Tutorial Eight

Tutorial Eight: Assistive technology

Provide a definition of Assistive technology (your Cook and Hussey reading may be helpful with this).

“Assistive technology refers to the board range of devices, services, strategies and practices that are conceived and applied to ameliorate the problems faced by individuals who have disabilities.” (Cook and Hussy, 1995)

Describe one piece of equipment introduced in the assistive technology tutorial. Provide information on size, cost and functions.

Tech/Talk, this is an agumentative communication device made by AMD (Advanced Multimedia Device Inc). This device has 8 buttons a client could push to communicate. You can make your own voice recordings for each of the buttons and slide in pictures or words so the client knows what they want to say. There are 8 different levels which things can be recorded and a new card would need to be slided in for each level. So 64 different phrases or words could be used. You could record different things that would be said at certain types of day for each level. The device is light-weight, portable, water resistant and can handle rough handling. The device would approximately be 300x150mm and has a shoulder strap. This device would cost $4-5000.00.

How does your chosen piece of equipment increased functional capacity for the user? Provide examples here from the tutorial and lecture.

The Tech/Talk increases functional capacity of a user because it can help them communicate how they are feeling as they struggle to verbalise what they want. Communication is an important for individuals as it allows them to express themselves and have some choices. For example Dave in our Lecture described a boy who interlectual abilities but he could only move his arm and one eye. To communicate he would have a switch attached to his eye to choose something from a selection of options and he communicated yes by lifting his arm fast, maybe by lifting his arm slowly and no by not lifting his arm at all. This allowed the boy to expressed what activity he wanted to do and express his colourful personality.