IoT: An Enabler for the Disabled

We often speak about the terrifying potential of IoT in changing our everyday surroundings and life. For people with disabilities, this change is likely to be transformational – not only is it equalizing, but the advent of new IoT devices, increased connectivity, in combination with machine learning and data collection, could potentially return to them their autonomy. Importantly, what tends to get sidelined in such discussion is also the fact that IoT devices give integrity back to many of these people when they are empowered to overcome their disabilities.

 

Impressive ideas have already surfaced, many of them underway for commercial development. There are home applications that make living at home much easier, convenient, even safer, for those with physical disabilities – we are talking about applications and technologies that that can help quadriplegics move about, open doors, and go about their daily life by themselves, without the sustained assistance that they often require. These can be extended to suit individuals. Take the example of the Dutch city of Tilburg that tried out Crosswalk, an application that allows for people with less mobility more time to cross roads by making traffic lights ‘smart’ through the detection of pedestrians,[1] providing a safe way to cross roads, particularly for the elderly, children, and disabled. This could potentially be combined with insoles that can be linked to mapping applications such that we would not have to look at our screens while finding our way to places – which would really help those who require visual aids get around.[2]

 

A problem however is the lack of incentive to develop specifically for those who require it most – such developments are mostly fueled by moral inclination, rather than monetary profit and gain. Assistive technology does not dominate the technology landscape, and the market is tiny; as has been said, “designing something specific to a subset of people with disabilities is seen as an act of charity”.[3]

 

A potential approach to this problem? Looking at universal design principles – innovating and design in a way that everyone can use, thus benefitting many, and yet can be retrofitted accordingly. One can look to healthcare applications and wearable devices as an example. Data collected by such devices helps everyone, it gives our medical providers a glimpse into the daily lives we lead,[4] allowing for a feedback loop. It could also allow for closed ones to be notified should anything unusual be identified, and whether or not a person has had a prior illness, this could be an operation that would benefit all.

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/jul/12/dutch-app-elderly-hack-pedestrian-crossings

[2] https://www.popsci.com/article/gadgets/toe-tickling-shoes-let-you-navigate-city-touch#page-2

[3] https://www.ibm.com/blogs/insights-on-business/ibmix/innovating-people-disabilities-companies-invest-universal-design/

[4] https://medium.com/@imn/5-promising-examples-of-iot-and-wearable-devices-that-enable-people-with-disabilities-f50df601e046

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One comment on “IoT: An Enabler for the Disabled”

  1. This a really interesting article, and one that requires more attention and action. One simple example of such example is that deaf people could use bulbs that shine in particular colours when there are certain noises. For example, they could radiate purple light when the bell rings and red light when the fire alarm goes off. Its such a simple application and yet its not nearly as ubiquitous as it should be.

    Another simple example which even people with no disabilities will find handy is a voice controlled device which can be used to control everything in your house: lights, music, temperature, TV, etc. I think the approach here should be to focus on the simple things which companies can provide at low cost and thus broad margins and also focus on those items which can be used by not just people with disabilities but everyone. In short, to make this concept more mainstream, the starting approach and focus should be simple and broad.

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