06 | Assistive technology
Assistive technology
Assistive Technology is a term used to refer to practical tools that can support functional needs of people who experience difficulties linked to disability or ageing.
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The most widely used definition of Assistive Technology today is probably the definition of ‘Assistive Products’ used by the International Standards Organisation (ISO): Any product (including devices, equipment, instruments and software), especially produced or generally available, used by or for persons with disability: for participation; to protect, support, train, measure or substitute for body functions/structures and activities; or to prevent impairments, activity limitations or participation restrictions.
Examples of Assistive Technology in the Home:
- Automated entrance/internal door/s.
- Automated control of devices in the home such as TV, heating, curtains.
- Intercoms between rooms.
- Video intercom at front door.
- Flashing devices, e.g. a doorbell, which alerts the deaf or hard of hearing person that there is someone at the door through a flashing light.
- TV Listening devices, which allow the person with hearing loss to adjust the TV volume independently and to eliminate background noise.
- Amplified telephones, which provide amplified and higher quality sound that assist some people with hearing loss to use the telephone.
- Vibrating pillow pads, which alert people while sleeping. This can include an alarm clock, doorbell or fire alarm.
- Stand-alone devices such as memory aids and alarms.
- Linked sensors which can control devices such as shutting off the cooker.
- Devices which can communicate an early alarm to a remote support team such as fire or flooding.
REFERENCES AND WEBSITES
- DeafHear, (online). Deafhear provide a specialist assistive technology service for deaf and hard of hearing people. Available at: https://www.deafhear.ie/DeafHear/home.html. (Accessed August 2018).
- Assistireland, (deaftech) (online). Assistireland can advise on making buildings and services accessible for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in compliance with Part M of the Building Regulations, the Equal Status Act and the Disability Act. Independent Living Ireland is a non-profit social enterprise that provides technology devices to assist the elderly, disabled or those discharged from hospital that includes assessment, procurement and on-going management. Available at: http://www.assistireland.ie/eng/. (Accessed August 2018).
- The National Council for the Blind in Ireland, (online). The National Council for the Blind in Ireland provides assistance for people with vision impairments. There is a section on the site dedicated to assistive technology. Available at: https://www.ncbi.ie/. (Accessed August 2018).
- National Disability Authority, (online). Irish National IT Accessibility Guidelines National Disability Authority guidelines for accessible products and services, including:
– Descriptions of high level accessibility goals and the difficulties faced
by users
– Prioritised guidelines for each technology
– Motivation and justification for each guideline
– Guidance on design techniques and testing methods. - Available at: http://universaldesign.ie/Technology-ICT/Irish-National-IT-Accessibility-Guidelines/. (Accessed August 2018).