Advanced Technologies applied to Assistive Devices and Services Maria Bulgheroni

Who we are Ab.Acus is an engineering company Ab.Acus people supply long term experience in biomedical and AT fields Ab.Acus builds its activities on ad hoc multidisciplinary teams Ab.Acus exploits its mixed competencies in design, development, engineering, marketing and sales

Definitions Assistive technologies (AT): “any product (including devices, equipment, instruments, technology and software) especially produced or generally available preventing, compensating, monitoring, relieving or neutralising impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions” [ISO 9999: 2007]

Current situation Assistive Technologies ICT mainstream products Mainly PC interfaces (keyboards, mouses, switches,.); Design for All products Assistive Technologies ICT mainstream products Wireless communication, RFID technologies, … Advanced Technologies Research projects; prototypes

Current situation: AT industries AT devices generally answer very specific needs (bottom up approach) AT manufacturers have limited access to advanced technology R&D results (sometimes developing on obsolete technologies)

Current situation: technology Technology alone may not supply effective solutions Research may be far form needs Technology alone may not supply effective solutions Research may be far form needs

Current situation:mainstream Market is asking for high personalization (colors, labels,…) : interfacing with AT devices is personalization? Companies are competing on the single customer: people using AT are market Corporate and social responsabilities ask for attention to the citizens: big companies are becoming more sensitive

Advanced technologies ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY NEEDS Mainstream Advanced technologies

Current situation: indications Identification of major classes of NEEDS (top down approach versus bottom up approach) Identification of links between MAINSTREAM and AT Identification of ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES mature for a direct application in AT

Just some examples … Integrated education: NEED: searching for technologies and methodologies to allow all students to undertake the same educational paths TECHNOLOGY: enhanced interfaces exploitation (haptic interfaces, gaze control, ….) MAINSTREAM: Virtual Reality and videogames interfaces

Just some examples … Accessibility of contents: NEED: searching for solutions to allow a customised access to any web content TECHNOLOGY: innovative CMS systems design and exploitation MAINSTREAM: software tools for web and contents developers (to be enriched)

Just some examples … Full exploitation of mobile communication devices (cellular phones, PDA,….): NEED: access mobile communication devices TECHNOLOGY: customised interfaces MAINSTREAM: communication devices (and their interfaces specifications ….)

For further discussion … Searching for needs: A need has to be an application field, keep in mind the “top down approach” to search for generalised solutions A need has to identify a gray or black area of ICT devices and services (i.e. not accessible to all users) A need has to be identified with no care of possible technological solutions

For further discussion … Searching for advanced technologies: The technology has to be under exploitation in other fields The technology has to be ready to go to the market in a reasonable amount of time (12 months?)

For further discussion … Searching for mainstream links: The AT/mainstream link has to enlarge the potential market of a product The AT/mainstream link has to create better opportunities for all customers The AT/mainstream link has to setup new applications of existing products Integrated AT solutions may be customizations of mainstream products? Searching for mainstream links: The AT/mainstream link has to enlarge the potential market of a product The AT/mainstream link has to create better opportunities for all customers The AT/mainstream link has to setup new applications of existing products Integrated AT solutions may be customizations of mainstream products?

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