Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
eAccessibility implementation in the mainstream. This should also allow for incentives
to product development because of an intensive communication between clients and
psychotechnologists.
9.6 Conclusions
In this chapter we introduced the meaning and background of psychotechnology, and we
explained the role of the psychotechnologist within the matching people with disabilities
and AT process. In particular, we described some applicative examples in different
contexts, from the traditional context, focused on the interaction between persons with
disabilities and ATs within their everyday life environments, to the ICT context, in which
eAccessibility is a fundamental requirement to allow for participation, independence,
and inclusion of people with disabilities. Starting from a theoretical background, we
described the evolution of the meaning of psychotechnology, “a technology that emulates,
extends, amplifies and
modifies
sensory-motor, psychological or cognitive functions of
the mind” (Federici 2002). The interaction between user and technology is a dynamic
intrasystemic relationship in which the artifact has the role of amplifier, transporting
rules and knowledge possibilities and permitting both the adaptation to the system and a
cognitive and cultural modification (Federici and Borsci 2010). In this light, we have shown
the role of the psychotechnologist by focusing on two different fields of application: the
AT assignation process in a center for technical aid and the psychotechnologist education
field, concerning ICT-based systems and services.
The role of the psychotechnologist is to investigate the psychological and cognitive
components involved into the interaction environment—be it either a physical
environment or a ICT environment—by analyzing and evaluating the following issues:
(1) the pertinence of one or more technological aids selected for an assistive solution in
a user-driven assessment process by means of different tools such as, for example, the
Matching Persons and Technology model (Scherer 1998); and (2) if and how eAccessibility
is considered in an ICT environment and how to affect the redesign for accessibility
using related guidelines, methodologies, tools, and laws (e.g., W3C/WAI 2011).
To better
explain the role of the psychotechnologist, we have shown two case examples. First, we
described the role of the psychotechnologist within the assessment process by showing
as a case example the case of S.A., shared with Sections II and III of this handbook. We
then focused on an example of an educational project, the Assistec program, which aims
at lowering the gap between the growing need for and lack of education by forming
experts able to manage this complex, multidimensional process of eAccessibility and
eInclusion.
Summary of the Chapter
This chapter focuses on explaining the concept behind the term “psychotechnology” and
the role of the “psychotechnologist” within the matching people and AT process. According
to a biopsychosocial perspective, a psychotechnology is defined as any “technology that
