Page 301 - Handbook of Electronic Assistive Technology

290 HANDBOOK OF ELECTRONIC ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Overview

A simple definition of integration of assistive technology (AT) would be where a user is
able to access more than one function from a single control (access method). However,
this definition would miss the complexities and subtleties of modern and future assistive
systems and their interaction with mainstream computing and technology. Integration
goes to the heart of the role of AT, its role in empowering individuals, ‘raising the floor’
to societal access and in providing access to technology. Integrated AT also strikes at the
heart of discussions about the role of AT and the balance between providing adapta-
tions to allow access to technology versus requiring mainstream technology to become
accessible.
Traditional modes of integration provided individuals with physical disabilities the
ability to control two or more assistive devices, and each assistive device had a specific
role – such as communication aid or environmental control (EC). These modes of integra-
tion still have their place in providing simplified and concrete interfaces to specific func-
tions for some individuals.
‘Mainstream’ technology is designed to predominantly meet the needs of those in a
population without disabilities, a process which has been described in design as the 95%
rule (Norman, 1988). This technology has, however, provided significant benefits in the
quality of life and potential for participation of individuals with disabilities. The invention
of the internet, for example, is arguably the most significant step in empowering those
with disabilities – and in integrating increasing numbers of ‘output’ functions. Access to
the internet by people with disabilities has in many cases provided the ability to access
services and increasingly environments such as shopping and banking, which may previ-
ously have been inaccessible.
In parallel, developments in electronic assistive technology (EAT) devices have also
increased the range of ways in which people with disabilities can access multiple outputs,
for example, the advent of eye-gaze technology as a way of accessing mainstream comput-
ers (see Chapter 5).
This chapter will present a range of different ways of creating and describing integrated
AT systems and will discuss the development and evolution of this technology. The chap-
ter will also review the possible future direction of integrated AT.

Introduction

One way of defining integrated AT is to consider what nonintegrated technology looks like.
A nonintegrated system would be one where a user applies themselves to controlling a
single device that controls a single appliance; if the individual has a physical disability it is
likely that this may be the only device that they are able to control. Imagine if your move-
ments were restricted such that you were only able to use your TV remote control or your