Faculty Collaboration Database

Assistive technology products: a position paper from the first global research, innovation, and education on assistive technology (GREAT) summit. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 2018 Jul;13(5):473-485

Date

06/07/2018

Pubmed ID

29873268

DOI

10.1080/17483107.2018.1473895

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85048059898 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   145 Citations

Abstract

This paper is based on work from the Global Research, Innovation, and Education on Assistive Technology (GREAT) Summit that was coordinated by WHO's Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE). The purpose of this paper is to describe the needs and opportunities embedded in the assistive product lifecycle as well as issues relating to the various stages of assistive product mobilization worldwide. The paper discusses assistive technology product terminology and the dangers of focusing on products outside the context and rolling out products without a plan. Additionally, the paper reviews concepts and issues around technology transfer, particularly in relation to meeting global needs and among countries with limited resources. Several opportunities are highlighted including technology advancement and the world nearing a state of readiness through a developing capacity of nations across the world to successfully adopt and support the assistive technology products and applications. The paper is optimistic about the future of assistive technology products reaching the people that can use it the most and the excitement across large and small nations in increasing their own capacities for implementing assistive technology. This is expressed as hope in future students as they innovate and in modern engineering that will enable assistive technology to pervade all corners of current and potential marketplaces. Importantly, the paper poses numerous topics where discussions are just superficially opened. The hope is that a set of sequels will follow to continue this critical dialog. Implications for Rehabilitation Successful assistive technology product interventions are complex and include much more than the simple selection of the right product. Assistive technology product use is highly context sensitive in terms of an individual user's environment. The development of assistive technology products is tricky as it must be contextually sensitive to the development environment and market as well. As a field we have much to study and develop around assistive technology product interventions from a global perspective.

Author List

Smith RO, Scherer MJ, Cooper R, Bell D, Hobbs DA, Pettersson C, Seymour N, Borg J, Johnson MJ, Lane JP, Sujatha S, Rao P, Obiedat QM, MacLachlan M, Bauer S

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Developing Countries
Equipment Design
Global Health
Health Services Needs and Demand
Humans
Internationality
Marketing of Health Services
Orthopedic Equipment
Self-Help Devices
Technology Transfer