Page 303 - Handbook of Electronic Assistive Technology

292 HANDBOOK OF ELECTRONIC ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Foundations of Electronic Assistive Technology and Integrated Systems

EAT emerged in the 1960s through the work of a number of pioneers often in institutions
where a large cohort of individuals with disabilities resided. Early devices would be char-
acterised as single function – they were designed to achieve a specific function based on a
specific control method.
Some early EAT did, however, include ‘additional functions’ with the device as a
2
method of integration. For example, the early POSM environmental controls included a
keyboard-based communication aid without voice output – integrating the main EC func-
tion with communication. The system was only accessible through the use of a ‘suck-puff’
mouth switch. Maling and Clarkson, inventers of the early versions of EAT EC systems,
described the system as:

The third line of the indicator entitled “Com.” stands for Communications and is again
obtained by maintaining suction until the third panel is illuminated. But now there is
a choice between telephone and typewriter and this choice is made by giving sustained
pressure until either of these two panels becomes illuminated: Release of the pressure at
either of the panels obtains the particular function.
Maling and Clarkson (1963)

Vanderheiden (2002) provides an excellent history of EC, early augmentative and
alternative communication (AAC) and computer access development, which gives con-
text to the recent developments. ‘What we found was that most of the early interface
technologies first appeared in Europe. They took the form of either environmental con-
trol systems or special systems to control a typewriter. Relays and solenoids were used
to control power for appliances or to activate the keys on keyboards. Stepping relays and
lights were used to create scanning and encoding selection mechanisms’ (Vanderheiden,
2002, p. 3).
EAT devices continued to evolve in design with powered wheelchairs, communication
aids and ECs developing into recognisable technologies and addressing discrete areas of
human function: mobility, communication and control or manipulation.

Computer Accessibility
The field of computer accessibility was pioneered in the late 1980 and 1990s in the main
by the TRACE centre. Vanderheiden and Lee (1988) successfully promoted the adoption of
computer accessibility features in Microsoft Windows and other operating systems. This
work improved the accessibility of PCs to a wider range of individuals and initiated the
field of computer accessibility through the development of a ‘co-operative industry reha-
bilitation group’ (Vanderheiden and Lee, 1988).

2 Sold by the company that has now become Possum Ltd: www.possum.co.uk/about-us/.