Page 475 - Biomedical Engineering and Design Handbook Volume 2, Applications

TECHNOLOGY AND DISABILITIES 453

the user to press a switch when the desired number to be dialled is on the display. By repeating this
process, any phone number can be entered and then sent through the standard telephone electronics
for automatic dialling. Since many persons with disabilities respond slowly, all practical systems use
stored numbers and automatic dialling. Another unique feature is the inclusion of a Help or
Emergency phone number that can be dialled quickly. Most systems have a capacity of 50 to 100 stored
numbers. Some telephones are IR-controlled, and they can be included with EADLs that learn device
codes.

15.6 FUTURE TRENDS

The editors of PC Magazine identified 10 trends that are likely to have a profound impact on assistive
technology design and application over the first 10 years of the twenty-first century (Miller et al.,
1999). One prediction is that computers will have more human attributes such as reacting to spoken
words (using ASR) or hand-written instructions. In general, the emphasis is on making the user inter-
face more “friendly.” Telephone access to the Internet via ASR is already available. ASR will continue
to improve, but a major challenge will continue to exist for people who have unintelligible (dysarthric)
speech. Current ASR systems do not provide good results for this population, and this is clearly an
area in which assistive technologies must be developed to allow persons with speech disabilities to
access the new user interfaces. Similar problems could occur for individuals who have poor fine
motor control if user interfaces require recognition of handwriting.
Changes in the nature of networks are occurring that have the potential to benefit those who have
disabilities. Existing networks are expanding into home, work, and community environments,
providing the capability for unique and powerful connections. For example, automobile networks
will be connected to toll booths and automated fuel pumps, reducing the need for physical manipu-
lation and facilitating payment. They will also make assisted driving possible, with a potential benefit
to persons with disabilities. Wireless networks provide connectivity as a function of local resources,
not existing hard-wired communications providers. This offers the opportunity for people with
disabilities to use their assistive technologies to connect to the network.
Creating an accessible environment for ICT is referred to as universal design (Emiliani, 2006).
The goal of universal design is to have an easily adaptable environment based on embedded intelli-
gence. The overall goal is to have access to information involving communities of users with a wide
range of motor, sensory, and cognitive skills. To ensure that this connectivity is possible, rehabilita-
tion engineers must also design assistive technologies that keep pace with constant changes in the
design of network configurations where universal design is not feasible.
A major part of universal design is to increase the “embedded intelligence” of the Internet. People
with disabilities will be able to download many applications from the Internet. A user will be able to
store their customized programs on the network and download them as needed from any remote
location. Applications such as hand- or fingerprint recognition built into a door knob will recognize
the owner and avoid the necessity of manipulating a key. Because of the need for very small keyboards
and more and more functions, embedded automatic speech recognition is being developed for PDAs
(Kumagai, 2004). This feature could be very useful to individuals who have limited hand function or
for those who cannot see the keyboard to make entries. Embedded information networks allow train-
able hearing aids to adjust to changing noise levels in the environment automatically. For people who
are blind, downloading a talking book program into a cell phone can provide access to digital
libraries. Outputs in speech or enlarged visual displays can be added as needed by the user. A blind
person could obtain a verbal description of a scene by using a built-in camera and network access
and linking to online volunteers who provide descriptions of images. These applications will depend
on the increasing application of universal design in information technology products such as ATMs,
cell phones, vending machines, and other systems that are encountered on a daily basis.
In the future, appliances from watches to dishwashers will have embedded intelligence, making
it possible to network them within a home and to control them remotely. For example, a meal can be