Definition of problems of persons in sheltered care environments

Innovations in health care using aerospace technologies are described. Voice synthesizer and voice recognition technologies were used in developing voice controlled wheel chairs and optacons. Telephone interface modules are also described

M-health review: joining up healthcare in a wireless world

In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to deliver health and social care. This trend is bound to continue as providers (whether public or private) strive to deliver better care to more people under conditions of severe budgetary constraint

Inventory of ATT system requirements for elderly and disabled drivers and travellers

This Inventory of ATT System Requirements for Elderly and Disabled Drivers and Travellers is the product of the TELSCAN project’s Workpackage 3: Identification and Updating of User Requirements of Elderly and Disabled Travellers. It describes the methods and tools used to identify the needs of elderly and disabled (E&D) travellers. The result of this investigation is a summary of the requirements of elderly and disabled travellers using different modes of transport, including private cars, buses/trams, metros/trains, ships and airplanes. It provides a generic user requirements specification which can guide the design of all transport telematics systems. However, it is important to stress that projects should also capture a more detailed definition of user requirements for their specific application area or system

Hearing Loss in Older Adults: Exploring Occupational Therapy’s Role

A quarter of older adults between 65-74 years old and half over the age of 75 have hearing loss (HL). HL can increase the risk for dementia, falls, depression, and hospitalization and is associated with decreased engagement in ADLs, IADLs, and leisure activities. Older adults with symptoms of HL often delay seeking treatment up to ten years. While hearing aids seem like a natural solution, less than thirty percent of older adults over the age of 70 have ever used them and long-term compliance and general satisfaction for these devices remains low. The aim of this thesis is to spread understanding about occupational therapy’s role in supporting quality of life, function, and well-being in older adults with HL through alternative, hearing-related interventions including Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT), environmental acoustic modifications, and compensatory techniques. This knowledge was disseminated in three ways. The first method was to instruct occupational therapy students at two universities through curriculum presentation. The second method was to raise awareness and educate occupational therapy practitioners attending the National American Occupational Therapy Association conference by doing a poster presentation. The final method was to inform readers of OT Practice Magazine through a published article. Older adults with HL have unmet needs that can be met in occupational therapy, and yet further research is needed within our profession on this topic. Occupational therapy educational programs can expand to include this aspect of sensory loss in its curriculum. Finally, our professional organizations can facilitate conversation and increase awareness about our unique opportunity to collaborate with other hearing health professionals to meet the needs of older adults with HL

Large-scale educational telecommunications systems for the US: An analysis of educational needs and technological opportunities

The needs to be served, the subsectors in which the system might be used, the technology employed, and the prospects for future utilization of an educational telecommunications delivery system are described and analyzed. Educational subsectors are analyzed with emphasis on the current status and trends within each subsector. Issues which affect future development, and prospects for future use of media, technology, and large-scale electronic delivery within each subsector are included. Information on technology utilization is presented. Educational telecommunications services are identified and grouped into categories: public television and radio, instructional television, computer aided instruction, computer resource sharing, and information resource sharing. Technology based services, their current utilization, and factors which affect future development are stressed. The role of communications satellites in providing these services is discussed. Efforts to analyze and estimate future utilization of large-scale educational telecommunications are summarized. Factors which affect future utilization are identified. Conclusions are presented

Design for Accessibility: A Cultural Administrator's Handbook

Contains a guide for integrating older adults and people with disabilities into all aspects of an arts organization -- from planning and design to marketing and technical assistance

Applications of aerospace technology in the public sector

Current activities of the program to accelerate specific applications of space related technology in major public sector problem areas are summarized for the period 1 June 1971 through 30 November 1971. An overview of NASA technology, technology applications, and supporting activities are presented. Specific technology applications in biomedicine are reported including cancer detection, treatment and research; cardiovascular diseases, diagnosis, and treatment; medical instrumentation; kidney function disorders, treatment, and research; and rehabilitation medicine

Future bathroom: A study of user-centred design principles affecting usability, safety and satisfaction in bathrooms for people living with disabilities

Research and development work relating to assistive technology 2010-11 (Department of Health) Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 197

Content Suggestions for Universally Designed Hearing Aids

Nearly 80% of those who could benefit from wearing a hearing aid choose not to use one. This study, completed by an interdisciplinary team for the Victorian Deaf Society in Melbourne, Australia, addresses the social attitudes and other limitations of hearing aids which result in poor market penetration. Based on the principles of universal design, specific recommendations are presented to improve the function and style of hearing aids. Additionally, the study recommends implementation of hearing assistive devices for the hearing