Presenters: Sarah Ekart & Gwenyth Johnson
Georgia Department of Human Services
Vision, Mission and Core Values
Vision
Stronger Families for a Stronger Georgia.
Mission
Strengthen Georgia by providing Individuals and Families access to services
that promote self-sufficiency, independence, and protect Georgia's
vulnerable children and adults.
Core Values
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Provide access to resources that offer support and empower Georgians and
their families.
Deliver services professionally and treat all clients with dignity and respect.
Manage business operations effectively and efficiently by aligning resources
across the agency.
Promote accountability, transparency and quality in all services we deliver
and programs we administer.
Develop our employees at all levels of the agency.
What is Assistive Technology?
• Assistive Technology (AT) is any item or piece of
equipment that is used to increase, maintain or
improve the functional capabilities of an individual.
• AT ranges from low tech to high tech devices.
Categories
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Daily Living
Communication
Mobility
Safety
Environmental Adaptions
Household
Daily Living
• Liftware Spoon https://youtu.be/fS01kn6YJ94
• Foam Tubing
• Telehealth
• Medication Reminders
Communication
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Big button cell phones
Skype
Factime
Tablets (AARP)
Mobility
• Virtual Senior Centers
• http://www.selfhelp.net/virtual-senior-center
Safety
• Cuff – wearable monitoring device
• Under Mattress Alarm System
Environmental Adaptions
• Uplift Chairs
• Automatic door openers
• Tush Push
Household
• One Touch Can Opener
• Speak n’ Brew Coffee Maker
• Roomba
How to Pay for AT
• Assistive Technology Financial Loan Program
– Tools For Life  for Funding Education
– Center for Financial independence & Innovation
– And more…
• Vocational Rehab Agency
• Independent Living Centers
• Exchange Centers
– gTRADE Georgia’s on line Equipment Exchange
• Older American’s Act Funding
What we are doing in Georgia
• Coastal’s AT Lab
• Tool Kits
Video Games as Assistive Technology
• How can video games be used?
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Rehabilitation
Motivation
Improved self efficacy
Improved hand eye control
Increased creativity
Improved computer skills and comfort level
Improved compliance with training or therapy protocol
Increased communications/social network
Improved problem solving
Video Games as Assistive Technology
• Physical Video Games
– Dance Town Fitness System; The mature DDR
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Provides slower movements and senior friendly music
Generally installed with grab bars for safety
Validated senior assessment tool
Game records performance and can be utilized by a physician
or therapist.
Video Games as Assistive Technology
Video Games as AT
• Physical Video Games
– Wii, Play Station, X Box
Video Games As AT
• Physical Video Games
– Xbox Kinect
• Technology allowing for controller-free gaming and
entertainment experience
• Allows for full body, depth-based 3-D Motion capture, facial
recognition and voice recognition capabilities
• Has a number of exergames for the platform; Yourshape
fitness is an example
• These games target strength, balance, and cardiovascular
training tailored to the individual’s fitness level and useful in
rehabilitation and training settings
Video Games as AT
Video Games as AT
• Games Developed for Cognitive Development
– Space Fortress
• Developed as a tool for studying learning and training
strategies
• Utilized real world tasks such as piloting a vehicle, etc.
• Testing showed changes to portions of the brain after training
with Space Fortress relating to the performance in the game.
• Commercial games have shown some of these same effects
although with the need for additional research
Space Fortress
Video Games as AT
• Third Person Video Games
– The game is viewed as a third party observer, even of
your own character. The experience is more of a
puppeteer.
– The Avatar is visible to the player allowing the player to
see what is coming from above
– Often more character movement oriented than hand to
hand or gun combat.
– Frequently preferred by the casual video game player
Video Games as AT
• First Person Video Games
– Games that view the world through the player’s eyes, requiring
the player to “inhabit the game world”. This can increase difficulty
in mastering timing and distances. Can cause motion sickness in
some
– The player must be aware of the entire environment utilizing
peripheral vision (not true peripheral visioin)
– This type of game is associated with enhanced flexibility in
updating task relevant information
Video Games as AT
Video Games as AT
• Video Games May
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Support Cognitive Development
Support Cognitive Maintenance
Support Improved Decision Making Time and Process
Support Increased Physical Activity
Serve to Motivate Individuals Toward Longer
Compliance
– Be a great way to stay sharp!
Conclusions
• Assistive Technology can help individuals to live
independent and engaged lives.
• AT can impact multiple areas of our daily lives
• AT can be low tech and /or the latest technologic
advancement
• How will you incorporate assistive technology into
your life and practice?
Questions