INTEGRATING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES - CURRENT PRACTICES AND FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

Many people with multiple impairments need to use a powered wheelchair , voice output communication aid, environmental control, and access in formation technology. Integrated and mounting such assistive devices o n a powered wheelchair can be time-consuming, expensive and result in compromised performance. This paper offers a concept of assistive devi ce integration, based around a continuum ranging from wholly discrete systems to fully integrated systems. Using practical examples, advanta ges and disadvantages of different approaches to integration along thi s continuum are identified, particularly with regard to control charac teristics of different types of assistive technology. Limitations of c urrent practices and technologies are discussed and measures suggested to enable systems to achieve better integration. Copyright (C) 1996 E lsevier Science Ltd for IPEMB.