disability tech

[Guest guest]

This is pretty amazing stuff here. I think as healthcare providers, we can

really help out our patients, who while not completely disabled, may have a

variety of visual, auditory and mobility problems who may be helped by

noninvasive technology.

 

from http://www.kurzweilai.net/meme/frame.html?m=7

Disabilities

Persons with disabilities are rapidly overcoming their handicaps through the

intelligent technology of 2009. Students with reading disabilities routinely

ameliorate their disability using print-to-speech reading systems.

 

Print-to-speech reading machines for the blind are now very small, inexpensive,

palm-sized devices that can read books (those that still exist in paper form)

and other printed documents, and other real-world text such as signs and

displays. These reading systems are equally adept at reading the trillions of

electronic documents that are instantly available from the ubiquitous wireless

worldwide network.

 

After decades of ineffective attempts, useful navigation devices have been

introduced that can assist blind people in avoiding physical obstacles in their

path, and finding their way around, using global positioning system (GPS)

technology. A blind person can interact with her personal reading-navigation

systems through two-way voice communication, kind of like a Seeing Eye dog that

reads and talks.

 

Deaf persons--or anyone with a hearing impairment--commonly use portable

speech-to-text listening machines, which display a real-time transcription of

what people are saying. The deaf user has the choice of either reading the

transcribed speech as displayed text, or watching an animated person gesturing

in sign language. These have eliminated the primary communication handicap

associated with deafness. Listening machines can also translate what is being

said into another language in real time, so they are commonly used by hearing

people as well.

 

Computer-controlled orthotic devices have been introduced. These " walking

machines " enable paraplegic persons to walk and climb stairs. The prosthetic

devices are not yet usable by all paraplegic persons, as many physically

disabled persons have dysfunctional joints from years of disuse. However, the

advent of orthotic walking systems is providing more motivation to have these

joints replaced.

 

There is a growing perception that the primary disabilities of blindness,

deafness, and physical impairment do not necessarily impart handicaps. Disabled

persons routinely describe their disabilities as mere inconveniences.

Intelligent technology has become the great leveler.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I always thought the story of the jaipur foot was a nice balance to the race

towards techno fixes, not to say more tech won't make life better, it just

seems that low tech can also fill a gap with thoughtful design... we have so

many great ways of doing things available to us right now if we are

thoughtful about it.

http://www.jaipurlimb.org/promotingappropriatetechnologies.htm

 

Happy (euro) new year,

 

Par

 

-

" " <

 

Tuesday, December 28, 2004 10:07 PM

disability tech

 

 

>

> This is pretty amazing stuff here. I think as healthcare providers, we

> can really help out our patients, who while not completely disabled, may

> have a variety of visual, auditory and mobility problems who may be helped

> by noninvasive technology.

>

> from http://www.kurzweilai.net/meme/frame.html?m=7

> Disabilities

> Persons with disabilities are rapidly overcoming their handicaps through

> the intelligent technology of 2009. Students with reading disabilities

> routinely ameliorate their disability using print-to-speech reading

> systems.

>

> Print-to-speech reading machines for the blind are now very small,

> inexpensive, palm-sized devices that can read books (those that still

> exist in paper form) and other printed documents, and other real-world

> text such as signs and displays. These reading systems are equally adept

> at reading the trillions of electronic documents that are instantly

> available from the ubiquitous wireless worldwide network.

>

> After decades of ineffective attempts, useful navigation devices have been

> introduced that can assist blind people in avoiding physical obstacles in

> their path, and finding their way around, using global positioning system

> (GPS) technology. A blind person can interact with her personal

> reading-navigation systems through two-way voice communication, kind of

> like a Seeing Eye dog that reads and talks.

>

> Deaf persons--or anyone with a hearing impairment--commonly use portable

> speech-to-text listening machines, which display a real-time transcription

> of what people are saying. The deaf user has the choice of either reading

> the transcribed speech as displayed text, or watching an animated person

> gesturing in sign language. These have eliminated the primary

> communication handicap associated with deafness. Listening machines can

> also translate what is being said into another language in real time, so

> they are commonly used by hearing people as well.

>

> Computer-controlled orthotic devices have been introduced. These " walking

> machines " enable paraplegic persons to walk and climb stairs. The

> prosthetic devices are not yet usable by all paraplegic persons, as many

> physically disabled persons have dysfunctional joints from years of

> disuse. However, the advent of orthotic walking systems is providing more

> motivation to have these joints replaced.

>

> There is a growing perception that the primary disabilities of blindness,

> deafness, and physical impairment do not necessarily impart handicaps.

> Disabled persons routinely describe their disabilities as mere

> inconveniences. Intelligent technology has become the great leveler.

>

>

>