related activities
of daily living which include feeding, toileting, dressing grooming and bathing. The devices
comes in a number of variations where they can be propelled either by hand or by motors where
the occupant uses electrical controls to manage motors and seating control actuators through a
joystick, sip-and-puff control, or other input devices. Often there are handles behind the seat for
someone else to do the pushing or input devices for caregivers. Wheelchairs are used by people
for whom walking is difficult or impossible due to illness, injury, or disability. People with both
sitting and walking disability often need to use a wheelchair or walker.
Mobility impairment and walkers
Main article: Walker
A walker or walking frame or Rollator is a tool for disabled people who need additional support
to maintain balance or stability while walking. It consists of a frame that is about waist high,
approximately twelve inches deep and slightly wider than the user. Walkers are also available in
other sizes, such as for children, or for heavy people. Modern walkers are height-adjustable. The
front two legs of the walker may or may not have wheels attached depending on the strength and
abilities of the person using it. It is also common to see caster wheels or glides on the back legs
of a walker with wheels on the front.
[3]

Personal emergency response systems
Main article: Telecare

This voter with a manual dexterity disability is making choices on a touchscreen with a head
dauber.
Personal emergency response systems (PERS), or Telecare (UK term), are a particular sort of
assistive technology that use electronic sensors connected to an alarm system to help caregivers
manage risk and help vulnerable people stay independent at home longer. An example would be
the systems being put in place for senior people such as fall detectors, thermometers (for
hypothermia risk), flooding and unlit gas sensors (for people with mild dementia). Notably, these
alerts can be customized to the particular person's risks. When the alert is triggered, a message is
sent to a caregiver or contact center who can respond appropriately.
Accessibility software
Main article: Computer accessibility
In humancomputer interaction, computer accessibility (also known as accessible computing)
refers to the accessibility of a computer system to all people, regardless of disability or severity
of impairment, examples include web accessibility guidelines.
[4]
Another approach is for the user
to present a token to the computer terminal, such as a smart card, that has configuration
information to adjust the computer speed, text size, etc. to their particular needs. This is useful
where users want to access public computer based terminals in Libraries, ATM, Information
kiosks etc. The concept is encompassed by the CEN EN 1332-4 Identification Card Systems -
Man-Machine Interface.
[5]
This development of this standard has been supported in Europe by
SNAPI and has been successfully incorporated into the Lasseo specifications, but with limited
success due to the lack of interest from public computer terminal suppliers.
Assistive technology for visual impairment
Main article: Blindness Management
Many people with serious visual impairments live independently, using a wide range of tools and
techniques. Examples of assistive technology for visually impairment include the Canadian
currency tactile feature, which a system of raised dots in one corner, based on Braille cells but
not standard Braille.
[6]
For general computer use access technology such as screen readers,
screen magnifiers and refreshable Braille displays has been widely taken up along with
standalone reading aids that integrate a scanner, optical character recognition (OCR) software,
and speech software in a single machine. These function together without a separate PC.
[7]

Augmentative and alternative communication
Main article: Augmentative and alternative communication

An AAC user uses number coding on an eye gaze communication board
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is an umbrella term that encompasses
methods of communication for those with impairments or restrictions on the production or
comprehension of spoken or written language.
[8]
AAC systems are extremely diverse and depend
on the capabilities of the user. They may be as basic as pictures on a board that the are used to
request food, drink, or other care; or they can be advanced speech generating devices, based on
speech synthesis, that are capable of storing hundreds of phrases and words.
[9]

Assistive technology for cognition
Main article: Cognitive orthotics
Assistive technology for cognition (ATC)
[10]
is the use of technology (usually high tech) to
augment and assistive cognitive processes such as attention, memory, self-regulation, navigation,
emotion recognition and management, planning, and sequencing activity. Systematic reviews of
the field have found that the number of ATC are growing rapidly, but have focused on memory
and planning, that there is emerging evidence for efficacy, that a lot of scope exists to develop
new ATC.
[11]
Examples of ATC include: NeuroPage which prompts users about meetings,
[12]

Wakamaru, which provides companionship and reminds users to take medicine and calls for help
if something is wrong, and telephone Reassurance systems.
[13]

Prosthesis
Main article: Prosthesis
A prosthesis, prosthetic, or prosthetic limb is a device that replaces a missing body part. It is
part of the field of biomechatronics, the science of using mechanical devices with human muscle,
skeleton, and nervous systems to assist or enhance motor control lost by trauma, disease, or
defect. Prostheses are typically used to replace parts lost by injury (traumatic) or missing from
birth (congenital) or to supplement defective body parts. Inside the body, artificial heart valves
are in common use with artificial hearts and lungs seeing less common use but under active
technology development. Other medical devices and aids that can be considered prosthetics
include hearing aids, artificial eyes, palatal obturator, gastric bands, and dentures.
Prostheses are specifically not orthoses, although given certain circumstances a prosthesis might
end up performing some or all of the same functionary benefits as an orthosis. Prostheses are
technically the complete finished item. For instance, a C-Leg knee alone is not a prosthesis, but
only a prosthetic component. The complete prosthesis would consist of the attachment system to
the residual limb usually a "socket", and all the attachment hardware components all the way
down to and including the terminal device. Keep this in mind as nomenclature is often
interchanged.
The terms "prosthetic" and "orthotic" are adjectives used to describe devices such as a prosthetic
knee. The terms "prosthetics" and "orthotics" are used to describe the respective allied health
fields. The devices themselves are properly referred to as "prostheses" and "orthoses" in the
plural and "prosthesis" and "orthosis" in the singular.
Assistive technology in sport

A New York City Marathon competitor uses a racing wheelchair.
Assistive technology in sport is an area of technology design that is growing. Assistive
technology is the array of new devices created to enable sports enthusiasts who have disabilities
to play. Assistive technology may be used in adaptive sports, where an existing sport is modified
to enable players with a disability to participate; or, assistive technology may be used to invent
completely new sports with athletes with disabilities exclusively in mind.
An increasing number of people with disabilities are participating in sports, leading to the
development of new assistive technology.
[14]
Assistive technology devices can be simple, or
"low-tech", or they may use highly advanced technology, with some even using computers.
Assistive technology for sports may also be simple, or advanced.
[15]
Accordingly, assistive
technology can be found in sports ranging from local community recreation to the elite
Paralympic Games. More complex assistive technology devices have been developed over time,
and as a result, sports for people with disabilities "have changed from being a clinical therapeutic
tool to an increasingly competition-oriented activity".
[16]

Computer accessibility
Main article: Computer accessibility

A sip-and-puff device which allows a person with substantial disability to make selections and
navigate computerized interfaces by controlling inhalations and exhalations.
One of the largest problems that affect people with disabilities is discomfort with prostheses.
[17]

An experiment performed in Massachusetts utilized 20 people with various sensors attached to
their arms.
[17]
The subjects tried different arm exercises, and the sensors recorded their
movements. All of the data helped engineers develop new engineering concepts for
prosthetics.
[17]

Assistive technology may attempt to improve the ergonomics of the devices themselves such as
Dvorak and other alternative keyboard layouts, which offer more ergonomic layouts of the
keys.
[18][19]

Assistive technology devices have been created to enable people with disabilities to use modern
touch screen mobile computers such as the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The Pererro is a plug
and play adapter for iOS devices which uses the built in Apple VoiceOver feature in combination
with a basic switch. This brings touch screen technology to those who were previously unable to
use it.
Home automation
The form of home automation called assistive domotics focuses on making it possible for elderly
and disabled people to live independently. Home automation is becoming a viable option for the
elderly and disabled who would prefer to stay in their own homes rather than move to a
healthcare facility. This field uses much of the same technology and equipment as home
automation for security, entertainment, and energy conservation but tailors it towards elderly and
disabled users.
See also
Accessibility
Augmentative and alternative communication
Braille technology
Design for All (in ICT)
Durable medical equipment
Matching Person & Technology Model
OATS: Open Source Assistive Technology Software
Occupational Therapy
Transgenerational design
Universal access to education
References
Notes
1. "Tennessee Science Standards". Retrieved 2012-10-05.
2. "Assessing for Adaptive Technology Needs". Retrieved 2012-10-05.
3. C. Barru. Personalization and Shared Autonomy in Assistive Technologies. Ph. Thesis.
Universitat Politcnica de Catalunya. 2012
4. Web accessibility guidelines
5. CEN EN 1332-4 Identification Card Systems - Man-Machine Interface
6. Accessibility features - Bank Notes - Bank of Canada
[dead link]

7. "What is an electronic reading aid?". Royal National Institute of Blind People. 2009-12-
01. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
8. ASHA (2005).
9. Gilliam & Marquardt, pp. 356359.
10. LoPresti, E.F., Mihailidis, A. & Kirsch, N. (2004). Assistive Technology for cognitive
rehabilitation: State of the art. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 14, 5-39.
11. Gillespie, A., Best, C. & O'Neill, B. (2012). Cognitive function and Assistive Technology
for cognition: A systematic review. Journal of the International Neuropsychological
Society, 18, 1-19.
12. Wilson, et al. (1997). Evaluation of NeuroPage: A new memory aid. Journal of
Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 63, 113-115.
13. assistivetech.net: Telephone Reassurance. Accessed 2009-08-06.
14. Scherer, Marcia and Stefano Federici (2012). Assistive Technology Assessment
Handbook. CRC Press. p. 425. ISBN 9781439838655.
15. "Assistive technologies". Spaulding Framingham. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
16. Scherer, Marcia and Stefano Federici (2012). Assistive Technology Assessment
Handbook. CRC Press. p. 427. ISBN 9781439838655.
17. Abdullah, Hussein A.; Tarry, Cole; Datta, Rahul.; Mittal, Gauri S.; Abderrahim,
Mohamed (2007). "Dynamic Biomechanical Model for Assessing and Monitoring Robot-
Assisted Upper-Limb Therapy". Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development 44
(1): 4362. doi:10.1682/JRRD.2006.03.0025. PMID 17551857.
18. Chubon, R.A., Hester, M.R. (1988). "An enhanced standard computer keyboard system
for single-finger and typing-stick typing". Journal of Rehabilitation Research and
Development 25 (4): 1724. PMID 2973523.
19. Anson, D., George, S., Galup, R., Shea, B., Vetter, R. (2001). "Efficiency of the Chubon
versus the QWERTY keyboard". Assistive-Technology 13 (1): 405.
doi:10.1080/10400435.2001.10132032. PMID 12212435.
Sources
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2005). "Roles and Responsibilities of
Speech-Language Pathologists With Respect to Augmentative and Alternative
Communication: Position Statement". Archived from the original on 13 February 2009.
Retrieved 2009-01-23.
DeCoste, Denise C. (1997). "Chapter 10: Introduction to Augmentative and Alternative
Communication Systems". In Glennen, Sharon; DeCoste, Denise C. Handbook Of
Augmentative And Alternative Communication. San Diego, CA: Singular Publishing
Group. ISBN 1-56593-684-1.
Schlosser, R. W.; Wendt, O. (2008). "Effects of augmentative and alternative
communication intervention on speech production in children with autism: a systematic
review". American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 17 (3): 212230.
doi:10.1044/1058-0360(2008/021). PMID 18663107.
Beukelman, David R.; Mirenda, Pat (2005). Augmentative & alternative communication:
supporting children & adults with complex communication needs (3rd ed.). Paul H.
Brookes Publishing Company. ISBN 978-1-55766-684-0.
Galvo Filho, T. (2009). Tecnologia Assistiva para uma Escola Inclusiva: apropriao,
demandas e perspectivas. Tese (Doutorado em Educao) Faculdade de Educao,
Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil. Disponvel em:
http://www.galvaofilho.net/tese.htm.
Mirenda, P. (2003). "Toward Functional Augmentative and Alternative Communication
for Students With Autism: Manual Signs, Graphic Symbols, and Voice Output
Communication Aids". Language, Speech, & Hearing Services in Schools 34 (3): 203
216. doi:10.1044/0161-1461(2003/017).
Mathy; Yorkston, K.; Guttman (2000). "Augmentative Communication for Individuals
with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis". In Beukelman, D.; Yorkston, K.; Reichle, J.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Disorders for Adults with Acquired
Neurologic Disorders. Baltimore: P. H. Brookes Pub. ISBN 978-1-55766-473-0.
Jans, Deborah; Clark, Sue (1998). "Chapter 6: High Technology Aids to
Communication". In Wilson, Allan. Augmentative Communication in Practice: An
Introduction. University of Edinburgh. ISBN 978-1-898042-15-0.
Parette, H. P.; Brotherson, M. J; Huer, M. B. (2000). "Giving families a voice in
augmentative and alternative communication decision-making". Education and Training
in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities 35: 177190.
Assistive technology and adaptive technology
The term adaptive technology is often used as the synonym for assistive technology,
however, they are different terms. Assistive technology refers to "any item, piece of
equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized,
that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with
disabilities",
[citation needed]
while adaptive technology covers items that are specifically
designed for persons with disabilities and would seldom be used by non-disabled persons.
In other words, "assistive technology is any object or system that increases or maintains
the capabilities of people with disabilities," while adaptive technology is "any object or
system that is specifically designed for the purpose of increasing or maintaining the
capabilities of people with disabilities."
[1]
Consequently, adaptive technology is a subset
of assistive technology. Adaptive technology often refers specifically to electronic and
information technology access.
[2]

Mobility impairment and wheelchairs
Main article: Wheelchair

A typical modern battery powered chair.
Wheelchairs are devices that can be manually propelled or electrically propelled and that
include a seating system and are designed to be a substitute for the normal mobility that
most people enjoy. Wheelchairs and other mobility devices allow people to perform
mobility related activities of daily living which include feeding, toileting, dressing
grooming and bathing. The devices comes in a number of variations where they can be
propelled either by hand or by motors where the occupant uses electrical controls to
manage motors and seating control actuators through a joystick, sip-and-puff control, or
other input devices. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the
pushing or input devices for caregivers. Wheelchairs are used by people for whom
walking is difficult or impossible due to illness, injury, or disability. People with both
sitting and walking disability often need to use a wheelchair or walker.
Mobility impairment and walkers
Main article: Walker
A walker or walking frame or Rollator is a tool for disabled people who need additional
support to maintain balance or stability while walking. It consists of a frame that is about
waist high, approximately twelve inches deep and slightly wider than the user. Walkers
are also available in other sizes, such as for children, or for heavy people. Modern
walkers are height-adjustable. The front two legs of the walker may or may not have
wheels attached depending on the strength and abilities of the person using it. It is also
common to see caster wheels or glides on the back legs of a walker with wheels on the
front.
[3]

Personal emergency response systems
Main article: Telecare

This voter with a manual dexterity disability is making choices on a touchscreen with a
head dauber.
Personal emergency response systems (PERS), or Telecare (UK term), are a particular
sort of assistive technology that use electronic sensors connected to an alarm system to
help caregivers manage risk and help vulnerable people stay independent at home longer.
An example would be the systems being put in place for senior people such as fall
detectors, thermometers (for hypothermia risk), flooding and unlit gas sensors (for people
with mild dementia). Notably, these alerts can be customized to the particular person's
risks. When the alert is triggered, a message is sent to a caregiver or contact center who
can respond appropriately.
Accessibility software
Main article: Computer accessibility
In humancomputer interaction, computer accessibility (also known as accessible
computing) refers to the accessibility of a computer system to all people, regardless of
disability or severity of impairment, examples include web accessibility guidelines.
[4]

Another approach is for the user to present a token to the computer terminal, such as a
smart card, that has configuration information to adjust the computer speed, text size, etc.
to their particular needs. This is useful where users want to access public computer based
terminals in Libraries, ATM, Information kiosks etc. The concept is encompassed by the
CEN EN 1332-4 Identification Card Systems - Man-Machine Interface.
[5]
This
development of this standard has been supported in Europe by SNAPI and has been
successfully incorporated into the Lasseo specifications, but with limited success due to
the lack of interest from public computer terminal suppliers.
Assistive technology for visual impairment
Main article: Blindness Management
Many people with serious visual impairments live independently, using a wide range of
tools and techniques. Examples of assistive technology for visually impairment include
the Canadian currency tactile feature, which a system of raised dots in one corner, based
on Braille cells but not standard Braille.
[6]
For general computer use access technology
such as screen readers, screen magnifiers and refreshable Braille displays has been
widely taken up along with standalone reading aids that integrate a scanner, optical
character recognition (OCR) software, and speech software in a single machine. These
function together without a separate PC.
[7]

Augmentative and alternative communication
Main article: Augmentative and alternative communication

An AAC user uses number coding on an eye gaze communication board
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is an umbrella term that
encompasses methods of communication for those with impairments or restrictions on the
production or comprehension of spoken or written language.
[8]
AAC systems are
extremely diverse and depend on the capabilities of the user. They may be as basic as
pictures on a board that the are used to request food, drink, or other care; or they can be
advanced speech generating devices, based on speech synthesis, that are capable of
storing hundreds of phrases and words.
[9]

Assistive technology for cognition
Main article: Cognitive orthotics
Assistive technology for cognition (ATC)
[10]
is the use of technology (usually high tech)
to augment and assistive cognitive processes such as attention, memory, self-regulation,
navigation, emotion recognition and management, planning, and sequencing activity.
Systematic reviews of the field have found that the number of ATC are growing rapidly,
but have focused on memory and planning, that there is emerging evidence for efficacy,
that a lot of scope exists to develop new ATC.
[11]
Examples of ATC include: NeuroPage
which prompts users about meetings,
[12]
Wakamaru, which provides companionship and
reminds users to take medicine and calls for help if something is wrong, and telephone
Reassurance systems.
[13]

Prosthesis
Main article: Prosthesis
A prosthesis, prosthetic, or prosthetic limb is a device that replaces a missing body
part. It is part of the field of biomechatronics, the science of using mechanical devices
with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems to assist or enhance motor control lost
by trauma, disease, or defect. Prostheses are typically used to replace parts lost by injury
(traumatic) or missing from birth (congenital) or to supplement defective body parts.
Inside the body, artificial heart valves are in common use with artificial hearts and lungs
seeing less common use but under active technology development. Other medical devices
and aids that can be considered prosthetics include hearing aids, artificial eyes, palatal
obturator, gastric bands, and dentures.
Prostheses are specifically not orthoses, although given certain circumstances a prosthesis
might end up performing some or all of the same functionary benefits as an orthosis.
Prostheses are technically the complete finished item. For instance, a C-Leg knee alone is
not a prosthesis, but only a prosthetic component. The complete prosthesis would consist
of the attachment system to the residual limb usually a "socket", and all the
attachment hardware components all the way down to and including the terminal device.
Keep this in mind as nomenclature is often interchanged.
The terms "prosthetic" and "orthotic" are adjectives used to describe devices such as a
prosthetic knee. The terms "prosthetics" and "orthotics" are used to describe the
respective allied health fields. The devices themselves are properly referred to as
"prostheses" and "orthoses" in the plural and "prosthesis" and "orthosis" in the singular.
Assistive technology in sport

A New York City Marathon competitor uses a racing wheelchair.
Assistive technology in sport is an area of technology design that is growing. Assistive
technology is the array of new devices created to enable sports enthusiasts who have
disabilities to play. Assistive technology may be used in adaptive sports, where an
existing sport is modified to enable players with a disability to participate; or, assistive
technology may be used to invent completely new sports with athletes with disabilities
exclusively in mind.
An increasing number of people with disabilities are participating in sports, leading to the
development of new assistive technology.
[14]
Assistive technology devices can be simple,
or "low-tech", or they may use highly advanced technology, with some even using
computers. Assistive technology for sports may also be simple, or advanced.
[15]

Accordingly, assistive technology can be found in sports ranging from local community
recreation to the elite Paralympic Games. More complex assistive technology devices
have been developed over time, and as a result, sports for people with disabilities "have
changed from being a clinical therapeutic tool to an increasingly competition-oriented
activity".
[16]

Computer accessibility
Main article: Computer accessibility

A sip-and-puff device which allows a person with substantial disability to make
selections and navigate computerized interfaces by controlling inhalations and
exhalations.
One of the largest problems that affect people with disabilities is discomfort with
prostheses.
[17]
An experiment performed in Massachusetts utilized 20 people with various
sensors attached to their arms.
[17]
The subjects tried different arm exercises, and the
sensors recorded their movements. All of the data helped engineers develop new
engineering concepts for prosthetics.
[17]

Assistive technology may attempt to improve the ergonomics of the devices themselves
such as Dvorak and other alternative keyboard layouts, which offer more ergonomic
layouts of the keys.
[18][19]

Assistive technology devices have been created to enable people with disabilities to use
modern touch screen mobile computers such as the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The
Pererro is a plug and play adapter for iOS devices which uses the built in Apple
VoiceOver feature in combination with a basic switch. This brings touch screen
technology to those who were previously unable to use it.
Home automation
The form of home automation called assistive domotics focuses on making it possible for
elderly and disabled people to live independently. Home automation is becoming a viable
option for the elderly and disabled who would prefer to stay in their own homes rather
than move to a healthcare facility. This field uses much of the same technology and
equipment as home automation for security, entertainment, and energy conservation but
tailors it towards elderly and disabled users.
See also