PWDs, and those assisting them, may find themselves neglecting the use of smart home devices. Perhaps you may feel that such assistive technologies don’t offer enough benefits for their price point. Maybe you consider such tools to be redundant or similar to other devices you already use.
Yet assistive technologies have been gaining traction in recent years, with good reason. Here’s why embracing smart technologies may likely be a fantastic idea for PWDs:
Assistive technologies get cheaper with increased demand
While huge demand can raise prices, the opposite is also true over time. The more people adopt these technologies, the greater the competition between companies to meet the demand of consumers.
This inevitably leads to increased supply, meaning lower cost especially for the most popular devices. It’s for this reason that smart technologies for PWDs aren’t as expensive as many believe them to be.
Increased competition also tends to positively affect the development of quality products. With companies self-regulating each other through market competition, it isn’t uncommon to come across smart devices that have both quality and affordability.
Unmatched convenience
It’s worth noting that many smart devices make life easier for everyone, not just PWDs. More and more devices are built with the Internet of Things as the design philosophy.
This means that an increasing amount of assistive devices are equipped with sensors, software and other technologies that allow them to “communicate” with other devices. Such features are how products like wifi-enabled toasters or smart vacuum cleaners are able to function remotely.
With this, you can effectively keep your home clean, among other daily tasks, in less than half the time without tiring yourself out. Having the ability to focus on more important aspects of your life, while the trivial task takes care of itself, is a huge upgrade to your productivity.
Connecting with loved ones becomes much easier
Assistive smart technologies aren’t necessarily speciliased devices. There are a multitude of apps for mobile devices that are easy and affordable to install.
For example, certain apps allow those with cerebral palsy to communicate using a software-generated voice with only a few taps on the screen. With communication made much simpler, it also becomes easier for others to understand and provide support.
Of course, not all assistive devices are worth your investment. Still, having access to the right technology can empower you with a simple truth – that your “limitations” don’t always deny you the ability to live better, on your own terms.
References
Sayeed Mehrjerdian (2019) Smart Devices For People With Disabilities [Accessed 11 December 2022] Available at: https://www.iaccess.life/useful-smart-home-devices-for-people-with-disabilities/
Emily McDeed (2019) 4 Technology Devices Empowering People with Disabilities [Accessed 11 December 2022] Available at: https://www.ameridisability.com/4-technology-devices-empowering-people-with-disabilities/
Cindy Co (2021) ‘With technology, sky’s the limit’: How smart devices can help people with disabilities live independently [Accessed 11 December 2022] Available at: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/assistive-technology-people-with-disabilities-independent-living-1393726