Assistive Technologies for Physical and Cognitive Disabilities

by Lau Bee Theng (Editor)

Overview

Research on assistive technologies is undergoing many developments in its effectiveness in helping those with varying impairments. New technologies are constantly being created, researched, and implemented for those who need these technological aides in daily life. Assistive Technologies for Physical and Cognitive Disabilities combines worldwide cases on people with physical and cognitive disabilities with the latest applications in assistive technologies. This reference work brings different researchers together under one title to discuss current findings, developments, and ongoing research in the area of rehabilitative technology. This reference book is of critical use to professionals, researchers, healthcare practitioners, caretakers, academicians, and students.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466673731
Publisher:	IGI Global
Publication date:	12/31/2014
Pages:	342
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.81(d)

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Elliot J Roth, MD (Shirley Ryan AbilityLab)
Description: This is a survey book providing a general overview of various types of assistive technologies that can be used by people with neurological causes of physical and cognitive disabilities.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide an overview of selected innovative technologies that are used by people with disabilities, in particular, "an updated preview of applications and cases worldwide." These are worthwhile objectives, and the authors succeed in meeting them.
Audience: This book is most appropriate for students of rehabilitation sciences, clinical rehabilitation therapy disciplines, and assistive technology who need an introduction to or overview of the field of assistive technology. The authors suggest that the audience ranges "from university researchers and healthcare practitioners to educators, caregivers, parents, and guardians of people with disabilities who are interested in exploring the current trends in...assistive technologies."
Features: The book consists of 13 well-written chapters, each one focusing on a different assistive technology application. The opening chapter on using exoskeletons and electrical stimulation-based assistive technology for people who are disabled by stroke stands out, as does the pediatric robotic chapter. Discussion of the use of telerehabilitation for urinary incontinence is novel and well done, but it is unfortunate that telerehabilitation and telemedicine are not explored in more detail elsewhere in the book. The discussion of "persuasive subtleties of social networking sites" offers a unique and timely perspective of how these "interventions" may be used for people with disabilities. The chapter on "the role of ambient intelligent environments" to detect and track functional decline is particularly thought provoking and well written. The book lacks a slightly deeper discussion of a coherent theme or theoretical framework to help novice readers to better understand the usefulness and applications of assistive technology devices. A strength of the chapters is that they are clearly written and well referenced. What some of them may lack in depth of technical detail, they compensate for with clarity of writing. Figures are not plentiful, but diagrams, photos, and tables are useful.
Assessment: There is a large and growing number of well-written books on the topic of assistive technology. The chapters in this one describe several unique technology applications.

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