| Assistive Technology (AT) is a generic | | | | there is significant background noise. |
| term that includes assistive, adaptive, | | | | Another example: calculators are cheap, |
| and rehabilitative devices and the | | | | but a person with a mobility impairment |
| process used in selecting, locating, and | | | | can have difficulty using them. Speech |
| using them. AT promotes greater | | | | recognition software could recognize |
| independence for people with | | | | short commands and make use of |
| disabilities by enabling them to perform | | | | calculators a little easier. People with |
| tasks that they were formerly unable to | | | | cognitive disabilities would appreciate |
| accomplish, or had great difficulty | | | | the simplicity; others would as well. |
| accomplishing, by providing enhancements | | | | Toys which have been adapted to be used |
| to or changed methods of interacting | | | | by children with disabilities, may have |
| with the technology needed to accomplish | | | | advantages for "typical" children as |
| such tasks. According to disability | | | | well. The Lekotek movement assists |
| advocates, technology, all too often, is | | | | parents by lending assistive technology |
| created without regard to people with | | | | toys and expertise to families. |
| disabilities, and unnecessary barriers | | | | Telecare is a particular sort of |
| make new technology inaccessible to | | | | assistive technology that uses |
| hundreds of millions. | | | | electronic sensors connected to an alarm |
| Universal (or broadened) accessibility, | | | | system to help caregivers manage risk |
| or universal design means excellent | | | | and help vulnerable people stay |
| usability, particularly for people with | | | | independent at home longer. A good |
| disabilities. But, argue advocates of | | | | example would be the systems being put |
| assistive technology, universally | | | | in place for senior people such as fall |
| accessible technology yields great | | | | detectors, thermometers (for hypothermia |
| rewards to the typical user; good | | | | risk), flooding and unlit gas sensors |
| accessible design is universal design, | | | | (for people with mild dementia). The |
| they say. The classic example of an | | | | principle being that these alerts can be |
| assistive technology that has improved | | | | customised to the particular person's |
| everyone's life is the "curb cuts" in | | | | risks. When the alert is triggered, a |
| the sidewalk at street crossings. While | | | | message is sent to a carer or contact |
| these curb cuts surely enable | | | | centre who can respond appropriately. |
| pedestrians with mobility impairments to | | | | The range of sensors is wide and |
| cross the street, they have also aided | | | | expanding rapidly. |
| parents with carriages and strollers, | | | | Technology similar to Telecare can also |
| shoppers with carts, and travellers and | | | | be used to act within a person's home |
| workers with pull-type bags, not to | | | | rather than just to respond to a |
| mention skateboarders and inline | | | | detected crisis. Using one of the |
| skaters. | | | | examples above, unlit gas sensors for |
| Consider an example of an assistive | | | | people with dementia can be used to |
| technology. The modern telephone is not | | | | trigger a device that turns off the gas |
| accessible to people who are deaf or | | | | and tells someone what has happened. |
| hard of hearing. Combined with a text | | | | This is safer than just telling an |
| telephone (also known as a TDD | | | | external person that there is a problem. |
| [Telephone Device for the Deaf] and in | | | | Designing for people with dementia is a |
| the USA generally called a | | | | good example of where the design of the |
| TTY[TeleTYpewriter]), which converts | | | | interface of a piece of assistive |
| typed characters into tones that may be | | | | technology (AT) is critical to its |
| sent over the telephone line, the deaf | | | | usefulness. It is important to make sure |
| person is able to communicate | | | | that people with dementia or any other |
| immediately at a distance. | | | | identified user group are involved in |
| Together with "relay" services (where an | | | | the design process to make sure that the |
| operator reads what the deaf person | | | | design is accessible and useable. In the |
| types and types what a hearing person | | | | example above, a voice message could be |
| says) the deaf person is then given | | | | used to remind the person with dementia |
| access to everyone's telephone, not just | | | | to turn of the gas himself, but who's |
| those of people who possess text | | | | voice should be used, and what should |
| telephones. Many telephones now have | | | | the message say? Questions like these |
| volume controls, which are primarily | | | | must be answered through user |
| intended for the benefit of people who | | | | consultation, involvement and |
| are hard of hearing, but can be useful | | | | evaluation. |
| for all users at times and places where | | | | |