How is technology affecting disabled lives?

For several years, disabled people have had to rely on somebody else doing the simple tasks we take for granted for them.

13:40 24 October 2017

But thanks to the development of assistive technology, disabled people are no longer stuck in isolation. Disabled people can do things that would have never been possible to do before, from switching on a light to communicating to express themselves. 

 

Mobility scooters are simple to operate and manoeuvre wherever they are required to be used. They are also allowed on public transport and in public spaces, including shopping centres. Find out how else technology is affecting disabled lives for the better below. 

Technology has improved the lives of disabled people for good. Voice recognition technology has already helped a wide variety of people. Not only is it great for anyone that finds typing difficult or impossible to do, but it reduces the risk of developing RSI – Repetitive Strain injury. It is also a great aid for people with dyslexia, to improve sentence structure and spelling. 

 

To put it simply, voice recognition software helps make working a mobile easier, boosting productivity, since a large majority of people are able to talk faster than they can type.

 

Thanks to the improved portability and affordability of digital tablets and similar devices, an increasing number of disabled people are able to use them as an assistive aid for speech and language barriers alike. Apps such as Speak for Yourself, designed by two speech language pathologists, allows therapists to work alongside disabled individuals to teach them the most frequently used words in communication. 

 

Voice activated or voice recognition applications have become a popular concept amongst children that has developed massively in recent years. Those that have a disability are able to use voice control to navigate smartphones with the likes of Nuance. Nuance is a voice control system that has allowed people across the world to benefit from speech-to-text technology. This has allowed both students and adults with a disability to complete tasks more effectively. It helps them express themselves without the fear in the back of their mind having errors picked up by someone else, which they may find an embarrassing affair. 

 

Apples advanced assistive touch technology allows people with motor control problems to use their iPhone or iPad in a different way. Instead of having to pinch the screen to zoom in and adjust the devices volume used the site buttons, users can follow an on screen guide to do these actions.

 

Google’s driverless cars hold a great amount of potential in the assistive technology industry. Not only can these cars provide people with disabilities much wanted independence, but ensures safety for the visually impaired and those who are unable to operate a vehicle because of the severity of their disability. 

 

Technology is helping disabled people reach their full potential. There are a number of ways advanced technology has been able to embrace people’s disabilities and has provided a choice to suit everyone so they can achieve their goals.