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    Assistive technology products: a position paper from the first global research, innovation, and education on assistive technology (GREAT) summit


    Smith, Roger and Scherer, Marcia and Cooper, Rory and Bell, Diane and Hobbs, David A and Pettersson, Cecilia and Seymour, Nicky and Borg, Johan and Johnson, Michelle J and Lane, Joseph P and Sujatha, S and Rao, PVM and Obiedat, Qussai M and Maclachlan, Malcolm and Bauer, Stephen (2018) Assistive technology products: a position paper from the first global research, innovation, and education on assistive technology (GREAT) summit. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 13 (5). pp. 473-485. ISSN 1748-3107

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    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.

    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: Assistive technology; products; global; technology transfer; worldwide;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
    Item ID: 13231
    Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2018.1473895
    Depositing User: Malcolm MacLachlan
    Date Deposited: 15 Sep 2020 08:51
    Journal or Publication Title: Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology
    Publisher: Taylor & Francis
    Refereed: Yes
    URI:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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