How Modern Technology Assists People with Special Needs

Technology and Support for People with Special Needs

Artificial intelligence (AI) is making our smartphones smarter by developing new features that help people with special needs better understand and interact with the world around them.

Technology is advancing rapidly every day, paralleling the rising demands of humans in all fields and at all levels. For people with special needs, or people of determination, their needs for technology are more critical and require a greater focus on development to provide more comfortable living conditions and alleviate the challenges of living with their disabilities.

Promoting Self-Reliance

According to Readers Digest, one of the best aspects of new technology is that it makes the world more accessible for people with special needs. For example, the "Magnifier" app turns a camera into a magnifying lens, helping those with limited vision read more easily.

The site also noted that technology has introduced audio tools that read any text on a phone screen aloud, allowing blind and visually impaired people to use phones and apps fully.

The importance of modern technologies and AI for people with special needs spans all areas of life and knowledge, playing a vital role in enhancing mobility, self-reliance, and independence to the greatest extent possible.

AI and Accessibility

The site explained that advances in AI have enabled the creation of smarter accessibility features. For instance, on the latest Google Pixel phones, users can activate a feature called Live Captions, which listens to audio, transcribes it, and displays it on the screen as text. This feature helps the deaf watch videos and make video calls.

Additionally, the next version of the iPhone operating system, which will be available on the latest iPhones later this year, will offer an accessibility feature that allows users to point their camera at anything, and the words it sees will be clearly displayed on the screen.

AI will also enable the creation of voice simulations, helping mute individuals use their iPhones as an alternative communication tool, similar to the technologies used by Stephen Hawking, but through a small app on their phones.

Technology and Accessibility

According to the British newspaper Daily Mail, Google has added a new service to its popular Maps application that allows wheelchair users to find the best routes for them. This new service is currently available in cities like New York, Mexico City, Sydney, Tokyo, and London.

The newspaper also reported that the Japanese robotics company Cyberdyne has received certification from the U.S. Department of Health for its invention of the "HAL" electronic leg, designed to help paralyzed individuals walk again. The HAL leg can be controlled by the brain, making it similar to a real leg.

Virtual Reality and Paralysis Treatment

The Telegraph reported that the British company VR Electronics has developed a virtual reality suit for video games, designed to enhance and develop the motor and sensory abilities of people with physical disabilities. The suit provides a highly realistic virtual experience while playing video games, allowing users to feel sensations like heat, cold, and bruises.

A Scottish inventor named Ian Gray has created a smart scooter specifically for people with special needs, enabling them to move smoothly in all locations. This innovative device, the first of its kind, can be easily folded and placed in a car.

Notable Devices for Assisting People with Special Needs

• Voice Recognition Technology: Electronic devices that recognize voice commands and transcribe what the user dictates.
• Digital Recorders: Devices that record and play back sound.
• Listening Aids: Devices like speakers for casual use or hearing aids for those with hearing impairments.
• Text-to-Speech Technology: Software that can read electronic text aloud.
• Screen Magnifiers: Tools that allow users to control and enlarge the screen display for easier viewing of text or images.
• Keyboard Alternatives: Specialized keyboards with larger keys or touch-screen interfaces.
• Prosthetic Limbs: Custom-designed for patients to improve mobility and general function.
• Electric Wheelchairs: Battery-operated chairs that can be controlled with a joystick and adjustable settings to suit the individual.