Assistive Technology - Science topic

Background Loss of communication with loved ones and carers is one of the most isolating and debilitating effects of many neurological disorders. Assistive technology (AT) supports individuals with communication, but the acceptability of AT solutions is highly variable. In this paper a novel ear based control method of AT, the concept of ’EarSwitch...

This study investigates the educational impact of Japanese English-language YouTubers on learners’ English proficiency and cross-cultural understanding. It analyzes content from three prominent YouTubers—Chika Yoshida (BILINGIRL), TAROSAC, and Atsu—using established material evaluation frameworks. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study integ...

Latinos are among the populations who are the least likely to use assistive technology (AT) despite being a population with a high prevalence of functional disabilities (FDs). We aimed to create and test the usability of an AT web app for independent-living older adults with FDs. In Phase I, we created the web app’s content guided by the Optimized...

In this chapter, eight (past-)presidents of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE) reflect on their personal engagement with the technology and disability field. The result is a patchwork of personal contributions, reflecting aspects of the contemporary history of Assistive Technology in its broadest sense, re...

Background In Canada, more than 60% of persons living with dementia reside in their own homes, and over 25% rely heavily on their care partners (ie, family members or friends) for assistance with daily activities such as personal hygiene, eating, and walking. Assistive technology (AT) is a key dementia management strategy, helping to maintain healt...

BACKGROUND Assistive technology is often incorporated into rehabilitation and support for those impacted by upper limb impairments. When powered, these devices provide additional force to the joints of users with muscle weakness. Actuated devices allow dynamic movement compared to splints, therefore improving the ability to complete activities of d...

Digital transformation pertains to adopting digital technologies to enhance healthcare delivery and address medical challenges. This entails leveraging internet-based solutions, digital technologies, and their impact on novel therapies and best practices for improved healthcare management. The pervasive nature of technological advancements, in...

Nowadays, technology is a great ally in removing barriers and facilitating access for users with specific limitations. For example, a child with motor and communication limitations due to Cerebral Palsy (CP) can use technology to develop and reveal their potential talent for learning and performing music. We want to publish a real case of a child,...

This qualitative study explores the impacts of assistive technology (AT) on preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from the perspective of caregivers who observe and experience these behavioral changes firsthand within the home environment. Utilizing a phenomenological research design, the study involved semi-structured interviews with 10...

Introduction Mobile electronic devices have assumed and/or complemented the place of optical, non-optical, electronic and computer resources in solving the functional alterations in people with low vision. Objective Considering the wide and continuous use of mobile electronic devices in people’s lives, this study aimed to characterize smartphone an...

RESUMO Este artigo aborda os desafios e práticas da inclusão escolar na educação especial. Explora a evolução histórica e os conceitos fundamentais da inclusão, destacando a importância das políticas públicas e da legislação no apoio às práticas inclusivas. Através de uma revisão bibliográfica e análise de estudos de caso, são discutidos os princip...

Assistive technology helps people in daily activities, such as text-to-speech software for communication, transition planning software, and virtual reality for learning job and interview skills. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can use technology to improve autonomy, independence, self-determination, and quality of life...

The most common cause of impairment is neurological or brain disorders throughout the world, as well as in developed market economies, where they also rank first in terms of disease burden. Some brain diseases, like stroke and suicide, can also lead to death. However, it is their devastating impact on communities and economies that is mainly caused...

Background: The purpose of this study was to provide empirical evidence on knowledge gaps in wheelchair skills, emerging technology, and preferred sources to find information about mobility assistive technologies (MAT) among Saudi mobility device users. Method: A previously developed English-language survey used in a previous pilot study was transl...

Digital technologies are now ubiquitous in our lives and it is of critical importance that people with disabilities benefit from full and equitable access to the digital world. However, digital accessibility training for users with disabilities is lacking, and there is little research on developing such training focusing on ways to use the broad an...

Supported standing devices are often used to maintain a standing position by people with difficulty or inability to ambulate or stand for a period of time. Supported standing programs are first implemented by healthcare professionals with goals to impact health and function. This paper intends to update previous position on wheelchair standing devi...

This work aims to provide an innovative solution to enhance the accessibility of images by an innovative image to text to speech system. It is applied to Hindu and Christian divine images. The method is applicable, among others, to enhance cultural understanding of these images by the visually impaired. The proposed system utilizes advanced object...

Background and Aims: Evidence on the real needs of assistive technology (AT) users in terms of AT adequacy is lacking in developing countries, where a significant proportion of individuals with health conditions (e.g., stroke, polio, cerebral palsy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, etc.) require at least one AT to improve their functioning and autonomy...

The progress in the use of assistive technology (AT) necessitates raising awareness among the general population about the needs and challenges faced by children with developmental difficulties and individuals with disabilities, as well as the possible solutions and tools they use to overcome these challenges. In the context of raising public aware...

The study mainly concentrates on entrepreneurial success and decision-making power and processes in a developing country like India. The study used qualitative and quantitative methods, adopting semi-structured interviews conducted with entrepreneurs in Dehradun City, Uttarakhand, India. The findings of the study were analyzed using SPSS versio...

The sociotechnical challenges primarily faced by students with disabilities are significantly hindering their active participation in academic programs. This study, therefore, holds immense importance as it aims to examine these challenges and evaluate the factors influencing the introduction of Assistive Technology in response to these issues. The...

The phenomenon of 'massification in higher education ', which refers to the significant increase in the number of students enrolling in universities, has made it difficult for inclusive education to be attainable owing to unknown reasons that are encumbering the students living with disability from having a sense of belonging. Hence, this study aim...

This paper comprehensively reviews the use of mobility Assistive Technology (MAT) in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Currently, 9 million people are severely affected by CP, the most serious form of movement disability, characterized by deficits in movement, posture, and more, alongside cognitive and sensory deficits. These impairments restrict...

Communication assessment of children with complex communication needs requires localized measuring tools that allow observation in a family environment. Families observe communication in children during everyday activities, providing valuable data about communicative progress. Until recently, no measurement tool was used in Ukraine to assess the im...

This study investigates factors that influence the choice of assistive technology of students with visual impairment at Ghana National Inclusive Basic Schools. The study discussed the available assistive technologies in the school, the preference of a particular assistive technology to others and challenges students faced in the use of assistive te...

Blind and visually impaired people (VIP) face many challenges in writing as they usually use traditional tools such as Slate and Stylus or expensive typewriters as Perkins Brailler, often causing accessibility and affordability issues. This article introduces a novel portable, cost-effective device that helps VIP how to write by utilizing a deep-le...

This piece is provided in honor of the late Brooke Ellison, a brave advocate within the disability and paralysis community. The integration of rehabilitation and assistive technologies (Rehab & A-T) has become pervasive in the lives of People With Disabilities (PWD), facilitating physical, emotional, and spiritual function and interaction within t...

This study examines the impact of lower limb prostheses on user well-being, focusing on how these assistive technologies enhance mobility, independence, and social participation for individuals with disabilities. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research combined a cross-sectional survey of 100 participants with in-depth interviews of 20 sel...

Assistive technology plays an important role in rehabilitation. Body-powered tools rely on manual movement of the artificial limb while externally powered machines use actuators to induce mobility and return function. Alternatively, some devices incorporate both systems. In the case of below-the-wrist amputation, availability of such prosthetics is...

Purpose Gaming is more popular than ever and people with disabilities play games as any other gamer. Accessible gaming might require both accessible games and suitable assistive technologies, however we lack the knowledge how many use assistive technologies, what devices are used, how suitable technologies are found, and what reasons might hinder t...

Inclusive classrooms of 21st century are thought to leverage the 21st century skills which includes the basic ICT and skills for the humans to lead a quality life in the world influenced by the digital era. Assistive technology device means both hardware and software prove to be useful to enhance, sustain and better the activities that promote lear...

In today’s digital world, reading skills are critical for learners, and the use of technology in education has become an important tool to enhance these skills. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Assistive Technology Application Tools (ATAT) in improving the reading skills of Grade 2 learners at Pilar Village Elementary School durin...

Introduction The perception of individuals with physical disabilities regarding assistive technology influences their occupational participation in adapted sports. Despite its widespread use, there is a lack of awareness about the role it plays in the occupational participation of Para-athletes. Objective To explore the perceptions of individuals w...

Digital accessibility remains a critical challenge for the full inclusion of people with disabilities, especially in a context where technology plays a central role in everyday life. In this sense, a web system, currently in beta version, which assesses the compliance of websites with the accessibility guidelines of the Web Content Accessibility Gu...

Introduction: Using computer-aided design and 3D printing within a co-design process to produce assistive technology (AT) has a positive impact in delivering customised solutions to end-users' needs. However, to date its adoption within healthcare services has been limited. This work aims to gather clinicians' insights to identify and analyse barri...

Dementia often leads to reduced autonomy and the need for help with activities of daily living, such as the use of the lavatory. In response, we present ToiletHelp, a novel system to provide automated, step-by-step guidance to individuals with dementia when using the lavatory. In such an intimate environment, it is crucial to maintain the user’s pr...

This study attempts to answer the question of how "Open" Distance Higher Education is for Students with Disabilities (SwD) through a literature review. To this end, published books, journals, reports, and articles were examined using authoritative research sources such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and ERIC. In addition, laws related to Persons...

Purpose to present data from the theoretical validation and face validation of the Family Impact of Assistive Technology Scale for Augmentative and Alternative Communication for the Brazilian context. Methods an initial translation, a reconciled translation, a content assessment by experts, a back-translation, and face validation. Researchers, bil...

Purpose to present data from the theoretical validation and face validation of the Family Impact of Assistive Technology Scale for Augmentative and Alternative Communication for the Brazilian context. Methods an initial translation, a reconciled translation, a content assessment by experts, a back-translation, and face validation. Researchers, bil...

Given the growing number of students with disabilities present in schools today, inclusion needs to be something real and concrete. For this, one of the fundamentally important tools for achieving an inclusive act is Assistive Technology (AT). The present study developed a Systematic Literature Review (RSL) with the aim of investigating the contrib...

This study explores the development of a digital sensory toy designed to enhance social skills and sensory-motor interaction for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The sensory toy aims to serve as a therapeutic tool, fostering interaction between children with ASD and their peers, to improve mutual understanding and interpersonal skills....

This study examines the difficulties encountered during the adoption of assistive technology (AT) and proposes successful approaches. It also investigates the influence of AT on reading comprehension abilities of children with learning disabilities. Integration of AT in classroom has revolutionized the delivery of education for students with learni...

The vast development of the technology of embedded systems has had a great impact on the healthcare field. Using low-cost, robust parts, this research proposes an innovative technology and design that enables paralyzed patients or elderly individuals to have a smart room with a voice recognition control unit that works like a joystick for various p...

This paper will discuss how assistive technology forms the basis of differentiation and support for students with special needs when conquering specific math learning difficulties. The Department of Special Education utilized a quantitative research design to collect data from 240 teachers through a structured, self-developed questionnaire. The use...

This study examines the advantages of personalized assistive technology (AT) for individuals with impairments who are new to Saudi Arabia. Using a quantitative research design, the study investigates the impact of customized assistive technology solutions on academic performance, engagement in learning, and independent learning capacities. The samp...

This study addresses the challenges faced by Malaysian students with learning disabilities, emphasizing the critical role of assistive technology (AT), particularly Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) within mobile applications. Focusing on the Smart-App, the research explores its efficacy in supporting students in learning and establi...

Personalized special education is an educational approach that focuses on the unique needs and abilities of students with special needs, making it ideal for inclusive classrooms. Research indicates that personalized learning can enhance learning outcomes, increase engagement, and improve overall experience. Mobile media, including digital content a...

This article unveils MoSIoT (Modeling Scenarios of the Internet of Things), an innovative framework meticulously designed to simulate IoT systems, addressing the nuanced needs of individuals with hearing impairments. Grounded in the quality-of-life framework proposed by Verdugo et al., MoSIoT has been enriched and evolved to integrate and manage a...

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients who have severe motor and speech impairments mostly rely on their eyes and assistive technology to communicate. However, existing high-tech products are expensive and hard to access, while low-tech products are inefficient and restrictive. To mitigate the limitations, this research proposes GazeLink, a m...

Background Assistive technology is becoming increasingly accessible and affordable for supporting people with dementia and their care partners living at home, with strong potential for technology-based prompting to assist with initiation and tracking of complex, multistep activities of daily living. However, there is limited direct comparison of di...

Objective Robotic arms are innovative assistive devices for ALS patients with progressive motor deficits of arms and hands. The objective was to explore the patients´ expectations towards a robotic arm system and to assess the actual experiences after the provision of the device. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted at 9 ALS cen...

Background Many people with disabilities in low-income settings, such as Sierra Leone, do not have access to the assistive technology (AT) they need, yet research to measure and address this issue remains limited. This paper presents a case study of the Assistive Technology 2030 (AT2030) funded Country Investment project in Sierra Leone. The resear...

Distance education and online learning gained significant importance, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as in response to new needs and trends in the digital age. Learning Management Systems (LMS) are one of the main instruments for formal and informal learning activities. Learners, educators, and potential new customers need LMS tha...

This chapter provides an in-depth examination of assistive technologies designed to address the challenges faced by individuals with hearing impairments. Section 1 highlights the communication barriers and social interactions. Sect. 2 explores the effectiveness of these assistive technologies through bibliometric analysis , revealing how technologi...

Assistive technology (AT) is increasingly recognized as a powerful tool in bridging the gap, offering the potential to enhance the learning experience and integration of children with disabilities. This paper examined the role of assistive technology in enhancing the inclusivity of children with disabilities in Nigeria. The study adopted the survey...

Assistive technology (AT) is increasingly recognized as a powerful tool in bridging the gap, offering the potential to enhance the learning experience and integration of children with disabilities. This paper examined the role of assistive technology in enhancing the inclusivity of children with disabilities in Nigeria. The study adopted the survey...

ICT can support the inclusion of students with down syndrome and mental retardation in mainstream school. The use of computers, tablets, internet by students with down syndrome and mild mental retardation during teaching activates learning functions in inclusion. Assistive technology serves to bridge the gap between typical students and students wi...

The study examines a comparative analysis of students’ emotional correlations, academic information-seeking behavior, and library services in special schools in Karnataka, India. The research data was gathered using qualitative and quantitative methods, including in-depth interviews, survey methods, and focus groups conducted among 2054 specially-a...

Assistive technology is present as a potential solution to overcome learning barriers faced by students with visual impairments. This study aims to examine the use of assistive technology in the learning process of students with visual impairments at elementary and secondary school levels. The method used in this study is a literature review. This...

This groundbreaking project revolves around revolutionizing mobility for individuals with locomotory disabilities through an advanced wheelchair system. The core innovation involves a specialized device with voice recognition technology, eliminating the need for traditional joysticks and enabling users to effortlessly maneuver their wheelchairs wit...

Mothers and fathers with visual impairments may have difficulty introducing their children to food. In this way, an Assistive Technology (AT) was developed on this topic. The objective, therefore, was to validate the AT on infant food introduction. This is a methodological study according to the adaptation of the Pasquali’s (2010) model. The AT was...

Background Assistive technologies (ATs) have the potential to promote the quality of life and independent living of older adults and, further, to relieve the burden of formal and informal caregivers and relatives. Technological developments over the last decades have led to a boost of available ATs. However, evidence on the benefits and satisfactio...

This report is based on data collected in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) AT Capacity Assessment Manual and presents an assessment on Tanzania’s current needs and capacity to provide AT, with recommendations on the five interdependent areas of assistive technology (5Ps) i.e. policy, provision, products, personnel and people (product us...

Background Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are commonly used by children with cerebral palsy (CP), but traditional solutions are unable to address the heterogeneity and evolving needs amongst children with CP. One key limitation lies in the inability of current passive devices to customize the torque–angle relationship, which is essential to adapt the s...

Introduction Lower limb orthoses (LLOs) and assistive devices (ADs) can be used together or separately to improve mobility when performing daily activities. The goal of this study was to examine utilization of LLOs and ADs in a national sample of adult LLO users. Methods A survey was designed to ask participants whether they typically use their LL...

Background Dementia impairs the ability of people with dementia to be autonomous and independent. They need support from third parties, who should ideally respect their autonomy and independence as much as possible. Supporting people with dementia can be very burdensome for caregivers and numbers of patients increase while numbers of potential care...

Willingness to enroll in experiments plays a vital role in user-centered design, particularly in emerging domains such as wearable robots for daily living assistance, where recruiting older adults poses challenges. Guided by the integration of prospect theory and the senior technology acceptance model, this study aims to investigate the persuasive...

Background Modern telemedicine (TM) technologies play a crucial role in enhancing access to Assistive Technology in healthcare services. However, the full benefits of this technology will not be realized unless it is widely accepted among service users (patients). This study aimed to investigate the impact of patient trust and perceived risk on the...

Maintaining the capacity for sit-to-stand transitions is paramount for preserving functional independence and overall mobility in older adults and individuals with musculoskeletal conditions. Lower limb exoskeletons have the potential to play a significant role in supporting this crucial ability. In this investigation, a deep reinforcement learning...

Learning disabilities present formidable obstacles for children in their educational journeys, often overlooked or misunderstood. This research aims to address two critical issues: the differentiation between learning and intellectual disabilities, and the resistance of teachers to integrating technology into education. In response, a comprehensive...