Assistive Technology Vs Assistive Technology

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NS149 Assignment 1: Caitriona Walsh (13416572) According to Cook and Hussey (2002, p.5) Assistive Technology refers to “a broad range of devices, services, strategies and practices that are conceived and applied to ameliorate the problems faced by individuals who have disabilities”. The main focus of Assistive Technology is to enable people with disabilities and illnesses to carry out everyday activities that, without this technology they would be unable to do. It involves carefully choosing an appropriate device that can be tailored to meet the needs of an individual. Training and education regarding the technology is essential in order to improve the person’s quality of life. Assistive Technology can open up a realm of possibilities and opportunities to someone who suffers with both physical and mental disabilities. Assistive Technology devices on the other hand can be defined as: Any item, piece of equipment or product system whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customised that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities (Cook and Hussey 2002,p.5) It is of utmost importance that these devices involve little or no disturbance to its user’s ordinary life and subsequently has many positive effects on their daily activities. Although as a nation we have a preconceived idea that Assistive Technology is complex, highly expensive products, this is not always the case. Assistive Technology devices can be characterised into low and high technology. According to Wendt, Quist and Lloyd (2011) low technology involves technological devices that are simple to make, are readily available and inexpensive. On the other hand high technology devices are often complicated,... ... middle of paper ... ...alert and tracking system for blind man. International Conference of Advance Research and Innovation [online]. Available from: www.ijari.org/CurrentIssue/ICARI2014/ICARI-cs-14-02-116.pdf. [Accessed 5 April 2014] Phillips,B. and Zhao,H.1993.Predictors of Assistive Technology abandonment. PUBMED [online]. [Accessed 27 April 2014] Presley, I. and D’Andrea, F.M.2008.Assistive Technology for students who are blind or visually impaired: a guide to assessment .New York: American Foundation for the Blind . Villanueva,J and Farcy,R.2012. Optical device indicating a safe free path to blind people. Instrumentation and measurement, IEEE [online].pp.170-177. Available from IEEE Xplore digital library. [Accessed 5 April 2014] Wendt,O.,Quist,R.W. and Lloyd,L.2011. Assistive Technology: principles and applications for Communication Disorders and Special Education. Boston: Brill.

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