Designing Assistive Technology

Design and Use of Assistive Technology assesses major hurdles in the design and use of assistive technologies, while also providing guidelines and recommendations to improve these technologies. This volume takes an interdisciplinary approach to solving the major issues surrounding designing and using assistive technologies for the physically impaired by blending engineering, computer science and medicine. The most difficult problems in assistive technologies, such as privacy concerns in data gathering and analysis, inherent heterogeneity of the user population, knowledge transfer of novel technologies and incorporation of the user perspective into the design process are all addressed. The book also: -Presents theories on assistive technology through the lens of fields ranging from engineering and computer science to occupational therapy and neurology -Discusses assistive technologies in a broad scope that presents designs and theories that are universally applicable Design and Use of Assistive Technology features contributions from experts in their subject areas who discuss specific methods and mechanisms to integrate the user’s experience into design and clinical evaluation in order to both create academic outreach through practical service models and improve knowledge transfer.

Written by professionals who have firsthand experience with assistive technology (AT), this book presents a holistic perspective on how and why people choose and use AT. In addition to sharing the latest research on design and development, it also features personal insights from AT users of all ages. Most notably, this resource documents and explains the crucial intangibles of AT, such as judging environmental compatibility, assessing an individual's need for AT, justifying third-party payment, acknowledging public perceptions of ATs, and measuring life outcomes. For researchers; practitioners; advocates; students; and AT users, designers, and manufacturers, this comprehensive volume helps to enhance the lives of people with disabilities through better-designed ATs.

Inclusive Design: What's in It for Me? presents a comprehensive review of current practice in inclusive design. With emphasis on new ideas for improvement and arguments for wider implementation in future, a unique combination of leading opinions on inclusive design from both industry and academia are offered. The theme throughout encourages a positive view of inclusive design as a good and profitable process and to produce a change to more effective approaches to "design for all". Inclusive Design is composed of two parts with a common chapter structure so that the business and design arguments in favour of inclusive design can be easily compared and assimilated: The Business Case presents the industrial and management benefits of inclusive design. It concentrates on demographic, legal and ethical reasons for all businesses being better off taking inclusivity into account in the design of their products or services. Case histories demonstrating the commercial success of inclusive design are drawn from the experiences of companies such as Tesco, Fiat and The Royal Mail. The Designers' Case focuses on the factors a designer needs to take into account when dealing with inclusivity. "Who is going to use my design?" "What do they need from my design?" "How do I take any medical needs into account?" "Just how "inclusive" is my design?" are all questions answered in this section which presents the necessary tools for effective inclusive design. This part of the book aims to convince a designer that inclusive design is a realistic goal. Inclusive Design will appeal to designers, researchers and students and to managers making decisions about the research and design strategies of their companies.

How can participatory design inform the design and development of innovative technologies for autistic communities? -- Assistive tools for disability arts:collaborative experiences in working with disabled artists and stakeholders -- Website review

This publication covers different themes in the field of assistive technology. The theme New technologies will explore the significant advances in technology research & development and how these can be harnessed to benefit people with disabilities. This will include evolving technologies, affording interesting insights into the future. The theme User Centred Approach will look at fundamental ways in which the EU advocate a philosophy of citizenship and governance and how this philosophy can be advanced to ensure that people with disabilities become central to the assistive technology process Another issue that is explored in this publication is Interdisciplinary Approaches which can be developed within assistive technology and the provision of services to people with disabilities. Finally, it concentrates on ways in which practitioners and users, working together within assistive technology, can achieve best practice in the development and implementation of Guidelines and Standards across a broad spectrum.

This book focuses on various aspects of research on ageing, including in relation to assistive technology; dignity of aging; how technology can support a greater understanding of the experience of physically aging and cognitive changes; mobility issues associated with the elderly; and emerging technologies. The 80+ age group represents an expanding market, with an estimated worth of £21.4 billion a year. Everyone is affected by this shift in demographics – we are getting older and may become carers – and we need to prepare ourselves and adjust our surroundings for longer life. Products, services and environments have been changing in response to the changing population. Presenting international design research to demonstrate the thinking and ideas shaping design, this book is a valuable resource for designers; product developers; employers; gerontologists; and medical, health and service providers; as well as everyone interested in aging.

This book offers a comprehensive look at human factors in Assistive Technology (AT) through real clinical experiences. Providing academic, clinical, and research information, the author helps acquaint professionals with human factors related to assistive technology. Critical issues regarding human factors in AT are presented to help clinicians and educators improve clinical practices with the devices they recommend, select, purchase, design, or use with their clients and students.