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