Assistive Technology Gadgets That Could Change Your Life
Author: Michael Leavy - Managing Director of Home Healthcare Adaptations : Contact: home-healthcare-adaptations.ie
Published: 2014-09-03 : (Rev. 2017-06-25)
Synopsis:
- Infographic, with transcript, shows some of the uses of assistive technology devices in use today.
Main Digest
"Assistive technology devices can help someone improve physical or mental functioning, overcome a disorder or impairment, prevent the worsening of a condition, increase capacity to learn, or even replace a missing limb." Suzanne Robitaille, Author of The Illustrated Guide to Assistive Technology.
For vision impaired what follows is a transcript of the infographic kindly supplied by Home Healthcare Adaptations, a family run company based in Ireland that specializes in adapting homes for those with disabilities and the elderly.
Transcript:
Helping Visually Impaired
The Braille EDGE 40 Display
- Reads content on a computer screen and converts it to Braille characters.
- Includes 7 built in apps including a scheduler, alarm clock, stopwatch, countdown timer and a built in calculator.
- Multiple languages.
- Connect to a computer or PDA via Bluetooth and stay connected all day without the need to charge it.
- Up to 32GB on an SD Card to store thousands of books and documents.
- Costs $2,995.
Helping Wheelchair Users
Kenguru Electric Car
- An electric car in which drivers can remain in their wheelchair when transferring themselves into the car.
- Eliminates the need to collapse the wheelchair and transfer separately.
- Access is via the rear-opening tailgate.
- Steering is by motorbike style handlebar and a joystick option is being introduced.
- An interlocking device secures the wheelchair.
- Design allows parking rear end to the pavement for accessibility.
- Reaches 25 miles per hour and ideal for short errands.
- Costs US$25,000.
Transcript Continues below Infograpic...
...Continued
Helping Limited Limb Usage
HeadMouse Extreme
- An alternative type of computer mouse that translates head movements into proportional movements on a computer screen.
- A disposable adhesive sensor is placed on the user's forehead, hat or glasses, and tracked by a wireless optical sensor.
- As the user moves their head, the mouse pointer moves on screen.
- The precision of the mouse pointer allows the user to perform tasks such as CAD graphics work, gaming and drawing.
- Connects to the computer via a USB port. No special software needed.
- Costs US$995.
Helping Hearing Loss
Alarm Clock Pro Vibrating Clock
- Wakes users up with high intensity LED lights and a bed shaker that emits sound from underneath the pillow.
- Loud ascending alarm that spans multiple frequencies so even if you have high frequency hearing loss you won't miss the alarm.
- 4 flashing LED lights.
- Large LCD display with adjustable backlight.
- Battery backup powers all functions during a power outage.
- RJ-11 jack to connect your telephone for the built-in phone ringer amplifier lets you know when the phone is ringing.
- Costs US$99 +.
The Multi-Tasker
The iPad & Apps
"Touch has made it exceptionally accessible - everyone has an iPad, everyone has an iPod. If you're someone with a disability, having something that other people are using makes you feel like part of the in-crowd." Michelle Diament, Co-founder, Disability Scoop
- Affordable Touch to Speak Technology
- Before iPad touch to speak technology was extremely expensive - $8,000 +. iPads retail for $499. Apps like Yes / No allow users to voice preferences in yes or no responses.
- An Educational Tool
- It is an informative educational tool allowing users to discuss difficulties with online communities. Apple has previously featured a section called 'Apps for Special Education' in the apps store.
- A Therapeutic Device
- iPads act as therapeutic devices as users can see that they are able to interact with the world around them.
- Task Orientated Behavioral Monitor
- It can act as a behavioral monitor reminding users to take medication through apps like Medication Reminder or remind them about tasks.
References:
1. www.abilitymagazine.com/abledbody.html
2. mashable.com/2012/02/29/tech-disabilities/
3. mashable.com/2013/09/12/assistive-technology/
4. www.gizmag.com/kenguru-enters-production/23412/
5. www.harriscomm.com/bellman-vibrating-alarm-clock-pro-led.html
6. mashable.com/2011/07/25/ipads-disabilities/
Related Documents
- 1 - Insight into Intellectual Disabilities in the 21st Century : Special Olympics (2015/07/25)
- 2 - Paralympic Sports Events: Infographic Explanations : Disabled World (2016/01/08)
- 3 - Getting a Job with a Disability - Infographic with Transcript : Burning Nights CRPS (2017/11/22)
- 4 - Disability in America Infographic : BraunAbility (2011/12/01)
- 5 - Assistive Technology Gadgets That Could Change Your Life : Michael Leavy - Managing Director of Home Healthcare Adaptations (2014/09/03)
- 6 - How the 2012 Paralympic Games Affected Public Perceptions of Disability : www.unitedresponse.org.uk (2012/10/30)
- 7 - Most Accessible World Travel Destinations : Victoria Abbott-Fleming (2015/12/11)
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