Many people need support carrying out everyday activities, and the CDC reports that one in four adults in the United States has some form of disability which may affect their independence. That’s where assistive technology can make a real difference – having software, devices and equipment available to enhance independence not only benefits the individual using them, but also the support costs borne by society for those who need help to undertake tasks. Technological advances have revolutionized the available solutions for many people, and some of the latest innovations are making a massive change to the lives of the people who need them.
Moving towards independence
Mobility aids such as powerchairs and lightweight, high performance wheelchairs for sport have seen big advances in recent years. The most recent tech to hit the market includes passive standing functionality, which offer users huge benefits to their quality of life and long-term health in comparison to staying sedentary, relieving pressure and promoting good circulation, and reducing abnormal muscle tone and skeletal deformities. Not only that, but passive standing also allows people to interact with others at eye level, which can make a big difference in a world where the majority of features have been designed with standing in mind.
Sport wheelchairs allow for health maintenance in a different way, giving the opportunity to participate in team sports events, and offering exercise benefits in a way that people may not otherwise experience. There are many different wheeled mobility devices available that fulfil a whole range of functions, and many states are now legislating to ensure that manufacturers and providers must meet minimum technical standards too – one example is Tennessee, which requires suppliers to be certified and maintain continuing education credits in order to be able to supply and fit wheelchairs intended for long-term conditions such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, stroke, spina bifida and multiple sclerosis. CPFN, who offer guidance and information for wheelchair users, note how big a difference finding the right wheelchair and technological features can make to the life of someone who needs a wheeled mobility aid.
Looking to the future
Another area which has benefited from innovation in assistive technologies is sight loss. In a world which is increasingly becoming digitally operated, being able to effectively navigate the internet is really important, and the latest text-to-speech software such as Kurzweil 3000, Dragon, Narrator and Intel Reader offer a variety of options for reading text and navigating websites using high-resolution cameras, support for numerous languages, and picture dictionary support. Tech also exists to support vision for those with limited sight, and products such as Microsoft Seeing AI can transform the world for someone with sight loss, enhancing the environment with rich audio descriptions, as well as providing information about other people and objects in the area.
The possibilities for assistive technology in the future are endless, and the dramatic difference that AI can make for so many people is only in the early stages of research and production, relatively speaking. Assistive technology can make a huge difference to quality of life, whether you have a disability or not, and steps are constantly being made to improve the lives of those using it.
