Meeko Mitsuko K. Oishi & Ian M. Mitchell 
Design and Use of Assistive Technology 
Social, Technical, Ethical, and Economic Challenges

Design and Use of Assistive Technology assesses major hurdles in the design and use of assistive technologies, while also providing guidelines and recommendations to improve these technologies. This volume takes an interdisciplinary approach to solving the major issues surrounding designing and using assistive technologies for the physically impaired by blending engineering, computer science and medicine. The most difficult problems in assistive technologies, such as privacy concerns in data gathering and analysis, inherent heterogeneity of the user population, knowledge transfer of novel technologies and incorporation of the user perspective into the design process are all addressed. The book also: -Presents theories on assistive technology through the lens of fields ranging from engineering and computer science to occupational therapy and neurology -Discusses assistive technologies in a broad scope that presents designs and theories that are universally applicable Design and Use of Assistive Technology features contributions from experts in their subject areas who discuss specific methods and mechanisms to integrate the user’s experience into design and clinical evaluation in order to both create academic outreach through practical service models and improve knowledge transfer.

Table of Content

The User’s Experience.- Better Than New! Ethics for Assistive Technologists.- The Myth of Neutral Technology.- Accessible Technology and Models of Disability.- The Importance of Play: AT for Children with Disabilities.- Need- and Task-Based Design and Evaluation.- Research and Academic Outreach.- Challenges to Effective Evaluation of Assistive Technology.- Community Service in University Curricula.- Providing Innovative Engineering Solutions Between Academia and Industry.- Case Study: An Assistive Technology Ethics Survey.- Development and Commercialization.- The Fast Pace of New Emerging Information and Communication Technologies: The Need for Regulations and Standards.- Small Markets in Assistive Technology: Obstacles and Opportunities.