The rehabilitation engineering research center for the advancement of cognitive technologies.
Barring few exceptions, allied health professionals, engineers, manufacturers of assistive technologies (ATs), and consumer product manufacturers have developed few technologies for individuals with cognitive impairments (CIs). In 2004, the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) recognized the need to support research in this emergent field. They funded the first Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for the Advancement of Cognitive Technologies (RERC-ACT). The RERC-ACT has since designed and evaluated existing and emerging technologies through rigorous research, improving upon existing AT devices, and creating new technologies for individuals with CIs. The RERC-ACT has contributed to the development and testing of AT products that assist persons with CIs to actively engage in tasks of daily living at home, school, work, and in the community. This article highlights the RERC-ACT's engineering development and research projects and discusses how current research may impact the quality of life for an aging population.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA patricia.heyn@ucdenver.edu.
Patricia Cristine
PC
Heyn
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
Joy Lucille
JL
Cassidy
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
Cathy
C
Bodine
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004738:Engineering; D006078:Government Programs; D006801:Humans; D063731:Mobile Applications; D012106:Research; D012656:Self-Help Devices
aging; assistive technology; cognitive disabilities; engineering; rehabilitation; research center