Advancement Of Assistive Technology

The field of assistive technology is influenced by the ongoing and rapid development of mainstream technologies on the one hand and continuing changes to social systems in relation to societal events - such as the ageing of the population - on the other. The articles in this book provide a broad overview of developments in technical support for people with functional restrictions: key technologies like telecommunications and IT are addressed, while low-tech practical solutions are also considered.

The concept of Assistive Technology is moving away from adopting the most appropriate devices to overcome the limitations of users, to the designing and setting up of total environments in which people can live, supported by suitable services and additional support devices integrated within the environment. These two perspectives are deeply intertwined, both from technological and social points of view, and the relationship between them currently represent the primary challenge for the field of Assistive Technology. This publication covers the proceedings of the 10th European Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (http://www.aaate.net), the organisation which stimulates the advancement of assistive technology for the benefit of people with disabilities, including elderly people. This conference seeks to bridge the gap between these two complementary approaches, providing an opportunity to clarify differences and common points, and better define future direction. Topics covered by the conference include: technological innovation in assistive technology; the need for multidisciplinary approaches; equipment interconnectivity and compatibility; cultural aspects and the acceptance of different approaches; and the role of Europe in building inclusion competence worldwide. Disability results not only from a person’s intrinsic attributes but also from the context in which they live. This publication is a significant contribution to the advancement of inclusion for people living with a disability everywhere.

People go traveling for two reasons: because they are searching for something, or they are running from something. Katie’s world is shattered by the news that her headstrong and bohemian younger sister, Mia, has been found dead at the bottom of a cliff in Bali. The authorities say that Mia jumped—that her death was a suicide. Although they’d hardly spoken to each other since Mia suddenly left on an around-the-world trip six months earlier, Katie refuses to accept that her sister would have taken her own life. Distraught that they never made peace, Katie leaves her orderly, sheltered life in London behind and embarks on a journey to find out the truth. With only the entries in Mia’s travel journal as her guide, Katie retraces the last few months of her sister’s life and—page by page, country by country—begins to uncover the mystery surrounding her death. . . . Weaving together the exotic settings and suspenseful twists of Alex Garland’sThe Beachwith a powerful tale of familial love in the spirit of Rosamund Lupton’sSister, Swimming at Nightis a fast-paced, accomplished, and gripping debut novel of secrets, loss, and forgiveness.

The lives of people with disabilities are complex and various, and there are many situations where technology – particularly assistive technology – already makes a real difference. It is clear that smart phone and tablet computer based solutions continue to enhance the independence of many users, but it is also important that more traditional assistive technologies and services are not forgotten or neglected. This book presents the proceedings of the 14th conference of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE 2017) entitled: ‘Harnessing the power of technology to improve lives’, held in Sheffield, UK, in September 2017. This 4-day event about assistive technologies (AT) highlights the association’s interest in innovating not only technology, but also services, and addresses the global challenge of meeting the needs of the increasing number of people who could benefit from assistive technology. The 200+ papers in the book are grouped under 30 subject headings, and include contributions on a wide range of topical subjects, including aging well and dementia; care robotics; eHealth and apps; innovations; universal design; sport; and disordered speech. The breadth of the AAATE conference reflects people’s life needs and so the book is sure to contain something of interest to all those whose work involves the design, development and use of assistive technology, whatever the situation. The photo on the front cover illustrates the breadth of assistive technologies that can improve lives. Photographer: Simon Butler.

Points towards the difficulty encountered in research and development carried out by laboratories to reach the users. This book aims at alerting developers so that they pay attention to the outcome of their work. Inventive research and technologies which have a high potential in the field of Assistive Technology are described in this publication.

In the 21st century Assistive Technology (AT) should be defined as a scientific and technologic approach to the development of products and services oriented to support the elderly and people with disabilities in their daily activities, maximizing their personal autonomy, independence, health and quality of life.

The greatest advantage of modern technology is its ability to improve the lives of all. In particular, new technologies have the potential to greatly mitigate cognitive, motor, and social impairments stemming from genetic or environmental factors. Recent Advances in Assistive Technologies to Support Children with Developmental Disorders raises awareness of disabled children and what can be done to help them grow and develop alongside their peers. Bringing together personal experiences with academic investigation, this book is an essential reference for doctors, pediatricians, pre- and primary school educators, and scientists working to enhance the impact assistive technologies have on the youngest members of society.

Recent advances in eye tracking technology will allow for a proliferation of new applications. Improvements in interactive methods using eye movement and gaze control could result in faster and more efficient human computer interfaces, benefitting users with and without disabilities. Gaze Interaction and Applications of Eye Tracking: Advances in Assistive Technologies focuses on interactive communication and control tools based on gaze tracking, including eye typing, computer control, and gaming, with special attention to assistive technologies. For researchers and practitioners interested in the applied use of gaze tracking, the book offers instructions for building a basic eye tracker from off-the-shelf components, gives practical hints on building interactive applications, presents smooth and efficient interaction techniques, and summarizes the results of effective research on cutting edge gaze interaction applications.