Madam Rosie Wong, 70, whips up dinner for herself and her husband almost every night – and she is blind.
Whether her induction hob, kitchen weighing scale or timer, all of them give her audio feedback so she can cook safely. The induction hob, for example, vocalises its various functions and temperature settings.
These assistive or inclusive technologies help special needs people perform various tasks so they can be more included in normal ways of life. These range from a simple voiceover app on a smartphone to much more complex and high-tech options.
Madam Wong said she used to get injured when I used a gas stove and she would not know how hot the pan was.
She added that her talking kitchen has made things a lot more convenient and safer.
There are no definitive statistics on the number of people with disabilities in Singapore, but the Disabled People’s Association here estimates the prevalence rate to be at least 3%.
NEW TECH MORE READILY AVAILABLE
In the past, fancier forms of assistive technology options were produced for very niche markets and therefore very expensive and difficult to source. Some people with disabilities may not even be aware that such forms of technology exist.
These items have since become more readily available, thanks to information on the Internet as well as help from various non-profit organisations.
Madam Wong’s gadgets, for example, were purchased from overseas with the help of the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped, with the induction hob costing $250, the weighing scale $52 and the timer $19.
Mr Edwin Khoo, supervisor of the assistive devices centre at the assoication, said this is in part because the association has also been more active in recent years in spreading awareness about the availability of various tools at conferences and community engagement events.
MORE COMMUNITY HELP
Regular hackathon events and workshops are held throughout the year to create assistive technology devices that are simple yet effective.
At the Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM) makeathon here earlier this month, about 80 local students as well as professionals got together to invent inclusive technology devices for various needs.
One example is a mobile app, known as Tote, which was designed to help people with Down syndrome travel independently.
Tapping Google Maps, the app provides regular vocal cues in a systematic way such that people with Down syndrome can easily understand. The app can also be used by caregivers to track their whereabouts.
Another device created at the TOM event is something that will allow muscular dystrophy patient William Eng, 31, to open as well as lock the door to his flat on his own via a remote control. At the moment, he can exit it only with the help of family members.
The 3D-printed device, which comprises various moving mechanical parts, can unlock and push open the door at the touch of a few buttons. The device is paired with a smartphone for authentication purposes.
Costing only about $50, it is much more affordable than installing a digital door lock, which typically costs upwards of $200.
National Institute of Education Associate Professor Wong Meng Ee, who specialises in special needs education, said designers of assistive technologies need to understand that people with disabilities want to be seen using trendy technologies, not clinical devices that smack of rehabilitation.
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Source: The Straits Times, 26 June 2019