Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
at this time in their life. Technology that conveyed a sense of security was
more readily accepted than that which was seen as surveillance. For example,
people typically indicated that sensors that would detect a fall were probably
something that would be useful but not at that point in their life; in other
words, the more invasive technology was less acceptable.
The collective results of all of these projects lead to one critical conclusion:
the individuals seeking devices are the experts in their own lives. The individ-
ual designing or recommending a device retains expertise related to AT and
a professional responsibility to the client, but does not know what is best for
the user. It remains important to ask questions about what technology means
to the user. The most carefully designed and prescribed technology is of no
value if the intended user leaves it in the closet. Technology that is recom-
mended without input from the consumer is in danger of being abandoned,
at a cost to the user, their community, and society.
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