It has been 13 hectic weeks and once again, the semester is coming to a close. Definitely too soon and I would miss all the learning and new insights i gain from every lesson. Although this course was pretty heavy in terms of the sheer number of assignments and thoroughly lengthy readings each week, the knowledge and new perspectives which I have gleaned through the course materials and class discussions were undoubtedly invaluable.
As the course comes to an end, I am reminded once more of Yali's question, which was put to us at the very beginning and had resounded in the back of our minds throughout the progress of the course - "Why do White men have so much cargo, while (the) black men have so little?"
Even after going through the entirety of the course materials, this remains a difficult, multi-faceted and in some ways controversial question to answer.
One could attribute it all to luck, after all the first of civilizations began in the fertile crescent and quickly spread to the Nile Valley and various parts of Afroeurasia, with the rise of farming villages and a shift in efforts towards agriculture, away from hunting-gathering. This would have freed up time and efforts of the early settlers for innovation. It was only much later that the Americas became colonized and the American/French/Industrial Revolutions followed. It seems intuitive to think that people of Africa, having been of such close proximity to the first civilisations, would have caught on the bandwagon of subsequent industrialisation and development trajectories. However, it was the Americas and Europe which led revolutionary growth and began building up their "cargo". One could say that the Americans and Europeans just "got lucky" that their countries were the first to industrialize and the colonial masters, predominantly white people, were able reap and build on these developments.
Perhaps more convincingly, one could attribute the successes of the Western countries to informed planning and change management and foresight. Just as the Video on "Who Moved My Cheese?" demonstrates, it is imperative that we be sensitive to change and prepare ourselves to be ready to receive and benefit from the change, in order to achieve progress and remain viable in today's fast-evolving world. As the video summarizes, some of the key concepts of change management are: to be constantly aware of situational developments, where one stands in relation to these developments, to actively seek out new "directions" in order to "find new cheese" and the need to be willing to let go of old, unworkable ideas in order to realize improved innovations ("old beliefs do not lead you to new cheese"). Perhaps the early colonial masters of the Americas and Europe were guided by these mindsets in pursuing development of their settlements and were thus able to attain the successes that they enjoy today.
From a hunter-gathering species, mankind has progressed to agriculture and later into an age of industrial revolution. Today, the Internet and Communications Technology and Knowledge age is upon us. In lesson 5, we discussed about the gains in productivity which we have reaped throughout the stages of our evolution - there was a gain in productivity of about 25 times when mankind shifted its efforts and focus from hunting and gathering to agriculture; there was also similarly a 25 times increase in productivity when mankind later moved into the industrial age; currently, the productivity gains that we are reaping from an ICT/knowledge revolution that is unfolding around us is only 5 times. There is great promise for more - the potential of ICT is tremendous and it is widely agreed that we are only limited insofar as the extent of our imagination in the application of this technology.
However, countries that will be able to reap the greatest benefits from these technological advancements will inevitably be those with the sufficient resources, institutions and capital outlay to fully exploit these new technology offerings. Most likely, these people would comprise the "white people" referred to by Yali. The "black people" of his hometown and in other impoverished regions of the world, however, will not have the similar resource capacities which allows them to partake in this new technology age as much as the White people are able to. Consequently, this is likely to widen the discrepancy in the amount of cargo the White people possess in comparison to that possessed by Yali's people.
Throughout the course, there was also substantial emphasis on the concept of sustainability and its implications for development. While clean and renewable technology the likes of solar power and wind power have great potential to transform our current unsustainable energy paradigm, more innovative and novel solutions are also being developed which would contribute towards greater energy-efficiency and a more sustainable way of living, going forward. The latter innovations include brilliant concepts such as underwater living and hempcrete as an alternative building material - as was covered in thorough detail by Rebekah's group in their presentation on Futuristic Buildings.
Although invariably, such a change in the way we live and conduct our daily activities is likely going to be an uncomfortable experience for many - given its destructive nature, wherein old ideas/mindsets/attitudes/habits have to be transformed - I believe that it is a necessary process. There is no great progress without some form of "pain", this "pain" and discomfort is necessary if one were to break out of one's outdated and unworkable mould of doing things and achieve progress for the better. Hence, although there may be many discomfitting implications of rapidly moving towards sustainability, as the class has discussed - such as inconvenience in making the switch in energy generation and reliance as well as financial constraints faced by some countries in moving towards clean energy generation - this is the necessary path which we ought to pursue, in order to ensure the sustainability of this Earth for the benefit of our succeeding generations.
All in all, the course Technology and World Change has indeed broaden my perspective and exposed me to a myriad of interesting topics as well as the controversies surrounding each. I have enjoyed myself in this course, thanks in no small part to the lively class discussions and several humorous individuals in class.
I particularly enjoyed the group and individual presentations as that was when I got to learn about the application of concepts to concrete situations. The coverage by each group was also extensive and the presentations all really engaging and thought-provoking. Good job on everyone!
Grace's TWC Blog 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Lesson 10: Technology Assessment and Forecasting
Brief Overview/Summary
Today’s
topic was about Technology Assessment and Forecasting – with the aim of
developing a framework for understanding what is to come next.
As
usual, Prof began the lesson with a few quotes:
The
first was by Charles Kettering and he says: “My interest is in the future
because I am going to spend the rest of my life there”. The second was an
African Proverb and it states: “Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for
it today”.
My
interpretation of these two quotes is that the future is inevitable; we will
all have to move forward, whether we want to or not. Thus, it would be hugely
beneficial if one were prepared for what is to come, rather than be blissfully
ignorant and caught off guard when it happens.
Prof
also screened a short promotional video produced by Siemens about some of the
megatrends in the world. I thought the video was really useful in giving a
broad overview of what to expect in the near future and was rather accurate in
pinpointing the various megatrends. The video highlighted 2 major changes to
expect in the future – urbanisation and demographic changes. These 2 megatrends
could be largely attributed to an increasing move by people from rural to urban
places of living. The video also identified some of the impacts that these 2
major trends are likely to have on society: greater need for control and
security; growing demand for quality healthcare; increasing scarcity of natural
resources; increasing importance of mobility as a factor for improving the
quality of life; and the need for sustainable infrastructure.
It is
important for businesses and policymakers to keep in mind these likely impacts
in drawing up strategic plans for the future in order to be well placed to
manage these challenges.
Interesting observations and points
Technology
forecasting is the assessment of a variety of technologies and making
predictions about how they are likely to develop over time.
Technology
assessment is looking at a particular technology and making predictions about
how it is likely to impact the functioning of particular businesses or a
particular organisation. The utility of technology assessment is more tailored
to individual demands and hence more specific in focus.
Some of
the drivers identified for technology assessment and forecasting include:
1. Exponential growth in the range
of new technologies with potential world changing significance
2. The need to gain an understanding
of what kinds of changes a new technology innovation might bring – in economic,
social, ethical/legal, environmental and other terms
3. The need to prioritize in
deciding whether and when to invest in research and development of new
innovations and technologies
4. The need to prioritize, given
limited resources, on whether and when to implement and use new innovations and
technologies (for instance to decide what kind of infrastructure to implement
into our society) – this is especially pertinent for developing countries
Another
video that was screened – “Tracking the Future – Global Trends” which I felt
was especially insightful in identifying several global trends that are to
characterise the future. These trends include: a faster and more frugal world;
a world that is becoming increasingly urbanised with more people moving into
urban cities; the emergence of new tribes in the world – new groups of people
with new interests and commonalities (e.g. the rise of the internet
generation); the world becoming increasingly universal; changes which the world
witnesses are constantly radical; and emerging ethical considerations.
It is
also important to note that power is becoming increasingly diffused among the
different societies and people in the world – it is now no longer considered to
be concentrated in the hands of a few, traditionally regarded powerhouses such
as the United States and the European Union. The world today sees the rise of
new powers and emerging economies with huge potential for growth – such as the
BRIC countries. Prof also suggested the interesting idea that the G20 countries
might actually be overtaking the G8, which is an apt exemplification of how
power is becoming more diffused.
Prof
also touched on the importance of foresight and 2 observations which stood out
to me were:
1. The need to analyse supply and
demand trends, especially in relation to the labour force. It is essential to
prepare the labour force today for the challenges that are likely to be
demanded of it in the future, so as to ensure the adequacy of the society’s
manpower
2. The importance of public engagement
– it is necessary that there be a sharing of findings and discussions with the
public on world trends and present issues in order for stakeholders to be able
to develop feasible solutions and ideas for progress. An example of this can be
seen in Siemens video productions for public viewing.
As for
the readings for this week, I found reading 2 – “Futurology: In Perspective” –
to be a rather interesting and enjoyable read. It discusses what is meant by
the study of futurology – essentially the systematic forecasting of the future,
especially drawing insight from present trends in society. The article explores
the evolution of futurology as a discipline with fair amount of scientific
rigour – it acknowledges that while futurology may not be an exact science, futurologist attempt
to employ as scientific a research method as possible. They do not claim their
work to be definitive of what the future holds but rather see their work as a
directional guide. The article attempts to distinguish between science-fiction
and futurology and discusses the relevance of futurology in the context of fast
changing technological changes. It concludes that futurology is not about
predicting the future alone, but about taking proactive positions towards
creating desirable outcomes in the future.
Key Take-Away Points
It is
important to be aware of the implications and future consequences of our actions
today. For instance, in considering our developmental plans and our use of
energy, we also have to take into account the impacts of our choices on the
environment.
The
importance of strategic planning and foresight, as is emphasized throughout this
topic, to enable relevant stakeholders to keep up with rapid technological advancements
in today’s world so as to remain viable.
Personal Ratings
I felt
that the lesson was relatable and practical. Indeed, the future is inevitable
and I couldn’t agree more that it is better to expect and be prepared for what
is to come rather than plod on ignorantly and be caught off guard when radical
change happens. However, I felt that the lesson was a little technical and dry,
especially when the different foresight methodologies were discussed.
I would rate
this lesson 7/10.
Session 9: Emerging and Future Technologies
Brief Overview/Summary
Today's lesson was about emerging and future technologies. I found this topic to be especially interesting, if a little technical, as it truly opened my eyes to what exciting promises technological development and innovation holds for the future of mankind.
There are several drivers of emerging and future technologies - unmet market opportunity and need which drives innovative solutions to meet these needs in the form of new research and development; at the other end of the causation spectrum, a driver could also be due to supply outstripping demand - the situation wherein consumers are unaware of a need until they become aware of the existence of the product and are influenced into desiring the product; thirdly, another factor may be attributed to the growing body of scientific knowledge and expanding pool of technical know-how which allows for greater insights to be drawn and subsequently, greater innovation, building on existent ideas.
Interesting Observations and Ideas
Today's lesson was about emerging and future technologies. I found this topic to be especially interesting, if a little technical, as it truly opened my eyes to what exciting promises technological development and innovation holds for the future of mankind.
There are several drivers of emerging and future technologies - unmet market opportunity and need which drives innovative solutions to meet these needs in the form of new research and development; at the other end of the causation spectrum, a driver could also be due to supply outstripping demand - the situation wherein consumers are unaware of a need until they become aware of the existence of the product and are influenced into desiring the product; thirdly, another factor may be attributed to the growing body of scientific knowledge and expanding pool of technical know-how which allows for greater insights to be drawn and subsequently, greater innovation, building on existent ideas.
Interesting Observations and Ideas
Video of
The Perfect Woman:
- Ai Robotics in Japan launched their new creation in June 2008 – an android
called Lisa who is an expert at everything from cooking and cleaning to
administering massage
-
The two men behind the project claimed to have developed a technology
called Recognition Krax System which supposedly gives Lisa “vocal, tactile and
visual recognition”
-
According to Telegraph UK, there were mixed responses to the project:
sceptics are convinced it is either a scam or a promotional tool similar to the
one used for I Robot, which also used a robot ordering website to generate interest;
some have suggested the creation may be art – in the sense of a damning critique
of women’s role in relationship; the wary point out that the technology for
such a robot has yet to be devised
-
Indeed, I would think this particular project tends more to be a scam or
at least an over-exaggeration of the actual capacities of the creation – the robot
that was featured in their promotional appeared more like a wooden actress,
certainly nothing like what one would expect of a “perfect woman”
Video of
Augmented Reality:
-
The video showed how augmented reality could work via the ubiquitous
platform of smartphone devices – how this new technology would augment our “reality”
with a layer of useful information of the object/place, when viewed through the
camera lenses and screens of our smartphones.
-
Augmented reality technology is shown to be cutting-edge technology
which allows for a digitally enhanced view of the real world, connecting the
user with more meaningful content in every day experience. All we would need is
a mobile phone, an attached camera and software on the phone to “bring it all
together”
-
Although a rather nascent technology, augmented reality does look set to
make a significant impact on the consumer market:
o IT research company Gartner
predicts that smartphone and tablet sales will increase to 1.2 billion in 2013
and will top 2 billion by 2015
o According to Juniper Research,
mobile augmented reality apps will generate nearly $300million in revenues and
reach $5.2 billion in 2017
o Hidden Creative revealed a study
which suggested that there is a 135% increase in likelihood that a consumer
will buy a product when viewing an AR version of it, compared with looking at a
still image.
o It has been found that AR has a
positive impact on value perception – a survey found that participants valued
the AR product 33% higher than the non-AR product
Other
interesting new and emerging technologies which Prof explored in class that I
found particularly intriguing were:
-
Biotechnologies
o Technology based on biology –
involves the harnessing of cellular and biomolecular processes to develop
technologies and products that help to improve our lives and the health of our
planet
o Modern biotechnology provides
breakthrough products and technologies to combat debilitating and rare diseases,
reduce our environmental footprint, feed the hungry and allow us to achieve
cleaner and more efficient industrial manufacturing processes, among other utilities.
-
Robotics
o Robotics involves the design, construction,
operation and application of technology in robots
o One common form of robotics is in
prostheses for the disabled – e.g. a bionic limb that substitutes for an organic
one which has been amputated
o Robotics in the form of assistive
technologies has immense potential to transform the lives of the disabled by
allowing them to engage in activities that would have been otherwise impossible
-
Nanotechnologies
o This technology essentially envisages
the manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale
o The potential applications of nanotechnology
are boundless – molecules may be manipulate to form all sorts of shapes and
combined in various forms to build materials with amazing properties such as a
carbon nanotube.
-
Artificial intelligence systems
o One example of AIS technology is in
the form of intelligent wheelchairs – an assistive technology for the disabled.
The intelligent wheelchair has been developed by a number of researcher groups
and is designed to reduce the cognitive and physical burden on the user in
navigating the chair. For instance, one design eliminates the need for the user
to steer the wheelchair – the chair is programmed to travel along
pre-programmed paths between specific destinations, and the user need only
control start and stop functions as well as adjust the speed of travel.
-
Grid computing and new networking technologies
o Grid computing is the linking of
many individual devices, creating a distributed system with massive computational
power that far surpasses the power of a handful of supercomputers
o Grid computing looks set to
change the world in the present – it is not a futuristic technology. Computational
grids offer a degree of resource sharing that is deemed able to far surpass event
the world-wide web and this will not only revolutionise the way in which data
is accessed but also how the data is produced, consumed and stored.
o The Siemens video is an apt and
attractive demonstration of how grid computing has the potential to make our
lives a lot more seamless and convenient
Key Take-Away Points
While new
technology is rapidly emerging and holds the promise of solving the world’s
most pressing challenges related to a vast array of issues – such as water and
food security, energy sustainability and personalized medicines – it first has
to be effectively transferred from the research lab into people’s lives. What this
requires, importantly, is supportive and welcoming public perception of the
technologies, government regulations which are facilitative and critical
investment flows.
Personally,
I found the technology of grid computing to be particularly intriguing and so
did a little more research on it. What I found was that even though this
cutting-edge technology offers significant benefits – in an example I came
across, Hewitt Associates, a global human resource outsourcer, cut the cost of
running a key business application by 90% when it made the switch from
mainframe to a grid; the application now even runs faster and more reliable
than ever – one should still refrain from throwing caution to the wind in
blindly adopting this technology.
It appears that not every application will
benefit from the parallel computing offered by a grid. Other factors that need
to be taken into consideration include: security, resource management, and
managerial politics. Given that grids are still a specialized technology, grid
computing would be most suitable for businesses already using high-performance computing,
such as financial services firms and pharmaceutical companies. There is also
the threat which grid computing poses to intellectual property. As United
Devices’ Kirchoff acknowledges: “high-performance computing traditionally runs
on nodes that are hard to access and tightly controlled. But when you connect
up non-dedicated resources like your salesperson's PC, you have to worry. You
cannot have data flying all over the place that is vulnerable."
Personal ratings
I
particularly enjoyed this topic and would rate the session a 9/10
Lesson 11 - Presentation week 1
Today is
the second last day of the TWC course and is also the first dedicated week of
presentations. 3 groups presented today, including my group which went second. The
first group presented on futuristic buildings, our group presented on clean
energy and the last group presented on nanotechnology.
I found
the first group’s presentation greatly informative and interesting. The group
explored how buildings in the future are likely to develop in a trajectory of
emulating greater environmental consciousness in their designs, such as
buildings underwater, buildings built entirely out of organic solar cells which
can transform the building itself into a powerful energy generator, as well as
buildings constructed out of hempcrete which makes them less susceptible to the
elements. I found the idea of partially underwater structures which consists of
sealed and buoyant living spaces which may be detached from the main structure and
serve as safe havens for residents in the event of tsunamis/typhoons especially
intriguing. The group had even constructed a model of such a building structure
– complete with live fishes. Were such a concept to be practicably translated
to reality, it would be an invaluable contribution to countries which are
especially vulnerable to such natural disasters. Human casualty rates and the
extent of destruction in the event of tsunamis and typhoons would be greatly
reduced and the world would not need to witness similar tragic and helpless
scenes of a disaster aftermaths as that unfolding in the Philippines at present
(the region of Tacloban in the Philippines was completely devastated when a
typhoon made landfall on 8 November 2013).
My group’s
presentation was on clean energy. We covered how the use of energy by mankind
has evolved over history – from the use of firewood for heating and cooking, to
the advent of the steam engine and eventually the discovery of coal and other
hydrocarbons mined from deep in the earth, which we came to rely heavily on to drive
subsequent industrialization goals. Our group also identified the impetus for a
shift to clean and sustainable energies/technology today and explored a few
examples of such energies in detail – e.g. solar power, biomass and hydro-energy.
We then went on to examine case studies of countries which have dabbled in
clean energy technologies to a significant extent and we evaluated their successes
in reducing their carbon footprints. Finally, we covered the implications which
a concerted shift in energy policies towards clean technologies would bring
about and considered the issues that are likely to arise and which need to be
addressed in order that the full benefit of such of such a change is realised
all involved.
The last
group presented on nanotechnology and examined how such a small and seemingly
insignificant entity can in fact have expansive, value-adding applications. Examples
include the use of nanoparticles in the medical field for drug delivery and the
use of nanowires to monitor patient vitals. The latter would save the patient much
time and expense which he would otherwise have to invest in making physical
trips down to the doctor’s. The group then went on to explore the possible
economic, social, environmental and political implications of a widespread use
and innovation of nanotechnology in future. One point I found particularly
intriguing is the potential for nanotechnology to be harnessed in the recycling
of waste materials to regenerate food. The group notes how it may be possible
in future for a machine to be built which takes nanoparticles from waste
material and rearranges them to create new, edible food products. This could
potentially resolve the issue of world hunger by providing a novel source of food
and increasing global food supply. Overall, I found the group’s presentation
informative and energetic. The use of animation graphics on the website also made
the site a visual feast and pleasure to
explore.
I would
rate this lesson a 9/10.
Lesson 12 - Presentation week 2
Today
marks the last lesson of TWC and is also the second class dedicated to presentations.
There were a total of 5 presentations and they covered a broad spectrum of
topics – prosthesis, trans-humanism, sex advertising, food of the future and virtual
reality.
The
first presentation was on prosthesis, with a particular focus on
mind-controlled bionic limbs and state-of-the-art prosthesis that are used by
disabled athletes to enable them to realize their athletic potential and
compete with able-bodied athletes at the most elite levels. Two issues were raised
by the group which I found particularly troubling/interesting. The first – that
bionic limbs which do not leave finger imprints may be used by the ill-willed
to commit serious crimes such as murders. This is a profound and chilling
scenario to contemplate and is a apposite example of how technology may be a
double-edged sword. Although the benefits of such bionic limbs are undoubtedly
extensive and would transform the lives of the disabled, such innovations are
also liable to misuse which could result in devastating consequences. The
second – the group was of the view that disabled athletes who are fitted with
advanced prosthesis are given an unfair competitive advantage over their
able-bodied counterparts and should not be allowed to participate in the same
events as the latter group. The group cited the example of Oscar Pistorius, who
was the first double amputee to compete at the Olympics in 2012. However, what
the group failed to mention was that Oscar Pistorius had not, as one might
expect in the group taking issue with the unfair advantage afforded by athletic
prosthesis, won the event in which he participated in – the 400m race.
Pistorius had come in last in the semi-finals and was booted out of the
competition. Hence, I do not think it accurate to say that disabled athletes
equipped with modern prosthesis which enable them to compete in the same events
as their able-bodied counterparts necessarily have a disproportionate advantage
over athletes relying on their natural limbs. Disproportionate advantage should
not be the basis on which disabled athletes and able-bodied athletes are
completely segregated in events – many disabled athletes dream of competing on
the same level as able-bodied athletes and the fact is that there are a lot
more platforms and opportunities for competition for able-bodied athletes than
there are specially created events for Paralympics. This issue of advantage and
the actual extent that bionic limbs enhance the performance of disabled
athletes should be further investigated before any conclusive assertion should
be made on it and policy implemented in proceeding on such assertions.
The
second group presented on trans-humanism, and some of the material covered
overlapped with the first group. Essentially, the group explored the different
types of assistive technologies which complement and enhance the performance of
daily activities of living of the user – from bionic eyes which help the blind
to regain sight, to brain pacemakers which purportedly could overcome severe
brain damage in patients by awakening them using deep brain electrical stimulation.
All these technologies seem to hold great promise and are indeed intriguing. If
these technologies were to be made widely available and accessible, disability would
become a term of the past.
The
third group presented on the topic of sex advertising – how it came about, how
it has evolved and how it will develop in future, with the advent of new
technologies and introduction of novel platforms on which advertisements may be
taken out. I felt the website created by the group to be rather blatant and
explicit, although the illustrations did thoroughly drive home the points that
the group sought to make – that women were being excessively objectified in
some forms of advertising and how excessively photoshopped advertisements have
impacted how women and men perceive themselves and the ideal body types of both
gender. I felt that the points raised by the group were especially pertinent in
this day and age which witnesses increasing consumption of media and
advertisements that proliferate all around us. Young children and
impressionable youths are increasingly drawing their beliefs and perceptions of
the world from the images and ideas portrayed by the media. The consequences of
this unfolding phenomenon are especially worrying and concrete and urgent
measures should be taken to address them to alleviate the harmful effects of
these consequences. One example as noted by the group, was how certain
advertisements by established clothing retailers which portrayed violence
against women and represented women as deriving pleasure from such violence,
were banned in some countries. I felt that this was a very crucial and sensible
move by the government. In a time when rape is deemed to be a severe criminal
offence in numerous countries, violence against women cannot be tolerated, and
advertisements which, whether intentionally or otherwise, normalised such acts
of violence must not be allowed to register seemingly matter-of-factly in
societal consciousness.
The
fourth group presented essentially on the issue of food security and how it
could be enhanced, especially in countries currently experiencing acute
poverty. The group identified that the main problem was not a quantified lack
of food, but rather, a failure of proportionate distribution of the total amount
of food produced. I completely agree with the group’s proposition and findings.
It is inconceivable to me how there can be so much wastage in developed
countries – expansive quantities of unsold bread thrown away at the end of each
day by bakeries; uneaten food at buffets simply discarded and fresh batches
prepared for the next buffet timings – when there are people who can barely
scrap together one decent meal a day in the poorest countries and there are
millions dying of starvation and malnutrition in the world. The technology and
processes which the group explored as possible promising solutions to resolve
the issue of world hunger spanned a broad spectrum, from harnessing
biotechnology in the production of GM food and in-vitro meat to the use of improved
agricultural technologies and processes to enhance quantity and quality of
yield. I also really enjoyed the interactive and innovative mode of
presentation employed by the group – the group started off their presentation
with a short skit illustrating the subject matter of their presentation – that of
the differing circumstances faced by farmers labouring in rural regions and “farmers”
in developed countries.
The last
presentation was on virtual reality and the group also started off their
presentation with an innovative demonstration of how virtual reality may be
employed in real life. The group presented on 4 fields in which virtual reality
is currently employed – that of medical, transport, military and in the virtual
world. Indeed, the value and potential of this technology is extensive and mankind
is only limited by his imagination. Just consider the utility and benefit of
such virtual simulation in the field of transport and surgery – novices/amateurs
(e.g. fighter jet pilots and surgeons) are allowed to hone their skills to a
level of competence in a harmless and safe environment before they can be
deemed certified to operate in actual, potentially high-risk situations. This
greatly reduces the likelihood of casualty rates and moderates the steepness of
learning curves, enabling improved quality of professional skill sets.
I would
rate this lesson a 10/10 for being the most enjoyable and light-hearted TWC lesson
of the semester. All the groups had put in much thought and effort into their
presentations and incorporated really amusing antics and attempts at
interacting with the class throughout their deliveries. I also learned a lot from
the extensive range of topics covered.
Session 8: Energy and World Change - Past, Present and Future
Brief
overview/summary
Limited non-renewable energy resources
The world is
progressively transitioning from its current unsustainable energy paradigm to a
future powered by entirely renewable and clean energy supply. Only by making such a transition
will we be able to avoid the very worst impacts of climate change.
The impetuses
for a revolutionary change in mankind’s use of energy are many, of which the following
are perhaps the most pertinent:
Supplies
of cheap, conventional oil and gas are declining while our energy demands
continue to increase. It is clear that our reliance on fossil fuels cannot
continue indefinitely. With the world’s population projected to increase to
over 9 billion over the next 40 years, “business-as-usual” is not an option.
Global warming and climate change
Even if fossil fuel supplies were infinite, we would have another
compelling reason for an urgent switch to renewable energy: climate change.
Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are already affected by water shortages,
crop failures, tropical diseases, flooding and extreme weather events –
conditions that are likely to be made worse by increasing concentrations of
greenhouse gasses in the Earth’s atmosphere. The WHO estimates that climate
change is already causing more than 150,000 deaths a year.
Global warming threatens the fragile balance of our planet’s ecosystems,
and could consign a quarter of all species to extinction. The loss of
ecological services from forests, coral reefs and other ecosystems will also
have huge economic implications.
Environmental
concerns
Energy
companies are increasingly looking to fill the gap with unconventional sources of
oil and gas, such as shale gas, oil from deep water platforms like BP’s
Deepwater Horizon, or the Canadian tar sands. But these come at an
unprecedented cost – and not just in economic terms. Many reserves are located in
some of the world’s most pristine places – such as tropical rainforests and the
Arctic – that are vital for biodiversity and the ecosystem services that we all
depend on, from freshwater to a healthy atmosphere. Extracting them is
difficult and dangerous, and costly to businesses, communities and economies when
things go wrong.
Processing and using unconventional fossil sources produces large
quantities of greenhouse gasses and chemical pollution, and puts unsustainable demands
on our freshwater resources, with severe impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem
services.
The impetus for developing countries
A fifth
of the world’s population today still has no access to reliable electricity –
drastically inhibiting their chances of getting an education and earning a
living, not to mention escape from the vicious cycle of poverty. As energy
prices increase, the world’s poor will continue to be excluded.
At the
same time, more than 2.7 billion people are dependent on traditional bioenergy
(mainly from wood, crop residues and animal dung) as their main source for
cooking and heating fuel. This is often harvested unsustainably, causing soil
erosion and increasing the risk of flooding, not to mention threatening the biodiversity
and adding to greenhouse gas emissions. Traditional stoves also present a
significant health problem – according to World Health Organisation (WHO)
estimates, 2.5 million women and young children die prematurely each year from
inhaling their fumes. With many developing societies becoming increasingly
urban, air quality in cities will decline further.
Finite
and increasingly expensive fossil fuels are not the answer for developing countries.
Instead, renewable energy sources offer the potential to transform the quality
of life and improve the economic prospects of billions.
Reading Notes (interesting observations and
Key Take-Aways)
Reading
2 addressed the
issues in achieving sustainable transportation. Sustainable transportation is
defined as representing the goal of ensuring that that environment, social and
economic considerations are factored into decisions affecting transportation
activity.
The
impacts of transportation on sustainability was shown in a table:
It was
noted that Sustainable planning does not necessary require tradeoffs between
economic, social and environmental objectives, but rather is a matter of
finding strategies that help achieve all of these objectives over the long term
by increasing transportation efficiency.
Whereas
conventional planning proceeds on a concept of linear transport progress, which
envisions newer, faster modes of transport modes displacing older, slower
modes, with the assumption that older modes are unimportant, sustainable
planning envisages a parallel model. That is, a model which assumes that each
mode can be useful and the goal is to create a balanced transport system that
uses each mode for what it does best – this involves improvement (in all
aspects – comfort, speed, safety, cost savings, etc.) to all useful modes.
Several
implications of sustainable transportation were identified:
Decision making:
• Requires a paradigm
shift in the way people think and solve problems – this involves a more
comprehensive analysis of impacts, consideration of a broader range of
solutions and more effective pubic involvement in the planning process
• Whereas conventional
planning reflects reductionist decision making in which problems are assigned
to a specialised organisation with narrowly defined responsibilities (often
what results is the solutions of one agency exacerbates the problems of
another), sustainability suggests that public involvement is increasingly
important.
• Some of the value of
public involvement: decisions may more accurately reflect community values by
giving people more opportunities to affect decisions; contribution to more
equitable transportation decisions through giving disadvantaged groups more
involvement in decisions that affect them; creation of increased public support
for policies which require behaviour changes or sacrifices in a community.
• However, the debate
over how best to improve public involvement and what amount of such involvement
is adequate for sustainability is still ongoing.
• There is the risk of
domination by either professional elite or activist groups representing special
interest in such public involvement
Automobile
dependency:
• Most sustainability
transport planning supports reduced automobile dependency in order to minimise
the economic, social and environmental costs imposed.
• The issues involved
in the debate over automobiles is likely wider than just economic v
environmental – various market distortions have been identified and recognised
as contributing to excessive automobile dependency and vehicle designs that are
more polluting and dangerous than optimal
• The author posits
that reducing automobile dependency will ultimately help to achieve a more
sustainable transport system and reducing market distortions can help to
achieve this objective.
Transportation
equity:
• Lack of guidelines to
assess and evaluate transportation equity
• Equity considerations
can come in two forms – horizontal and vertical equity
• Horizontal equity
suggests that externalities of transportation should be reduced where they are
specifically justified and also that the use of transportation should be appropriately
priced – users ‘should get what they pay for and pay for what they get’
• Vertical equity
implies that access options should improve for people who are economically,
socially and physically disadvantaged
Community
liveability
• Community liveability
is a worthwhile sustainability goal in itself; it also can support other
sustainable objectives such as reducing the need to travel and increasing the
use of public transit
• It addresses local
environmental quality, quality of community interactions and community cohesion
and the ability of the community to satisfy the basic needs of residents
• Given that a high
quality public realm forges community liveability, there is a need to improve
the streetscape through creating opportunities for greater interaction and
introduction of polities to encourage non-motorise transport
Land use
• Policies which
determine the use of land may influence the development of transportation
patterns
• Experts have
concluded that sustainable transportation requires higher-density land use
patterns that accommodate alternative modes; however non-believers argue that
high density development itself imposes costs
The paper concludes by postulate various viable visions to achieving
sustainable transportation:
Technical – reliance on technological innovations to solve specific
sustainability problems, create wealth and increase mobility.
Demand management – involves changing travel behaviour by increasing
traveller choice and through encouraging more economically efficient travel
patterns.
Economic reform – creation of a more optimal transportation market by
reforming transport prices and investment practices.
Alternative modes – provision of alternative modes of transport; mainly
involves improvement to public transit, non-motorised transport, telecommunicating.
Land use/community design changes – changing land use patterns to reduce
travel distances and increase mode choice.
Reading 3 was a 2010 World Energy Council assessment of country-specific energy
and climate policies and their implications for sustainability. It identified
that there were 3 fundamental issues that required to be addressed today:
Security of supply
There is a need to invest in new sources and infrastructure to meet
demand. The recent financial crisis has negatively affected some investment
plans and the recent surge in oil and commodity prices may curb growth.
Environmental
protection and climate change
The energy sector is responsible for 60% of global greenhouse gas
emissions and much of regional and urban air pollution, hence it is clearly on
the front to address climate change. Also, in a time where more people are
moving from rural to urban cities, air quality is a major concern.
Equity
Energy goes in concert with development – there is a need to prevent the
creation or exacerbation of inequalities within and across countries. There is
a need to work towards a sustainable solution which reconciles economic growth,
protection of the environment and greater energy equity among peoples.
Existing concerns include:
Although energy resources are not a major constraint, the issue is with
their uneven distribution across nations and the fact that ensuring energy
supply security will lead to an increase in energy prices.
The energy industry will need to venture further afield, in untapped
areas, and employ ever more sophisticated technologies to tap the remaining
available resources. Concurrently, there is the need to adhere to the highest
standards of safety.
The real shortage today relates to governance. There is a dearth of
effective rule and smart policy frameworks to update our existing energy
policies and ensure the right resources and technologies are available in the
right place, at the right time and at the right price.
Innovation in terms of policies, institutions and governance is just as
important as technological innovation going ahead.
The need for new energy governance has been recognized by Copenhagen, as
evidenced by the shift from top-down approach of Kyoto to bottom-up approach
based on national commitments – in the form of the Copenhagen Accord. The
energy sustainability policy has been put at the centre of the sustainability
debate. The challenge now is to design sound and effective public policies to
deliver the national objectives that have been adopted by more than 80
countries.
Reading 6 was a report from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and discussed
the concept of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2050.
The report cited 10 recommendations for a 100% renewable energy future:
1. Clean energy: promote
only the most efficient products; develop existing and new renewable energy
sources to provide enough clean energy for all by 2050
2. Grids: share and exchange
clean energy through grids and trade, making the best use of sustainable energy
resources in different areas
3. Access: end energy
poverty – provide clean electricity and promote sustainable practices, such as
efficient cook stoves, to everyone in developing countries
4. Money: invest in
renewable, clean energy and energy-efficient products and buildings
5. Food: stop food
waste; choose food that is sourced in an efficient and sustainable way to free
up land for nature, sustainable forestry and biofuel production; everyone has
an equal right to healthy levels of protein in their diet – for this to happen,
wealthier people need to eat less meat.
6. Materials: reduce,
reuse, recycle – to minimize waste and save energy; develop durable materials
and avoid things we don’t need
7. Transport: provide
incentives to encourage greater use of public transport and reduce the
distances people and goods travel; promote electrification whenever possible
and support research into hydrogen and other alternative fuels for shipping and
aviation.
8. Technology: develop
national, bilateral and multilateral action plans to promote R&D in energy
efficiency and renewable energy
9. Sustainability:
develop and enforce strict sustainability criteria that ensure renewable energy
is compatible with environmental and development goals
10. Agreements: support
ambitious climate and energy agreements to provide global guidance and promote
global cooperation on renewable energy and efficiency efforts
Personal ratings
I would rate this session a 9/10.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Individual Paper - Assistive Technology for the Physically Disabled
Assistive Technology for the Physically Disabled[1]
Grace
Tay Lay Ting (grace.tay.2011@law.smu.edu.sg), 3rd Year student, Bachelor of Laws,
Singapore Management University
Executive
summary
This
paper examines how the use of assistive technologies can and have markedly transformed
the lives of the physically disabled. It will explore the trend in assistive
technology development as well as identify the implications which might arise
from the growth of the assistive technology market.
This
paper will focus on two major categories of assistive technology– assistive
technology which enhance mobility and assistive technology which augment
communication. These two categories are chosen as the author believes that the
basic touchstones to a respectable quality of life are essentially the ability
to interact with others and exert control over the external environment.
1 Introduction
"When you have a disability, knowing that you
are not defined by it is the sweetest feeling." – Anne
Wafula Strike (Anne Wafula Strike, 2010)
Born in Kenya, Anne Wafula Strike was struck down
with polio at the age of 2. The debilitating disease left her paralyzed from
the waist down. Fast-forward to the year 2004, Anne became the first Kenyan
wheelchair racer to represent her country at the Athens Paralympics. Today, she
is a British Paralympic wheelchair racer and a Sporting Ambassador.
All her sporting achievements would not have been
possible without the advent of the racing wheelchair. Marvelling over the
empowerment which her wheelchair has granted her, Anne reveals in a clip which
won BBC’s ‘My Story’ competition: “(the) first time I got my racing chair,
which was custom-made for me…I was ecstatic because I could go at speed,
something that I had never been able to do, ever ever in my life”. (Anne Wafula
Strike, 2010)
1.1 Physical
disability
Physical disability is the situation in which the individual’s
voluntary movements are inhibited due to the impairments in his/her skeletal or
neuromuscular systems. Disability can be said to result “when environmental
demands exceed an individual’s mobility resources (and thus restricts his/her)
participation (in the environment)”. (Rachel E. Cowan et al, 2012)
For those who are afflicted with severe disorders
which incapacitate their neuromuscular system, the individual may lose all (or
retain very minimal) control over voluntary muscular movements. In the most
extreme cases, the individual may be said to suffer from “lock in” syndrome,
unable to communicate with the outside world in any way.
1.2 Assistive
Technology
Borrowing from the definition of assistive
technology as codified in the United States Assistive Technology Act 1998, an
assistive technology is any “item, piece of equipment, or product system,
whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to
increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities or individuals with disabilities”.
(Assistive Technology Act, 1998)
Assistive technology is therefore used to augment
the daily activities of living of disabled users.
2 Historical Perspectives
For people with physical disabilities, the advent
of modern assistive technologies have not only changed, but revolutionised the
way they live and learn. The capacities made possible by assistive devices
today allow them to accomplish tasks which would have been unfathomable to
their counterparts years ago.
The history of modern assistive technology does not
go very far back however. According to Suzanne Robitaille (2010), the pioneers
of early assistive technologies are still alive today. Gregg Vanderheiden, who
had developed the Auto-corn in the 1970s, is now a resident professor at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison and is currently working on expanding the
accessibility of the Internet to disabled users.
In the United States, the rise of assistive technology
can traced to the pre-computer era, particularly the aftermath of World War II.
The great number of veterans disabled by war-time wounds posed a worrying
social problem and prompted the US Veterans Administration to launch a
prosthetic and sensory aids program. This was later reinforced by various
initiatives commencing modern research into rehabilitation and assistive
technology. (Suzanne Robitaille, 2010)
Assistive technology has come to be recognised
today as being of immense importance to augmenting the daily activities of
living of the physically disabled. A person with a disability should aim not
necessarily at mere body normality, but instead at life normality.
3 Current Situation
Today, numerous assistive devices exist on the
market to empower people with disability needs ranging from the mild to the
severe. These technologies encompass the low-tech, such as a walking cane or a
conventional manual wheelchair, to something as multifarious and complex as a
bionic limb or brain-computer interface technology.
Some of the most commonly employed assistive
technology devices today include those that are simple to use and minimally
costing, such as the mouth stick and the head wand. The former allows
individuals with no control over his hands to manipulate a stick-like device
using his mouth to type on a computer or control a trackball mouse to navigate
more complex interfaces. The head wand performs a similar function, with the
difference being that the stick is strapped to the head. This model may be more
practical and/or less tiring for some users. (Motor Disabilities: Assistive
Technologies)
For persons with very limited mobility, a
single-switch access device is available, which may be incorporated into other
assistive technology to allow the user to manipulate the device by clicking on
the switch. For instance, a person with only constructive control over head
movements can have the switch placed to the side of his head for easy
activation. (Motor Disabilities: Assistive Technologies)
Another alternative technology for individuals who
have little or no control over voluntary movements, is the eye-tracking device.
The device works by tracking movements of the user’s eyes to navigate through software
interfaces and enables the user to access a computer or type words on a screen.
For those who are unable to engage in meaningful verbal communication, this
technology represents a powerful speech assistive device which gives them a
‘voice’. (Motor Disabilities: Assistive Technologies)
Prosthetic limbs are another form of assistive
technology and they have a great potential to bring about ‘destructive’,
immensely transformative changes to lives of the physically disabled, allowing
many to fully realise their physical potentials.
An
outstanding example of such an individual is Oscar Pistorius, a South African
Paralympic runner who had both his lower legs amputated when he was a baby,
after he was born without fibula bones in his shin. Equipped with advanced
running prosthesis, Pistorius went on to make sporting history as the first
double-amputee to compete at the 2012 London Olympics against non-disabled
athletes. (Paul Kelso, 2012) Another stellar example alluded to at the start of
this paper is Anne Wafula Strike, Figure
1. Oscar Pistorius at the 2012 London Olympics a British Wheelchair racer.
Reproduced
from The Telegraph. (2012)
Were it not for both athletes’ prosthesis, neither
would have been able to fulfil their tremendous potentials as elite athletes.
Another technology which has been greatly
transformative for persons who suffer from complete paralysis of the body
(“locked in”) is brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. BCI contemplates
the “(harnessing of) electroencephalographic activity (EEG) or other
electrophysiological measures of brain function (to) provide an alternative,
non-muscular channel for sending messages and commands to the external world”. (J.R.
Wolpaw et al., 2002)
Figure 2 shows an instance of how BCI technology may
be incorporated and utilized. J.R. Wolpaw et al. (2002) explains how this BCI
system works: “Signals from the brain are acquired by electrodes on the scalp
or in the head and processed to extract specific features (e.g. amplitudes of
evoked potentials, firing rates of cortical neurons) that reflect the user’s
intent. These features are translated into commands that operate a device (e.g.
a simple word processing program, a wheelchair, or a neuroprosthesis). Success
depends on the interaction of the two adaptive controllers of user and system.
The user must develop and maintain good correlation between his or her intent
and the signal features employed by the BCI; and the BCI must select and
extract features that the user can control and must translate those features
into device commands correctly and efficiently.”
Figure
2. BCI System
Reproduced
from J.R. Wolpaw et al., (2002)
Over the past 15 years, BCI research has expanded,
fuelled by greater understanding of how the human brain works, the proliferation
of inexpensive computer equipment and growing acknowledgment of needs as well
as potentials of people with disabilities. However, the efficacy of BCI
technology currently is hampered by slow information transfer rates. As J.R.
Wolpaw et al. (2002) astutely observes: “the future value of BCI technology
will depend substantially on how much this transfer rate can be increased”.
4 Future Considerations
4.1 Trend
of assistive technology advancement
In the past, assistive technology devices are often
assembled sums of varied, discrete pieces of technology parts. Each part came
equipped with its own switch mechanism, power supply, control device and
mounting mechanism. Not surprisingly, this often led to user confusion and a
high cost of maintenance of the entire device. (P. Nisbet, 1996) The complexity
of such assistive technologies also made it inaccessible to the severely
disabled.
Thus, the challenge to provide practical solutions
to this group of disabled users has given rise to the present trend towards a
more seamless integration in the functionality of assistive devices, with fewer
attendant control options.
According to Rachel E. Cowan et al. (2012), this
trend is best evinced in the development of four key assistive technologies –
the powered wheelchair, prosthetic limbs, functional electrical stimulation,
and wearable exoskeletons – of which the first two will be further elaborated
upon by this paper, for the reason that they are two of the most commonly
employed assistive devices.
4.1.1 Powered
Wheelchair
A ‘shared control’ model is being explored in the
development of powered wheelchairs. This entails the elimination of mode
changes between different functionalities of the wheelchair. As mode changes can
impose a substantial mental burden on the user if he/she suffers additionally
from a cognitive impairment, this development could lead to improved device
accessibility and user-friendliness. A shared control approach envisages
greater integration of the user and the machine.
For instance, the Collaborative Wheelchair
Assistant (CWA) developed by a research group at London’s Imperial College
seeks to minimise the control required of the user by incorporating a
self-navigation system into the powered wheelchair. Pre-programmed paths are
encoded into the wheelchair interface and the user need only manage controls
for obstacle avoidance and speed changes. This greatly reduces the mental load
placed on the user in having to be constantly cognisant of wheelchair
navigation. (Burdet E. et al., 2009)
Another approach seeks to better exploit the user’s
inherent capabilities for controlling the wheelchair via the use of a body part
interface. This approach eliminates the need for a physical interface by allowing
information from any part of the user’s body to be mapped to sensors which can
then be manipulated for wheelchair control. This greatly improves the
accessibility of the powered wheelchair to severely disabled users, as any body
part with the greatest range of motion can be employed to steer the wheelchair.
(Casadio M et al., 2010)
Yet another method capitalizes on the user’s innate
capacities to engage his brain, through the use of BCI technology to capture
and translate intentions from brain electrical activity into real-time
wheelchair navigation. This involves the development of a “shared control
system” whereby the “computer ‘drives’ the chair between destinations using
pre-programmed paths while the user monitors the (pathway) for unexpected obstacles”
(Berger TW et al., 2008), not unlike the concept contemplated by the CWA.
4.1.2 Prosthetic
limb control
In the area of prosthetic
limb control, researchers in Europe have come up with 3 novel approaches, all
of which envisages greater interfacing of the user and their prosthetic.
The computer-vision
enhanced control (Dosen S. et al., 2010) essentially utilises camera software
to estimate the nature and dimensions of grasp control required of an object
and feeds this information to the attached prosthetic hand. The user is only
required to activate, aim and orientate the hand in line with the object of
choice. This enhances the autonomy of prosthetics and reduces user burden.
The peripheral nervous
system interface (Micera S. et al., 2010) seeks to tap into the nervous system
responsible for transmitting information between the brain and the users’ limbs
to control the substituted prosthetic. Results of studies into this technology
show that it is even possible to manipulate the nature of the prosthetic grip
by adjusting the number of interface electrodes. This approach has been
recognised as highly user-intuitive given that a pathway is provided for
sensory feedback between the user and his prosthesis.
The last innovation
identified is the kinematic/kinetic control system which provides for greater
synchronisation between the prosthesis and the remaining, normally functioning
limbs. Researchers of the Sensory Motor Systems laboratory at ETH Zurich have
developed a complementary limb motion estimation (CLME) technology which
harnesses the “physiological inter-joint couplings of the intact leg to
instantaneously determine (and consequently drive) the motion required of the
prosthetic leg”. (Vallery H. et al., 2011) This technology potentially broadens
the range of motion of the prosthesis and gives the user greater, more
intuitive freedom of movement.
4.2 Encouraging
continued research and development in assistive technology
With the growing recognition of the valuableness of
assistive technology for the disabled, there is a need to ensure continued
innovation and development in this area. For instance, further research and
innovation is needed to raise the information transfer rates of BCI technology,
in order that the benefit of the technology can be fully exploited.
National and state governments can play a crucial
role in facilitating research and development efforts. This can be done through
the provision of incentives for companies to set up research bases in the
country and by reducing regulatory red-tape. Grants can also be provided by the
government to encourage and facilitate collaboration between companies and
institutes of higher learning, to allow for wider pools of innovative ideas to
be tapped.
Further, intellectual property laws should be
strengthened in order to ensure that new innovations will receive adequate
property rights protection. This would go towards helping to create a conducive
and attractive environment for investment in assistive technology research and
development.
4.3 Addressing
the fragmentation of the assistive technology market
Currently, there is a lack of collaboration and
consultation between the various stakeholders of the assistive technology
industry (researchers, clinicians, marketers, consumers, etc.) in the larger
markets such as Europe and America. In the European Union, this has been
attributed to the differences in geographical, cultural and political
situations amongst the states and the lack of a common platform for the
facilitation of such collaboration. (Christian Buhler and Richard Barbera,
2011) However, in order to achieve the above-mentioned goals of greater integration
and to enable the benefits of innovation to be fully exploited as well as ensure
that innovation meet the needs and expectations of users, it is essential to
bring about greater collaboration.
This can be done through establishing common
platforms on which greater interaction and dialogue can take place between the
stakeholders. Such platforms can come in the form of an association with the
various stakeholders as members or possibly through forum initiatives set up by
individual stakeholder groups.
In order to ensure that new developments in
assistive technology meet the needs of consumers, the author believes that it
is essential to involve users in the development/innovation process. This is as
disabled persons themselves are conceivably the best candidates to provide
design specifications for what is meant by ‘intuitive’, ‘seamless’, and
‘non-obtrusive’ technologies. (Rachel E. Cowan et al., 2010)
Hence, it is pertinent to encourage and facilitate
such user involvement. Presently, developers are disinclined to engage
end-users in the development process due to inconvenience and resource-efficiency
concerns. In the United Kingdom for example, the presence of medical directives
presents a disincentive. The directives require that ethical approval must
first be obtained before users may be involved in the testing of devices. This
entails considerable paperwork and time which developers, especially those from
small companies, may wish to avoid and they may ultimately elect not to involve
users in the design and development process. (Avril D. McCarthy (2012).
Regulatory influences on assistive technology innovation: Enabling or
disabling? Technology and Disability, 24, 205-210.)
There is a need to raise awareness of the value of
user-consultation in the development of assistive technology. This may be done
through awareness campaigns, incentive grants to encourage companies to involve
disabled users as participants in testing out devices, or through reforms of
existing laws where necessary/realistic.
4.4 Ensuring
the availability and affordability of assistive technology
Ultimately, the purpose and value of assistive
technology advancements are only fulfilled when the benefits of such technology
may be enjoyed the target user groups. Hence, affordability and accessibility
of such assistive technology should be made a primary concern. The less
well-off must not be denied of an opportunity to lead a higher quality of life
simply due to financial disadvantages.
Fortunately, most countries do have in place
policies which seek to ensure that those who require assistive technologies
will have access to them. In Singapore, the Assistive Technology Fund provides
financial assistance for the purchase of assistive devices by disabled users
attending mainstream education and employment. (SG Enable, 2013) Similarly, the
governments of the United States, United Kingdom and Switzerland provide grants
to the disabled for the purchase of assistive technologies. In Canada, the
government has done away with the tax requirement for disabled persons in the
purchase of such devices. (PRWeb (USA), 2013)
5 Conclusion
In summary, assistive technology has come to be
recognized as representing great transformative potential and essential to augmenting
the quality of life of the physically disabled. Assistive technology takes
numerous forms, the most common of which is the powered wheelchair and
prosthesis, as well as increasingly, BCI technology incorporated into assistive
hardware. The rise of utility of the latter is fuelled in part by growing
understanding of brain functions as well as rapid advances in the area of
information and communications technology.
Modern advancements in assistive technology reflect
a trend towards greater integration of systems, with increasing interfacing
between user and device, leading to a reduction in user operational burden.
Also, developers are becoming cognizant that their innovations should be made
compatible with existing assistive devices on the market in order to achieve
greater applicability and accessible of their products. However, notwithstanding
the general shift towards the creation of comprehensive integrated systems
however, it is pertinent to realize that no one-size-fits-all model can be
employed in assistive technology. The sheer variety and uniqueness of
individual capabilities and extent of disabilities must be taken into account
in prescribing the most appropriate form of assistive technology.
The future implications of assistive technology
advances include the need to address the present undesirable fragmentation of
the industry, in order to remedy the problem of functionality of new developments
falling short of users’ needs and expectations; and the importance of ensuring
accessibility and affordability of assistive technologies in order that
disabled users are able to reap the extensive transformative benefits of such
technology.
All things considered, the future is an especially
exciting one for the physically disabled, whose lives await radical
transformation by new assistive technology innovations.
6 References
Anne Wafula Strike (2010). BBC My Story – In My
Dreams I Dance. Retrieved from http://annewafulastrike.blogspot.sg/2010/09/bbc-my-story-in-my-dreams-i-dance.html.
Assistive Technology Act of
1998. Pub. L. No. 108-364, §2432,112 Stat. 3627.
Berger TW, Chapin JK, Gerhardt GA, McFarland DJ,
Principe JC, Soussou WV, et al. (2008). Brain-Computer Interfaces: An
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Burdet E, Zeng Q, Teo CL (2009). Evaluation of a
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M, Controzzi M, Carrozza MC, Popovic DB (2010). Cognitive vision system for control
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Figure 1. Oscar Pistorius
at the 2012 London Olympics, finishing last in 400m. (2012, August 6).
Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/athletics/9454624/Oscar-Pistorius-knocked-out-of-London-2012-Olympics-but-his-achievements-will-resound-for-years-to-come.html.
Figure 2. Graphic representation of the use of
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interfaces for communication and control. Clinical
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Retrieved from http://webaim.org/articles/motor/assistive.
Paul Kelso (2012, August 6). Oscar Pistorius
knocked out of London 2012 Olympics but his achievements will resound for years
to come. The Telegraph. Retrieved
from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/athletics/9454624/Oscar-Pistorius-knocked-out-of-London-2012-Olympics-but-his-achievements-will-resound-for-years-to-come.html.
P. Nisbet (1996). Integrating assistive
technologies: current practices and future possibilities. Med. Ng. Phys., 18(3), 193-202.
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