In a 2000 study, 888,000 older people required assistance with common daily activities, because of disability or age (lifetec.org.au). Many companies involved with computer sciences are developing sophisticated technologies that can assist the elderly and disabled. Some developments are listed below.
An assistive listening device (ALD) can be used with or without hearing aids to overcome the negative effects of distance, background noise, or poor room acoustics.
The purpose of a Smart wheelchairs is to reduce or eliminate the user's task of driving a motorized wheelchair. Usually, a smart wheelchair is controlled by a computer, has a suite of sensors and applies techniques in mobile robotics. The interface may consist of a conventional wheelchair joystick , or it may be a "sipp and puff" device or a touch-sensitive display connected to a computer.
The new iPhone has voice control, which means elderly or disabled people can access their contact via voice commands after a push of one button on their phone. The touch screen on the iPhone also makes it easier to use for the elderly and disabled.
At home there are many innovations to help the aged and disabled, things such as mattress sensor pad which turns on the lights for when people get out of bed at night so they don’t trip or fall. Also there is a sensor which alerts if the gas has been left on and a device which reminds people to take their medication. Devices can also be installed to collect data on a person’s vital health signs, such as blood pressure and heart rate, this enables health professionals to monitor someone without actually seeing them. “In the future, homes could be built with technology installed such as sensors under the carpet to detect a fall or sensors to detect water overflows in the bathroom,”
Robotic lawn mowers and vacuum cleaners are available and the Japanese are currently developing an interactive face robot that is able to communicate both verbally and non-verbally with humans.
References
http://www.uow.edu.au/~bmartin/pubs/06spp.html
http://au.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471696943.html
©1997-2009 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/treatment/assist_tech.htm
Official Blue Care staff and volunteer newsletter Volume 13 2007
www.bluecare.org.au/NewsAndEvents/.../Blue%20Print%2013%201-9.pdf
http://www.lifetec.org.au/_uploads/4841061011_MR_Functional_kitchens_for_all_abilities.pdf
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