Assistive technology abandonment: Research realities and potentials

  • Helen Petrie*
  • , Stefan Carmien
  • , Andrew Lewis
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

52 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Abandonment of assistive technologies (ATs) is a serious problem – rates of abandonment can be high, 78% has been reported for hearing aids. The paper argues for the importance of studying the abandonment of ATs by collecting real-time data about the use and non-use of ATs in the lived experience of their users. In the AART-BC Project, we are studying the use and abandonment of mobility ATs including wheelchairs, walkers and prostheses. We present two apps, ESMMobilityAT and ProbMobilityAT to facilitate the collection of real-time data about mobility AT use and problems encountered with these ATs. ESMMobilityAT is based on the experience sampling method (ESM) and asks mobility AT users to answer a short questionnaire about their AT use seven times a day. ProbMobilityAT allows mobility AT users to report problems with their AT when they occur. The apps have been successfully piloted on Android and IOS smartphones, although a number of problems with deployment have been highlighted. They will now be used in a field study with mobility AT uses and can be adapted for other AT domains.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationComputers Helping People with Special Needs - 16th International Conference, ICCHP 2018, Proceedings
EditorsKlaus Miesenberger, Georgios Kouroupetroglou
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages532-540
Number of pages9
ISBN (Print)9783319942735
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes
Event16th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs, ICCHP 2018 - Linz, Austria
Duration: 11 Jul 201813 Jul 2018

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume10897 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference16th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs, ICCHP 2018
Country/TerritoryAustria
CityLinz
Period11/07/1813/07/18

Keywords

  • Apps for measuring assistive technology use
  • Assistive technology abandonment
  • ESMMobilityAT app
  • Experience Sampling Method (ESM)
  • Mobility assistive technology
  • ProbMobilityAT app

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