Quality-of-life technology for people with spinal cord injuries.
Technology plays a critical role in promoting well-being, activity, and participation for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). As technology has improved, so has the realm of possibilities open to people with SCI. School, work, travel, and leisure activities are all facilitated by technology. Advances in materials have made wheelchairs lighter, and developments in design have made wheelchairs that fit individual needs. Software has made computer interfaces adaptive and in some case intelligent, through learning the user's behavior and optimizing its structure. As participatory action design and aware systems take greater hold, transformational change is likely to take place in the technology available to people with SCI.
Cooper
Rory A
RA
Human Engineering Research Laboratories, Pittsburgh VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, 7180 Highland Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA. rcooper@pitt.edu
Cooper
Rosemarie
R
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006804:Ergonomics; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D011788:Quality of Life; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019876:Sports Equipment; D014910:Wheelchairs