Assistive Technology: Essential Human Factors [Paperback]

Thomas W. King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 24, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0205273262 | ISBN-13: 978-0205273263 | Edition: 1

The Information Age has transformed the way in which humans communicate and interact with each other in almost every aspect. This new relationship between humans and technology has been an added convenience for some, and a sheer blessing for others; for those with physical and communication impairments, modern-day technology has transformed daily living into a journey toward capability instead of disability. In its examination of assistive technology, this book serves as an essential resource for clinicians, product developers, families and individuals as they recommend, select, purchase, design, and use assistive technology. Combining real experience and academic research, King examines how humans can adapt to machinery and increase the acceptance, effectiveness, and efficiency of technology. This book investigates how psychological factors (such as fear, stress, rejection, etc.) can affect the efficiency of assistive technology. Product developers, speech pathologists, audiologists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation counselors, special educators, nurses, and businesses. A Longwood Professional Book

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Information Age has transformed the way in which humans communicate and interact with each other in almost every aspect. This new relationship between humans and technology has been an added convenience for some, and a sheer blessing for others; for those with physical and communication impairments, modern-day technology has transformed daily living into a journey toward capability instead of disability. In its examination of assistive technology, this book serves as an essential resource for clinicians, product developers, families and individuals as they recommend, select, purchase, design, and use assistive technology.

Combining real experience and academic research, King examines how humans can adapt to machinery and increase the acceptance, effectiveness, and efficiency of technology. This book investigates how psychological factors (such as fear, stress, rejection, etc.) can affect the efficiency of assistive technology.

Product developers, speech pathologists, audiologists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation counselors, special educators, nurses, and businesses. A Longwood Professional Book

Product Details

• Paperback: 305 pages
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon; 1 edition (September 24, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0205273262
• ISBN-13: 978-0205273263
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,113,010 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > Law > Specialties > Disability

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent resource for all SLPs, May 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Assistive Technology: Essential Human Factors (Paperback)

This book provides guidelines to follow when working with clients who use assistive technology. It is an excellent resource for all present and future Speech-Language Pathologists and all those who interact with users of assistive technology. A must have reference for your professional library!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What is Missing from Special Education, February 19, 2003

By 

Richard (PHOENIX, AZ, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Assistive Technology: Essential Human Factors (Paperback)

Many teachers are fond of saying that, "computers are just another educational tool." This implies that there is no computer revolution in education. A black board or a pencil is very similar to a computer. What they miss is how those tools changed education. Changes in pedagogy did not happen because educators wanted to change education. They happened because humans interacted differently with their environment because of these tools. Assistive Technology: Essential Human Factors, particularly chapters five and nine, helps educators assess how to evaluate the effectiveness of assistive technology and computers. Before you create your lesson plan or schedule an IEP meeting, you should know what an assessment of human factors would tell you about your educational plans.
And if , by chance, you think this is the responsibility of your school district educational technologists, just ask them what they know about the human factors involved in using technology.
This is an excellent book to begin to explore why some assistive technology works and some fails.