We live in a time when technology is transforming the world. With the globe growing ever smaller through advances in the internet and the latest telecommunications systems, through to tackling the biggest issues of today, like climate change and world hunger.
For people with disabilities, technology is transforming their lives by granting them greater freedom and improving their quality of life through a constant drive towards new and exciting innovations.
Harnessing the power of progress
The impact of technology for people with disabilities has been massive in recent years and as the march of progress continues, here we examine some of the latest innovations paving the way for even greater freedoms moving forward.
From taking existing technologies and making them suitable for use for individuals with disabilities, to providing new ways to help people become more independent, there are some amazing advancements being made right now, including:
1. DynaVox EyeMax System
Designed for individuals with mobility impairments such as paralysis, cerebral palsy and stroke victims, the DynaVox EyeMax System uses sophisticated eye tracking technology to make verbal speech possible.
Users are able to interact with an on-screen keyboard that tracks words and phrases simply by looking at them, which is then translated into spoken text via the device's text-to-speech program.
2. iBot Stair-Climbing Wheelchair
Inventor of the Segway Dean Kamen has expanded this technology to help wheelchair users become more mobile.
The iBot Stair-Climbing Wheelchair incorporates advanced gyroscopics to automatically balance the user on two pairs of rear wheels, making it easier to traverse stairs and other obstacles without help.
3. Smart Specs
A team at Oxford University has developed a new technology called Smart Specs that could revolutionize how individuals with visual impairments are able to perceive the world around them.
The Smart Specs team found that 90 percent of individuals who are blind retain some degree of light perception, so the glasses were designed accentuate the contrast between light and dark to create a visible spectrum that delivers real-time images to the wearer.
4. dbGlove
Developed by Italian inventor Nicholas Caporusso, the dbGlove enables individuals with visual and hearing impairments to interact with computers and smartphones through movements of their hand.
By using the tactical alphabet - by pressing or pinching different parts of the hand to represents different letters - the glove converts this input into electronic data, while actuators in the glove give a sensory response to the user.
Technology paving the way to work for people with disabilities
As we've seen, there are some truly fantastic innovations currently taking place in the realm of technology to support individuals with disabilities, meaning more people are able to lead more productive lives.
At Getting Hired, we connect employers with a diverse community of job seekers with disabilities and provide access to talented individuals that can enhance your workforce and operations.
You can find out more about engaging with this vibrant community by visiting our website!
