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Assistive Technology: Global and Local Interest

Simon Wong

DM(OT)

Tai Po Hospital

Contents

• Use of Terms

• Global Interest in AT

• Local Interest in AT

Aids & Gadgets

Assistive Technology

Rehabilitation Technology

What is Assistive Technology?

“Any item, piece of equipment or

product system whether acquired

commercially off the shelf,

modified, or customized that is used

to increase, maintain, or improve

functional capabilities of individuals

with disabilities.”

Cook, 2008

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act IDEA ‘97

(Public Law 105-17)

Legal Definition AT Range

• The AT definitions are flexible and open many possibilities for what the products and services of assistive technology can be.

• They do not imply that assistive technology must include computers, or that it must be expensive, or that it can only be prescribed.

• Assistive technology is essentially a very broad field and may range from the very simple to the very complex

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Health Technology

Robotic Assistive Technology

Any technology could be assistive!

Roger Smith

Global Interest

AT is becoming more and more important!

2015

Marilyn Pattison, President, WFOT

Marilyn Pattison, President, WFOT Marilyn Pattison, President, WFOT

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Marilyn Pattison, President, WFOT Marilyn Pattison, President, WFOT

Marilyn Pattison, President, WFOT

International Collaborations

RESNARehabilitation Engineering and Assistive

Technology Society for North America

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Coalition on Rehabilitation Engineering &

Assistive Technology of Asia (CREATe Asia)

MissionTo promote the advancement and adoption of

Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive

Technology for people in Asia.

Objectives

� A common platform for REAT stakeholders to

share resources, knowledge & experiences

� A healthy ecosystem which eventually lead to cost

effective and more Asian relevant REAT products

� A set of Asian relevant standards for REAT

products

� Collaborations in the research and innovation of

REAT solutions across Asia

CREATe Asia China Disabled Peoples’ Federation AT Centers

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Visits to AT Labs in

University of Toronto

Intelligent Personal Emergency Response

(PERS) and Fall Detection

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The COACH is a prototype of an

intelligent supportive environment

being developed to assist people

with dementia complete ADLs with

less dependence on a caregiver,

representing one of the first

clinically tested supportive devices

to use artificial intelligence

techniques.

Cognitive Orthosis for Assisting with

aCtivites in the Home – COACH

This is a context-aware smart home system

that will autonomously monitor the

physiology and physical activity of seniors

without any conscious effort from the users.

This novel approach will be accomplished by

embedding passive sensors into the home and

commonly-found objects and furniture,

eliminating many of the limitations that exist

with current home-based tele-monitoring

technologies.

Autonomous and Unobtrusive Monitoring of the

Physiology and Physical Activity

of Seniors with Heart Failure

This massive underground lab features the world’s first

hydraulic motion simulator that can mimic everyday

environmental challenges faced by older people and those with

disabling injury or illness. Using a multitude of customizable

testing environments, researchers are able to recreate conditions

such as ice and snow, different terrain and slopes. This allows

researchers to safely and accurately measure the difficulties

encountered in the real world.

Challenging Environment

Assessment Lab (CEAL)

Aging Gracefully across Environments using technology

to support Wellness, Engagement, and Long Life

Local Interest

Our Teachers

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80s 80s

80s 90s Commercially available

10s Commercial available & general market70s

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80s 80s

70s 80s

80s

Bi-Manu-Track

Armeo

00s

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IREX

Play Motion

00s

00sTailor-made VR Program

70s

70s

Cut-out Cushion

U-Shaped

Rehabilitation Engineering

80s

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90s 90s

Wheelchairs & Accessories

90s

Pressure Mapping

Talley

Pressure

Monitor

Tekscan90s

POP Mold

Bean Bag

Foam-in-Place

Cushion

90s 00s

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New Inspirations

OT and 3D Printing

Finger Splint using 3D Printing Hinges using 3D Printing

Designed by Mr. Patrick Chang

Hinges using 3D Printing

Designed by Mr. Patrick Chang

Adapted Chopsticks Holder using 3D Printing

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Writing Aid using 3D Printing Other ADL Aids

GrOpener is the creation of Mark Manger, an Applied Artist from Denver,

Colorado. Inspired by the stick & screw openers Mark encountered in Africa in

the 1990′s, the GrOpener uses the same leverage principle, but in a form that

allows a bottle to be opened through the act of grabbing it.

https://www.thingiverse.com/make:151614

Other Design & Commercial Products

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Assistive Technology

Collaboration among stakeholders in

Industry, Academics, Research and Clinical

Conclusion

� Terms becomes vague in AT

� AT has great market

� WHO GATE Project

� International Collaborations

� Local Development of AT in OT

� Application of ICT in AT

Thank You