The contribution of science and technology towards improving the comfort life of the life of Persons with disabilities cannot be underestimated especially in recent times. The great and continuous inventions of science have not overlooked those with disabilities. Indeed, it would seem that the advancement of science and technology has really focused on persons with disabilities to create a good platform for their comfort and access to various places in their areas of occupation. By this I mean that there has been tremendous contribution from science in coming up with tools and devices for supporting persons with disabilities.
Talk of hearing disability, and science and technology will offer you a vast number of answers and solutions with most recent tools and devices such as Bluetooth hearing aids and cochlea implants that have evolved and are in the market for persons with disabilities with hearing impairment. These devices have acute sound detection and sensitivity to noise hence the hard of hearing person is able to easily receive and perceive audio data conveniently. So much has been done in technology that today we have “driverless cars for the visually impaired”. These cars employ the science of artificial intelligence and are just as comfortable as normal cars for persons of normal sight. For the visually impaired, there are devices such as the Dyna Vox Eye Max System which uses complex and nexus eye tracking system as well as voice detection systems (for the paralysed) for synchronizing verbal data and phrases to deliver correct information with definite meaning.
The breakthrough in devising travelling devices has been of great benefit to visually impaired persons. Whether at home, school, on the streets or anywhere else, these devices fitted with GPS tracking and audio feedback systems that tell you where you are turning or heading to, are a real blessing,all the more because these devices have been integrated into mobile devices for the visually impaired. Nowadays the visually impaired can navigate their way easily through streets and various places at their pleasure. I take this opportunity to salute and pay tribute to innovative minds in science and technology!
Furthermore, science and technology continue to play a major role in the lives of persons with disabilities, especially where the physically impaired are concerned. Right from innovation of wheelchairs to recent superb devices such as robotic arms and chairs, it’s just a fabulous show which confirms that technology is still making headway in beating the odds for persons with disabilities. These robots assist those who cannot walk or cannot grasp items, thus making life easier for them in their day-to-day activities, hence making them fit in and feel as comfortable as persons without disabilities!!
When in class it is easier for the visually impaired to use braille or the advanced device-Dyna Vox Eye Max System - which has helped thousands of visually impaired and stammers to write or generate verbal phrases to create meaningful communication. It is worth saying that science and technology has been an intriguing part and parcel of persons with disabilities especially focusing on the visually impaired and physically impaired persons. Ever heard of the Ibot stair-climbing wheel-chair? It is just another great innovation which aids the physically impaired in balancing as well as climbing stairs. A lot more can be said about science and technology, suffice it to say that its contribution to persons with disabilities is substantially enormous and more is still in store to aid in improving the life of persons with disabilities. With creative and critical thinking course in our minds already, we too can think, scientifically and technologically, of something to help improve the lives of persons with disabilities!
Joseph Gathura Kibachia