Assistive wearables: Designing more inclusive devices

IMAGE CREDIT:
Image credit
iStock

Assistive wearables: Designing more inclusive devices

Assistive wearables: Designing more inclusive devices

Subheading text
Developments in wearables have the potential to create intuitive assistive technology for vulnerable communities
    • Author:
    • Author name
      Quantumrun Foresight
    • November 24, 2022

    Insight summary

    As the Internet of Things (IoT) becomes an increasingly important technology paradigm, the development of wireless technologies and their applications must be carefully considered to allow people with disabilities to benefit equally. The design and services possible with these devices are largely unrestricted, which presents an opportunity for people with disabilities to participate in their development and manufacture to address unmet needs. The long-term implications of this trend may include better regulations for assistive technology and more advanced exoskeleton/prosthetic technologies.

    Adaptive and assistive wearables context

    Wearable technology is following in the footsteps of smartphones by quickly becoming a staple in everyday life. Different wearables serve various purposes and can be worn on multiple body parts. Not only can these wearable devices sync with smartphones, but they are also wireless connections that enable more meaningful interactions.

    The first generation of smartphones wasn’t designed with accessibility in mind, but that gap was addressed through policymaking and regulation. More developers consider accessibility from the start and are increasingly focusing on assistive features. As a result, these design objectives have become an essential element in marketability.

    According to a Georgia Institute of Technology study on how to design assistive wearables, several features can make a device more inclusive for people with impairments. The first factor is weight distribution to determine which body parts can carry specific devices better. Another important factor is body mechanics.

    For example, it’s best to avoid placing large, bulky, or rigid objects on the inside of joints or in concave areas where the body bends. Considering movement-sensing capabilities is another crucial element in designing assistive wearables. Adaptive technologies may benefit from wearable technology that measures how a person moves. Sensors might assist in determining acceleration, walking/steps/running, and posture. Pressure sensors placed beneath the feet might explain how someone walks and distributes weight, while resistance sensors over knee joints could assist in rehabilitation exercises.

    Disruptive impact

    Assistive technology should eliminate the “one size fits all” model to create better wearables. This strategy is crucial because people with disabilities often require different levels of care and assistance. The concept of “self-management” also poses a significant problem for IoT wearables, particularly when it comes to people with limited vision or movement. One way to ensure an inclusive design is to incorporate active feedback loops during every stage of device and system development to better understand the struggles of people with disabilities. This technique can help designers create more appropriate measures to bridge these gaps. 

    An example of this inclusive design is research in the prosthetics and exoskeletons space. In 2021, University of Waterloo engineers used artificial intelligence (AI) to develop exoskeletons and prosthetic legs that can think and make decisions on their own. The system relies on computer vision and deep learning to copy how able-bodied people walk.

    This method observes the surroundings and then changes the machines accordingly. Lead researcher Brokoslaw Laschowski said the goal is to give robotic exoskeletons “vision” so they can react appropriately. The researchers engineered AI software to analyze video feeds from wearable cameras worn by exoskeleton users to identify stairs, doors, and other environmental elements correctly.

    Implications of assistive wearables

    Wider implications of assistive wearables may include: 

    • Big Tech expanding the use of existing wearables to incorporate more assistive features to cater to people with disabilities.
    • Some governments passing regulations requiring assistive and adaptive technologies to be made sustainable, accessible, and cost-effective for people with impairments.
    • Increased investments in the prosthetics sector, including developing artificial skins that may allow people who lost the sense of touch to “feel.”
    • An increase of people with disabilities being hired as consultants by assistive tech firms.
    • Gradual reductions in healthcare spending on a population level as medical wearables assist individuals in need to access healthcare proactively.
    • A larger percentage of people with disabilities being able to lead more independent lives (and possibly contribute more to the labor market) as advanced wearables provide a broader and more intuitive level of assistive capabilities.

    Questions to consider

    • If you own a wearable, which assistive features are most helpful?
    • What are other ways that companies can incorporate assistive devices in standard technologies?

    Insight references

    The following popular and institutional links were referenced for this insight:

    Assistive Technology Industry Association The assistive wearable: inclusive by design