Assistive Technology
Intro
Technology significantly influences the way most of us go about our daily living. It is engraved into several daily activities we engage upon and influences the way in which we function in our homes, work environments, and society. It has changed how we work, learn, communicate, relax, or seek recreational activities, travel, and shop. It could be said that technology has been created to make human life easier. With each invention and innovation of a technological device, there has been a certain task that has been simplified for the human race. This could as early as the invention of the bike, making transportation for humans faster and easier. As we proceed in time, it goes onto the invention of the light bulb, to make it easier to see at night, the typewriter, to write faster with more eligibility, and so on. Technology has and will continue to be an asset for our daily lives. Yet, it is often overlooked at how the technology has been assisting those with disabilities.
Assistive Technology
Assistive technology is defined as “any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities” (Assistive Technology Industry Association, 2017). This technology can vary from low to high-tech, from hardware to software, can be inclusive or specialized, and much more. The purpose of assistive technology is to help people who have trouble speaking, typing, writing, remembering, pointing, seeing, hearing, learning, walking, and many other things. We have come to realize that different disabilities require different types of help.
Some assistive technology is available in computer operating systems, browsers, and other types of software. “These build-in supports may include magnification features, specialized keyboard configuration options, auditory and visual prompts, or screen reading” (Library Media Connection, 2006). The type of support that a specific assistive technology provides vary from product to product and is determined by legislation, the aging workforce, and diversity factors.
Low-Tech
The most common type of assistive technology, low-tech, is defined as “devices or equipment that don’t require much training, may be less expensive and do not have complex or mechanical features” (Gatfl.org, 2017). This includes but are not limited to canes, walkers, teachers, magnifiers, visual schedules, adapted pencil, and so on.
Mid-Tech
Mid-tech assistive technology “may have complex features, be electronic or battery operated, require some training to learn how to use, and are more expensive than the low-tech devices” (Gatfl.org, 2017). This includes but are not limited to tape recorders, audio books, headphones, visual timers, and so on.
High-Tech
High tech assistive technology is defined as “the most complex devices or equipment that have digital or electronic components, may be computerized, will likely require training and effort to learn how to use and cost the most” (Gatfl.org, 2017). This includes but is not limited to power wheelchairs, hearing aids, scanners, text-to speech software, and so on.
Physical Disabilities
When an individual has limitations related to impairments in strength, movement, or coordination, the objective is to look for an assistive technology designed to compensate for the specific problem. “Desirable characteristics may include lightweight design; products that slide or glide to reduce the need to lift; mechanisms that extend a person’s reach; device components that enhance stability, offer larger surface area, or provide increased friction; or clamping/gripping mechanisms” (The Engineering handbook of smart technology for aging, disability, and independence, 2009). An example of such devices are rubber handle knobs and faucet grip covers that make it easier to be activated by requiring less effort for gripping and twisting. Another example are long-handled brushers which makes reaching easier with less stretching or bending when the movement is restricted at shoulders, hips, or knees.
Vision Loss
When the individual has limitations related to vision, the objective is to “enhance residual visual abilities by using compensatory strategies and identify assistive technology devices that provide increased lighting, higher contrast, enlarged text and images and auditory and or tactile feedback in places of visual cues” (The Engineering handbook of smart technology for aging, disability, and independence, 2009). Examples of already existing low-tech devices are large-number thermostat to make it easier to read and adjust household temperature controls, talking calculators that declare the calculations out loud, color-coded and large-number measuring spoon sets that makes it easier to identify correct measurements for cooking.
Hearing Loss
When the individual has limitations related to impaired hearing, the objective is to “identify assistive technology devices that amplify sound, reduce background noise, improve acoustics, substitute text and graphics for speech, and replace auditory signals with those that provide vibration or light in place of sound” (The Engineering handbook of smart technology for aging, disability, and independence, 2009). Examples of low-tech devices for hearing loss include vibrating or flashing kitchen timers, flashing smoke detectors, captioned TV, and so on. An unknown interesting fact is that by law, “all movie theaters must supply headphones (free of charge) with volume control for people who are hard of hearing” (The Engineering handbook of smart technology for aging, disability, and independence, 2009).
Cognition
When the individual has limitations related to cognition, it can be caused by age, Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, head injuries, and so on. Examples of low-tech assistive technology designed to aid with cognition are electronic organizers, vibrating medication watch, orientation clocks that notes the time, date, and day of the week and so on.
Communication
When the individual has limitations related to communication, it can be “related to deficits in speech mechanisms, language processing, hearing, vision, and motor skills. (The Engineering handbook of smart technology for aging, disability, and independence, 2009). Low tech assistive technology designed to help with speech impairment could be a simple voice output device that produce a limited amount of spoken messages. Low tech assistive technology designed to help with writing impairment could include adaptive pens, writing guides, and word processors.
Mobility
When the individual has limitations related to mobility, the objective is to identify an assistive technology to provide support in “balance, strength, flexibility, range of motion, ability to bear weight, activity tolerance, muscle tremors or spasms, and /or paralysis” (The Engineering handbook of smart technology for aging, disability, and independence, 2009). The most common type of low-tech assistive technology for mobility are grab bars, handrails, standing poles, canes, walkers, and so on.
Conclusion
Along with regular technology, assistive technology has evolved over the years. It is a “hidden” technology that is overlooked too often. We tend to become so distracted by the leisure technology has given us with social media and entertainment, that we have forgotten about how fortunate we are to not have our life depend on technology. It is possible, for most of us, to live without television, a phone with apps (it could be argued that all you need is a phone to text and call in order to survive), an iPad, a computer, and so on. Yet that is not the case for everyone on this Earth. Sadly, this type of assistive technology is not available for all those that need it. Although we have found ways to confront disabilities and narrow down to the specific disabilities over time, we have yet to find a way to incorporate these methods into other functions of technology. Other ways to help with disabilities is to teach or train designers to consider these disabilities. Examples of already existing techniques are how handicap parking is required when making a parking lot, ramps are required on buildings, and so on. It is possible to go even further with web designers and their color choices, font sizes, and so on. Possibly even developers on allowing personalization of devices such as computers and tablets on choosing color preferences, brightness, font sizes, and so on. This only covers the visual limitations and physical limitations one may have. In all, we must accept that helping those with limitations is not only the job of someone creating a device specialized for that disability, but instead that there is a way that we may all help, even if it’s a small alteration on the website. In the end, all users may end up loving the new personalized abilities because they will feel that their device is truly theirs because it is accustomed to their taste. It could be “knocking two birds with one stone.”