Assistive Technology

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• Assistive Technology

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Types of AT Devices

• Low-tech non-electrical eg pencil grip
• High-tech computerised systems eg voice
  recognition system
• No-Tech Human Assistance (PA), Family, Friends
  etc

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Miscellaneous Examples of AT

• Aids for Daily Living  gtgt  Clocks  gtgt  Day Clock
• WALL CLOCK WITH DAY DATEThe Wall Clock with
  Day Date is a calendar clock designed for use
  with individuals with Alzheimer's disease,
  cognitive disabilities, brain injury, or memory
  disabilities. The rectangular clock dispays the
  day of the week, the date, and the month

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gtgt  Housekeeping  gtgt  Shopping Bag Handle

• 4. EZ CARRYEZ Carry is a shopping bag handle or
  carrier designed for use by individuals with
  upper extremity disabilities or arthitis or for
  seniors. This handle has an ergonomic, contoured
  grip and supports up to 50 punds in plastic
  shopping bags....

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gtgt  Controls  gtgt  Environmental Control Units
 gtgt  Environmental Control Unit

• The Companion Remote Control unit, model HC1800C,
  is a remote environmental control unit designed
  for use by individuals with mobility or severe
  physical disabilities or spinal cord injury.
  Using infrared and radio frequency technology,
  the unit can .

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  Recreation  gtgt  Garden Handtools  gtgt 
Lightweight Garden Tool

• 1. FISKARS NYGLASS HAND TOOLSFiskars Nyglass
  Hand Tools are a set of short handled garden
  tools designed for use by individuals with carpal
  tunnel syndrome, arthritis, or other upper
  extremity disabilities resulting in limited hand
  strength. The set includes a cultivator, trowel

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  Housekeeping  gtgt  Powered Door Opener for Trash
Receptacle with Swinging Door

• 1. I-OPENRThe I-OpenR is a powered door opener
  for a trash receptacle with a swinging door
  designed for use by individuals with upper
  extremity or severe physical disabilities or
  spinal cord injury. Usable in the home or in
  restaurants, food courts, and other

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gtgt  Housekeeping  gtgt  Programmable Floor Washer

• 1. SCOOBA FLOOR WASHING ROBOTThe Scooba Floor
  Washing Robot is a programmable floor washer
  designed for use by individuals with mobility or
  upper extremity disabilities. This unit uses
  prepares, cleans, and dries sealed hardwood, tile
  and linoleum flooring. The device prepares

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gtgt  Blind and Low Vision  gtgt  Voice Output
Calculator

• 18. MODIFIED CANON TALKING DESKTOP BUSINESS
  CALCULATOR (MODEL CP1213D-M)The Modified Canon
  Talking Desktop Business Calculator, model
  CP1213D-M, is a voice output calculator designed
  for use by individuals who are blind or have low
  vision. This modified version of the Canon
  business calculator speaks entries and totals

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gtgt  Blind and Low Vision  gtgt  Voice Output
Microwave Oven

• 3. TEMO TALKING MICROWAVE OVEN (MODELS 87106
  87108)The Temo Talking Microwave Oven is a voice
  output microwave oven designed for use by
  individuals who are blind or have low vision. In
  addition to a talking control panel, this
  microwave has a notched knob to set cooking
  times. Speech output can be in...

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gtgt  Recreation  gtgt  Board Games  gtgt  Voice Output
G

• 2. EXPLORER GLOBEThe Explorer Globe is a voice
  output globe with interactive educational games
  designed for children with learning disabilities
  or low vision. When a spot on the globe is
  touched with a special pen, facts in selected
  categories are spoken with a clear...

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Computer Input

• Conventional Input Methods
• Alternatives to Keyboard Input
• Alternatives to Mouse Input
• Input by Switch
• Voice Recognition

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Alternative Keyboards

• Alternative Keyboard Layout
• Qwerty
• Alphabetic
• Dvorak Keyboard/frequency of use
• Specialised Keyboards
• Microsoft Natural Keyboard
• Ergonomic Keyboard
• Expanded/mini Keyboard

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Maltron Ergonomic Keyboard
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Maltron keyboard
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Infra-red Keyboard
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Infra-red Keyboard
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BAT Keyboard
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Intelli-keyboard
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Mini-Keyboards
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Tash Mini keyboard keyguard
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Cherry Mini Keyboard
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Keyguards
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Mouse Alternatives

• Alternative Pointing devices
• Trackballs
• joysticks
• Touch Pads
• Head Mouse
• Mouse Emulation
• Touch Screen
• Screen Hotspots

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LogitechMarble mouse
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Touchpad
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Joystick Mouse
Penny and Giles Joystick Plus
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Penny and Giles Tracker
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Trackerball
Penny and Giles Trackball Plus
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Head Mouse
Zygo Head Mouse
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Augmentative Alternative Communication
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Lightwriter
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Message Mate 20
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Big Mack
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Digivox
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Touchpad PC
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Environmental Control
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Remote controls
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Remote telephone set
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Big button phone set
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X-10 Technology
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Switch Access

• Single/Double Switch Input
• On Screen Keyboards
• Morse Code

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Voice Recognition

• Discrete/Continuos
• Text Input
• Hands Free
• Successful Use
• Speech Consistency
• literacy Skills
• Familiar with PCs
• Patience!!!!!!!!

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Software Utilities

• Microsoft Accessibility Features
• Abbreviation Expansion
• Word Prediction
• Macros
• Maths Tools

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Accessibility Options

• Sticky Keys
• Filter Keys
• Toggle Keys
• Mouse Keys
• Easy Access - for Macintosh

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Microsoft Accessibility Wizard
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Microsoft Magnifier
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Abbreviation Expansion

• Abbreviation Expansion is a method by Which
  maximum input may be obtained by assigning a
  letter/s to pre-stored phrases or sentences

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The Question is!

• When technology removes limitations, what we as
  individuals with disabilities can do depends
  strictly upon our abilities, training and
  experience.
• Frank Bowe (U.S.)

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Access Issues

• Hand Dexterity
• Mobility
• Communication
• Visual
• Hearing
• Learning

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Hand Dexterity

• Keyguards
• Alternative Keyboards
• Alternative Mice
• Accessibility Features

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Hand Dexterity Contd

• Dragon Naturally Speaking
• (Sound Card)
• Noise
• Text Help (Word Prediction)
• On Screen Keyboards (NT-Future)

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Mobility

• Physical Access to the Lab
• Accessible Toilet
• Height Adjustable Tables
• Infra-Red Keyboards/Mice
• Radio Mikes

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Communication

• Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC)
  devices
• Specialised Software to link AAC device to Pc
• Training for Staff on Communication skills

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Visual

• Magnification
• Zoomtext Level 1
• Zoomtext Level 2 - speech output
• Text Reader
• Jaws
• Kurzweil 1000
• Scan Read Text

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Hearing

• Active Window Flashing
• Fire Alarm/Time Up

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Learning

• Voice Recognition
• Reading Software/Hardware
• Text Help
• Kurzweil 3000

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So many Examples of Assistive Technology

• So what is it?
• Are there formal Definitions?
• The following are some major definitions

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Definition of Assistive Technology Device

• Any item, piece of equipment or product system
  whether acquired commercially, off the shelf,
  modified or customised that is used to increase
  or improve functional capabilities of individuals
  with disabilities.
• (Technical assistance to the States act in U.S.)

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Definitions of Assistive Technology

• International ISO-9999 standard Any product,
  instrument, equipment or technical system used by
  a disabled or elderly person, made specially or
  existing on the market, aimed to prevent,
  compensate, relive or neutralize the deficiency,
  the inability of the handicap.--technical and
  device orientated definition

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Definitions of Assistive Technology

• A. Cook and S. Hussey (Cook and Hussey, 95)
  assistive Technology as a broad range of devices,
  technical aids, strategies, services, practices,
  with the main objective of improving the quality
  of life of the disabled and the elderly. - a
  broader approach

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Definitions of Assistive Technology

• European HEART definition the ultimate
  objective of AT is to contribute to the effective
  enhancement of the lives of people with
  disabilities and elderly people, helping to
  overcome and solve their functional problems,
  reducing dependence on others, and contributing
  to the integration into the families and society.
  - outcome perspective

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What are the major concerns of AT

• Since it involves manufactured products the
  following are key aspects

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Assistive Technology Field

• Research
• Development
• Production
• Trade
• Finance
• Service Delivery
• Usage

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Research Development

• RD contains research and development activities
  in science and engineering. RD can be seen as
  the practice of experimentation and the creation
  of new products and services. (Wagner and Yezil,
  1999)

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Production Trade

• Big AT Companies manufacture in low cost
  countries and assemble the products in Western
  Europe
• SMEs niches in the AT market
• Trade similar

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Service Delivery

• A lot of countries are medical orientated

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Web Resources

• Physical disabilities www.crc.ie
• www.atireland.ie (future)
• Hearing impairments www.nadp.ie
• Visual impairments www.ncbi.ie
• Dyslexia www.iol.ie/acld www.dyslexia-inst
  .org.uk
• Education www.scoilnet.ie