Work

Assistive Technology Abandonment: Research Realities and Potentials

Year: 2018

Type: conference-paper

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.

Source: Lecture notes in computer science

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-94274-2_77

Authors: Helen Petrie, Stefan Carmien, Andrew Lewis

Institution: University of York

Language: English

Topic: Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility

Subfield: Occupational Therapy

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,392