Topic 7 Exercise 7.2

New devices, aged care and people with disabilities

New devices come into being due to market competition. Do a WebQuest research exercise on how features such as voice commands, large letters etc provide access to others or how smart devices connected via bluetooth or WiFi to the Internet improve the nature of caring or improve the lifestyle for those with disabilities or in need of aged care. Here are some examples for my research interests in aged care informatics:

• Worlds smallest LCD screen is 0.27 inches in Diameter
• Smart toilets - that monitor sugar levels for diabetic, - with toilet seat equipped with electrodes that sends a mild electric charge through the user's buttocks, yielding a digital measurement of body-fat ratio;
• swarm robotics and nanotechnology
• robot lawn mowers
• smart homes

Report your key findings (max 250 words)

It is becoming more and more common in today’s society for technological devices to assist those who have some sort of disability or impairment, to enable them to function and have access to technological functions that those without such impairments are able to have access too.

The article “Motor Disabilities – Assistive Technologies” gives a long list of such devices that are available today. Probably, out of all the list the one that I found to be the most interesting was the Eye Tracking Software. As pointed out in the article eye tracking software works by following the movement of the eyes allowing the user to navigate through the web using eye movements only. This eye tracking device is particularly useful for people who have little or even no control over hand movements. Special software that is used in conjunction with the eye tracking software allows the user to also be able to type. According to the article “this type of software can be rather expensive” and I guess that would be a major disadvantage which would stop some users from actually using the technology.

Topic 7 Exercise 7.1

Smart Screen Interface Case Study

Touch screen mobile devices for display and interaction are a growth area. As a case study, summarise how the interface works from your investigations, starting at here.

Discuss a situation where that device improves the display or interaction over any alternative device. Use examples to support your argument (250 words max)

Smart screens or touch screens as they are more commonly referred to, are becoming more and more a part of today’s society.

Touch screens may be considered faster and more efficient to use than other interfaces as users do not need to make way through text to access their needs. Touch screens diminish the needs for manipulating a mouse or using a keyboard which in turn speeds up the use, thus making touch screens more efficient use in retail stores, restaurants, hotels and so on.

When using a touch screen users simply point and touch the icon that they would like to access and through this process they can navigate the system. The ease of using a touch screen is a big draw card for those who may otherwise find it difficult to use a computer. Users select from a clearly defined menu and offers step by step guidance to using the screen.

.http://www.elotouch.com/Solutions/CaseStudies/benefitswp.asp