David Banes

Mada Centre

April 15 2010

History of Assistive Technology

Models of Disability

Religious

Medical

Social

Definition of Assistive Technology

Any item, piece of equipment, or system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is commonly used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. (section 508 ADA)

Assistive technology is hardware or software that helps a person use the computer. Assistive technologies include screen reader software (provides an aural translation of the information on the screen), voice recognition software (allows people to navigate with voice rather than a keyboard or mouse), and many input devices such as large keyboards and mouse pedals. (ADE)

Assistive Technology across the spectrum

Mobility

Daily Life

Environmental control

Literacy

Communication

AT/IT

Mechanical

AT/IT

Early Experiments

Standalone Devices

BBC Micro

Win 3.1

AT/IT Windows and Beyond

Integration of AT into ICT’s

Accessibility Options

Supported Third Party Devices

Hardware

Software

Accessibility and the OS

Third party devices – growth in demand

Hardware

Software

Vision

Hearing

Physical

Reading and Writing

Communication

The Future – Trends in Assistive Technology

AT/IT – Advent of Mobility

Mobile Phones

PDA’s

Netbooks

AT/IT – AT in the Cloud

System Access to Go

Write Online

AT/IT – Ubiquitous and Pervasive AT

Inredis

AT/IT – Next steps

Touch

Voice

Brain

Gesture

AT/IT - Convergence

AT/IT impacts on

Mobility

Daily Life

Environmental control

Literacy

Communications

Key themes

Enabling Access – not mending the user Access embedded – designed for access not retrofit Anytime Anywhere Access

Portable Mobile Pervasive

Converged Technologies Transference into mainstream – no limitations