ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

What is assistive technology?

Assistive technology is any equipment, product, software program, that is used to maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities. Assistive technology creates opportunities for people with disabilities to participate more fully in all aspects of life, increases independence, security, and control at home, work, leisure, and community environments.

Assistive technology can include tools that aid in communication, activities of daily living (ADLs) like toileting, ambulation, eating, and grooming, and also includes electronic aids to daily living (EADLs) for means of controlling appliances and technology.

In this article, we will focus on assistive technology as it relates to augmentative and alternative communication devices, computer access, mobile device access, and environmental control.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?

Assistive Technology Categories

Augmentative and Alternative Communication

For those who have difficulties using speech to communicate, there are a variety of other strategies and tools available to express ideas and to understand others. This toolset is called augmentative and alternative communication.

Unaided Systems – Communication strategies that do not involve technology aids (ie. .gestures, body language, facial expressions and sign language.

Aided Systems: Low Tech – Simple technology that utilizes basic tools or devices (e.g. writing with pen and paper, pointing to letters, words or pictures on a board)

Aided Systems: High Tech – Communication tools or devices that use computers to assist with communication (e.g. touching letters or pictures on a computer screen that result in audible language output)

Computers

Computers have evolved from traditional desktop Personal Computers and Apple Computers to laptops, hybrids (laptops with touchscreens, or tablets with keyboards), and tablets. Powerful mobile devices are convenient and their apps have a lot of functionality. But laptops and desktop computers often have more fully featured operating systems and software applications. At this time of writing, there are three main desktop operating systems: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Computers set up to be stationary have the advantage of being more reliable. Once equipment is configured and positioned to an individual’s needs, they do not have to be set up again.

Mobile devices

A category of technology including smartphones and tablets, which typically have a touchscreen interface and can perform a huge range of functions from communicating via text and audio or video calls, to browsing the internet, playing games, and creating media. At this time of writing, mobile devices run on one of two major operating systems: Android (ie. Samsung, Google) and iOS (ie. iPhone, iPad).

Environmental Control

Home automation equipment is becoming commonly used for security, entertainment, convenience, and energy conservation purposes. This technology, which is an alternate method of controlling the environment, potentially allows older adults and people with disabilities to remain at home rather than move to healthcare facilities.

Security Systems – Smart video cameras, doorbells, door locks can be used by homeowners to monitor entrances remotely. For example, a homeowner can view live video feed of their entrance to identify who rang their doorbell, and unlock the door remotely.

Emergency Systems – GPS trackers, bed alarms, and call bells can be used to contact staff or emergency personnel when needed.

Technology Control Systems – At this time of writing, more and more electrical appliances have built-in “smart” functionality, which allows them to be controlled remotely, scheduled, and via triggers.

For example, a user can use a smart thermostat to control the temperature in their homes

• • • Remotely through an app on their mobile device
    • Automatically through scheduled activation times
    • Triggered when the user’s mobile device enters or leaves a vicinity.

“Recipes” can be created to do multiple actions in sequence. For example, a recipe can be set turn on all the lights, radio, reduce the temperature, and unlock the door with one command.

Alternative Access Methods:

Alternate Keyboards

Typical “QWERTY” keyboards come in many shapes and sizes.  Some offer bigger or smaller keys, higher or lower action, and different tactile feedback.  The keyboards themselves can also have different layouts, ergonomics, spacing between keys, or keyguards to help with accuracy.

Alternate Cursor Control

Typical cursor control on computers or Android tablets involve the use of computer mice.  Alternative ways of controlling the cursor on the screen include various configurations of trackballs and joysticks.  There are joysticks that are controlled using the tongue or lips!

Special cameras can also be used to detect head or eye movements to direct the cursor.

Eye Gaze

Eye gaze technology involves using eye movements to select onscreen choices.  The user rests on an area of the screen they want to make a selection (ie. a letter on the onscreen keyboard, or an icon) and after a predetermined length of time the device automatically selects the item.

Voice Recognition

Voice dictation is a feature found on contemporary mobile devices and computers, which reduce the amount of effort needed to type by converting speech to text.  The current gold standard for voice dictation software on computers is Dragon Naturally Speaking.

Voice recognition is often integrated with “smart assistants” so that verbal commands can be given to control appliances in the environment, retrieve information from the internet, set reminders, or dial phone numbers.

Direct Selection

Direct selection is an access method that involves touching a touchscreen device with finger, stylus, or any conductive body part.

Switches

There are switches that are used as an access method for just about any type of voluntary, reliable, and repeatable action.  These include switches that are activated by button presses, lever pulls, sound, eye-blink, and sip/puff into a straw.  Physical access switches can come in all shapes and sizes, amount of activation pressure, deflection, resistance, and can give a user different access depending on their placement location.  Oftentimes, the way a switch is oriented and positioned is just as important as the selection of the switch.

Switch Scanning

Device scans through onscreen options automatically with a pre-determined time delay, and user makes the selection via a switch.  With scanning, a single switch can be used to select multiple options.

Scheduled Automation

Oftentimes, routine tasks can be performed without the need for human interaction.  For example, sprinklers can be set to turn on 3 times per week at a specific time, or the goldfish feeder can deposit food into the tank every 12 hours.  Even tasks like making dinner reservations or buying gifts online can be automated!

Sensors

Similar to scheduled automation, sensors can be used to trigger actions without the need for direct human input.  A common everyday example is automatic sliding doors which trigger open when the motion sensor is activated.

Wheelchair Drive Controls

Power wheelchairs can be outfitted with special electronics that enables drive controls to be used as access methods for other technology.  For example, the joystick, head array, or sip/puff, which traditionally is only used to drive the chair, can also be used to navigate through computers, mobile devices, or even directly control appliances in the environment via Bluetooth or infrared transmitters.

Combination access:

Multiple assistive technologies and access methods can be combined to maximize efficiency and independent activity.  For example, wheelchair joystick to control mouse cursor movement, an external switch to click, and a microphone paired with voice recognition software can all be used together to encompass all aspects of computer access.

Mounts

Whether it is a device that is mounted to a wheelchair for mobile access and viewing, or a call bell that is mounted to the bed rail for access while lying down, various mounting systems – either commercially available or custom built, can help to make technology more accessible.

Custom Adaptations

There are times when no commercially available devices or applications are suitable for an individual’s needs.  In those instances, custom hardware or software adaptations need to be made.

Traditional methods using machine shop tools and metals/wood/plastic can be used to create custom mounts, or modify existing technology to be more accessible.  3D printing is another method of creating various grips, guards, and adaptors for an individual’s needs.  An advantage of 3D printing is that once the design is created, it can be easily shared and reproduced!

Sometimes custom software needs to be written to change the way software responds to user input, but most of the time just some simple adjustments to accessibility settings can make using computers or mobile devices much easier.

Future of Assistive Technology

Assistive technology is becoming more functional, readily available, and cheaper.  The use of this technology enables those with disabilities not only to be more independent than ever, but also pursue career and recreational goals, and participate in the community.

WHAT CAN I DO?

How do I choose the right technology for me?

Consumer Electronics VS Dedicated Devices

Consumer electronics may not have the extra accessibility features, or customizability that comes with dedicated assistive technology devices.

With consumer electronics options available, it can also be difficult to choose the right combination of technology that will work well with each other, in particular environments, and that are suited to an individual’s needs.

In either case, it is recommended to consult with professionals who can help with selection, setup, and equipment trials.

WHO CAN HELP ME?