Assistive Technologies for People With Diverse Abilities

Abstract

Globally, the number of people with disabilities is increasing. Various types of assistive technology (AT) exist in the market to help them overcome the diverse challenges they face in a daily life. New ATs are still being actively developed through advances in information technology. In this study, a literature survey was conducted to provide a comprehensive overview of research in the field of AT for sensory and physical disabilities. Studies published since 2009 were considered, to identify the emerging research trends in AT. A total of 297 articles was collected from diverse sources (e.g., journals, proceedings, dissertations, books, etc.), and 405 ATs were identified from the articles. The basic statistical information in the articles was analyzed in terms of sources, regions, and the authors’ backgrounds. The ATs were additionally analyzed considering disability types, applied devices, and assistive functions. The research trends of AT were analyzed, and several implications for designing ATs were suggested.