Although we may be aware of many of the assistive technologies theorised in the
article below, the way in which the author has theorised them with regards to
various disability requirements appears quite interesting. One also gets a
glimpse of the development towards such technologies in other third-world
countries. Somehow I couldnt access the URL .
:The Daily Star: Internet Edition
Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Saturday, January 26, 2008 11:25 PM GMT+06:00
Assistive technology for the disabled
Farooque Hossain Kamrul
Disablement, needless to say, significantly reduces the life quality of a
person as it substantially diminishes their work ability. Assistive or adaptive
technology, however, can bring back the individual's employability at an
acceptable level.
Unfortunately, most people, even the disabled themselves, in the third world
countries are not aware that assistive technology may become their real friend
in assisting them in everyday life. I would like to highlight in this article
some assistive technologies for different types of disabilities; before that
it is worth mentioning what an assistive technology means.
There is no specific definition of Assistive Technology (AT). It simply denotes
any item, piece of equipment, or system that is used to increase, maintain
or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
The definition does not necessarily imply that AT must include computers, or
that it must be expensive, or that certain medical professionals can only
prescribe it. This definition permits AT to be restricted by your own
creativity and imagination.
The followings represent samples of the many types of AT, grouped by the nature
of a user's disability, that are available.
AT for visual impairments
Visually impaired users face a great challenge when interacting with graphical
user interfaces. Typically, they use software applications known as screen
readers that turn the texts, events, and elements in applications and websites
into synthesised speech. For example, when a user opens a new window in
Microsoft Internet Explorer, a screen reader such as JAWS (Job Access with
Speech) or Home Page Reader might say "new browser window".
A physically challenged person, I took part in a specialised training program
last year, where 19 other physically challenged people also participated.
Of them, 12 were visually challenged. I observed with sheer astonishment how my
visually impaired friends worked smoothly on computer using screen reader
software like JAWS or FSB reader. They used special key combinations to move
around screen in order to direct the screen what to read. By listening to
this speech, they were able to understand a screen's content.
Another AT for the visually challenged is refreshable Braille display, which
may be used as an alternative to screen reader. These devices convert screen
text into Braille and display the Braille on a number of cells comprised of
independently controlled pins. When editing and reviewing text, refreshable
Braille displays can be much better to work with because a vision-impaired user
can easily reread characters on the same line and check spelling. Screen
readers are capable of reading words character by character, but the process of
moving backwards in text to review and then moving forwards can be cumbersome.
Despite their potential advantage, refreshable Braille displays are less common
due to their higher cost.
In addition, a Braille embosser converts 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 results on thick paper are the individual dots
that constitute Braille characters.
However, choice of appropriate hardware and software will depend on the user's
level of functional vision. Put another way, it relies on the intensity
of impairment. For example, low-vision users can use hardware such as large
monitors, adjustable task lamp, Copyholder, closed circuit television, modified
cassette recorder, and scanner to improve visibility. Moreover, this can be
helpful to people who have difficulty reading or seeing self-voicing
applications
such as talking web browsers.
AT for the hearing challenged
Although hearing impaired individuals encounter less accessibility than the
visually challenged do, they face tremendous difficulty in terms of learning,
job access and social inclusion. These are due to the traditional way of
learning.
However, computer technology has emerged as blessing to the hearing impaired.
As computer prompts such as spoken messages and beeps can be misunderstood
or go unnoticed by hearing impaired individuals, this problem is solved through
the use of tools that produce visual warning when the system plays a sound
and/or display captions in place of a spoken message. Light signaller alerts
the computer with light signals. This is useful when a computer user cannot
hear computer sounds. As an example, a light can flash alerting the user when a
new e-mail message has arrived or a computer command has completed.
In addition, hearing impaired person can use TTY/TDD (Telecommunication Device
for the Deaf), which is an electronic device for text communication via
a telephone line, telecare, closed captioning, teletext and multimedia
projector to address accessibility problem. Moreover, newer text-based
communication
methods such as short message service (SMS), internet relay chat (IRC) and
instant messaging have also been accepted by the deaf as an alternative or
adjunct
to TDD.
AT for mobility impairments
Mobility impairment refers to any condition that limits an individual's ability
to navigate through their environment. Mobility assistive technology products
and services for the physically challenged are used to ensure freedom of
movement around the home or office. For example, persons with mobility
impairment
can use wheelchair or electric wheelchair to overcome challenges to daily
activities. A permanent or portable ramp can also help in this regard.
In addition, alternative pointing devices allow mobility-impaired individuals
to control the mouse pointer via a mechanism other than the mouse. These
are typically used when someone lacks dexterity to manipulate a standard mouse.
Again, some software exists that converts the keyboard arrow keys into
directional movements for the pointer. Other keys are used to signal a left and
right mouse click. Besides, for individuals with severe impairments who
are entirely unable to manipulate the mouse and/or use a standard keyboard can
use HeadMouse wireless pointing device that converts the movements of a
user's head into corresponding movements of the mouse pointer by tracking the
motion of a single point on the user's head. A standard keyboard may be
completely
replaced by using this system in conjunction with software that produces an
on-screen keyboard.
Mobility-impaired individuals may utilise speech recognition applications. This
software can be used to both control applications via speech commands and
as a means to dedicate text, with speech converted into text in real time.
Disability is not inability; rather, it is a blessing in disguise. If the
disabled get some opportunity, they can also prove their potential in the real
field. As evidenced by the above descriptions, assistive technology services
address a variety of disabilities in numerous ways. Regretfully, technology,
created without regard to people with disabilities, often creates undesired
hindrances to hundreds of millions of people. We should know that assistive
technology, or more specifically universally acceptable technology, equally
yields great rewards for the typical users. One example is the kerb cuts in
the sidewalk at street crossing. While these kerb cuts enable pedestrians with
mobility impairments to cross the street, these also aid parents with carriages
and strollers, shoppers with carts, and travellers and workers with pull-type
bags.
And here in Bangladesh, though the availability of disabled friendly or
assistive technology is alarmingly low, YPSA -- a specialised non-profit social
development organisation -- is doing some exciting work in this respect. As a
result, the organisation has been selected by DAISY (Digital Accessible
Information
System) Consortium, to ensure information in accessible format for people with
disabilities (PWDs), especially for the print disabled. We sincerely hope
that other organisations would follow YPSA's effort in this regard to make the
PWDs lives somewhat easy and enjoyable.
The author, a physically challenged person, is a trainee at Thakral Information
Systems Pvt Ltd, Dhaka.
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