Assistive Technology
We live in a world where more emphasis is placed on normal people than people who have some form of disabilities. There is a technology called Assistive technology that does help to make life much more comfortable for persons who are physically challenged. Assistive technology exist in several forms and more continue to evolve as time passes. The following are some of the assistive technology available on the market today.
Iriscom is a system that enables the total control of a computer through the movement of the eye. People who are not mobile and who have little or no use of their limbs than control the computer through their eye movement.
http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/information_technology/report-23600.html
Light signaler alerts monitor computer sounds and alert the computer user with light signals. This is useful when a computer user can not hear computer sounds or is not directly in front of the computer screen. As an example, a light can flash alerting the user when a new e-mail message has arrived or a computer command has completed
Braille embossers transfer computer generated text into embossed Braille output. Braille translation programs convert text scanned-in or generated via standard word processing programs into Braille, which can be printed on the embosser.
The talking calculator is one with voice output that speaks aloud what is on the screen of the calculator.
Text to speech is a powerful tool that allows learners the option of listening to text rather than reading it. Some text to speech software will simply read the text from the screen while others will allow you to convert the text to MP3 format which can then be used away from the computer.
When one considers and examines those few assistive tools listed above one has to agree that truly assistive tools are helping in the lives of people with disabilities. I still think it is an evolving technology and maybe we will see much more advanced ones in the years ahead. Unlike Dr Thornburg who speaks about embodiment, restructuring and co-dependence, I think co-dependence is the most visible component of assistive technologyhttp://www.microsoft.com/enable/at/types.aspx
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Leo-
ReplyDeleteGood post! What do you see assistive technology as being evolved from and what does it rekindle?
Wendi
I work with young elementary students who struggle with our 'code' - they can't read. In the past, the strategy was to improve skills and lose the learning diability label. I am now hearing about the importance of identifying the disability so the student can receive appropriate assistance - especially as college students.
ReplyDeleteNo educator will deny the importance of the student's ability to read, but in the future, with assistive technologies, will this be less important?
- Jennie
A great posting. As a nurse I am always pleased to see how technology can help everyone attain their full potential. As technology advances amazing advances are being made.
ReplyDeleteYour comment about co-dependence is very interesting. How do you think evolving technology will affect this?