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Assistive Technologies for People with Disabilities Part II: Current and Emerging Technologies Assistive technologies for people with disabilities Part II: Current and emerging technologies STUDY Science and Technology Options Assessment EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service Scientific Foresight Unit (STOA) PE 603.218 Assistive technologies for people with disabilities Part II: Current and emerging technologies Study IP/G/STOA/FWC/2013-001/LOT 6/C3 January 2018 Abstract This report focuses on Assistive Technology (AT) for three specific conditions of disability: 1) blindness and visual impairment; 2) deafness and auditory impairment; 3) autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These three groups of disability affect different body organs and functions, and have very different impacts on human activities and social participation. Yet, they have also two important features in common: 1) they all affect (also) the sensory system, and 2) they are not (always) immediately apparent. We have carried out a comprehensive inventory and analysis of ATs for these three groups of disability. The main outcomes of our research are: 1) ATs for blindness and visual impairment far outnumber other ATs. 2) The traditional dichotomy between low- and high-tech holds. Yet, it is evident that there is a vast area of medium-tech devices. Interestingly, technologies in this area tend to differ very little from mainstream technology. In the longer term, one could even imagine that the distinction between non-assistive and assistive technology will fade away. 3) Most ATs aim at restoring the autonomy of disabled persons. The trend towards autonomy can have an important impact upon human rights. Yet, there is also a risk that risk that autonomy could turn into isolation and social indifference. 4) There is an increasing trend towards convergence between AT and prosthetics. The border between AT and augmentation technology risks becomes blurred, posing a myriad of legal, ethical and social issues. PE 603.218 STOA - Science and Technology Options Assessment The STOA project 'Assistive technologies for the inclusion of people with disabilities in society, education and jobs' was requested by the European Parliament's Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) Panel. It was carried out by the European Technology Assessment Group (ETAG), led by the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (ITAS/KIT) and including Fraunhofer ISI, The Institute of Technology Assessment (ITA) and Responsible Technology (RT), and managed by the Scientific Foresight Unit (STOA) within the Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services (DG EPRS) of the European Parliament. AUTHORS Linda Nierling, Maria João Maia, Leonhard Hennen and Gregor Wolbring (ITAS/KIT) Tanja Bratan and Piret Kukk (Fraunhofer ISI) Johann Čas, Leo Capari, and Jaro Krieger-Lamina (ITA) Emilio Mordini (RT) STOA ADMINISTRATOR RESPONSIBLE Philip Boucher Scientific Foresight Unit (STOA) Directorate for Impact Assessment and European Added Value Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services European Parliament, Rue Wiertz 60, B-1047 Brussels E-mail: [email protected] LINGUISTIC VERSION Original: EN ABOUT THE PUBLISHER To contact STOA or to subscribe to its newsletter please write to: [email protected] This document is available on the Internet at: http://www.ep.europa.eu/stoa/ Manuscript completed in December 2017 Brussels, © European Union, 2018 DISCLAIMER This document is prepared for, and addressed to, the Members and staff of the European Parliament as background material to assist them in their parliamentary work. The content of the document is the sole responsibility of its author(s) and any opinions expressed herein should not be taken to represent an official position of the Parliament. Reproduction and translation for non-commercial purposes are authorised, provided the source is acknowledged and the European Parliament is given prior notice and sent a copy. PE 603.218 ISBN 978-92-846-2355-6 doi: 10.2861/567013 QA-06-17-413-EN-N 2 Assisstive technologies for people with disabilities Table of Contents List of tables .......................................................................................................................................................... 5 List of boxes .......................................................................................................................................................... 5 List of figures ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 Executive summary ............................................................................................................................................. 7 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 11 2. Disability framework ................................................................................................................................... 11 2.1. Definition .............................................................................................................................................. 11 2.2. Classifications ....................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.1. Disability .......................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.2. Impairment ...................................................................................................................................... 13 2.2.3. ISO classification of assistive products ........................................................................................ 14 3. Overview of the three groups of disability ............................................................................................... 15 3.1. Blindness and visual impairment ...................................................................................................... 15 3.1.1. Definitions ....................................................................................................................................... 15 3.1.2. Functions affected, activity limitations and participation restrictions .................................... 16 3.1.3. Cultural considerations ................................................................................................................. 17 3.2. Deafness and hearing impairment ..................................................................................................... 17 3.2.1. Definitions ....................................................................................................................................... 17 3.2.2. Functions affected, activity limitations and participation restrictions .................................... 18 3.2.3. Cultural considerations ................................................................................................................. 18 3.3. Autism spectrum disorders ................................................................................................................ 19 3.3.1. Definitions ....................................................................................................................................... 19 3.3.2. Functions affected, activity limitations and participation restrictions .................................... 20 3.3.3. Cultural considerations ................................................................................................................. 21 4. Common features shared by the three groups of disability ................................................................... 22 4.1.1. The sensory system in blindness and visual impairment, deafness and hearing impairment, and autism spectrum disorders .................................................................................................... 23 4.1.2. Blindness and visual impairment, deafness and hearing impairment, and autism spectrum disorders as invisible disability .................................................................................................... 23 5. Methodology ................................................................................................................................................. 25 5.1. Grey literature and technology database .......................................................................................... 25 5.2. Scientific papers and Wikipedia corpus............................................................................................ 25 5.3. Search criteria ....................................................................................................................................... 25 5.4. The analytical grid ............................................................................................................................... 25 6. Assistive technology .................................................................................................................................... 27 6.1. AT for blindness and visual impairment .......................................................................................... 27 3 STOA - Science and Technology Options Assessment 6.1.1. Haptic aids....................................................................................................................................... 27 6.1.2. Travelling aids ...............................................................................................................................
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