Ways in which technology can assist persons with disabilities
Assistive Technologies (22)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
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- 11 min
- Kinolab
- 1993
Geordie uses a brain-computer interface, which projects his consciousness into a mobile avatar controlled by his neural impulses, to explore distant ships. This humanoid avatar is able to perform tasks that go beyond human capabilities, such as shooting phaser beams from the hands. However, upon discovering the dead crew of the Raman, it is revealed that the lines separating his virtual reality and true reality are blurred.
- Kinolab
- 1993
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- 11 min
- Kinolab
- 1993
Interface: The Virtual Extension of the Self
Geordie uses a brain-computer interface, which projects his consciousness into a mobile avatar controlled by his neural impulses, to explore distant ships. This humanoid avatar is able to perform tasks that go beyond human capabilities, such as shooting phaser beams from the hands. However, upon discovering the dead crew of the Raman, it is revealed that the lines separating his virtual reality and true reality are blurred.
Discussion Prompts:
What non-fantastical applications might you be able to think of for a technology similar to this, especially in regards to transferring neural impulses into a machine? What are the consequences of giving machines unbridled access to our thoughts? How can machines get in the way of perception of objective reality?
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Test Run-
- 3 min
- Tech Crunch
- 2020
This narrative explains that the push for technology to help with accessibility for disabled groups, especially blind or visually impaired individuals, has spurred scientific innovation which is to the benefit of everyone.
- Tech Crunch
- 2020
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- 3 min
- Tech Crunch
- 2020
What will tomorrow’s tech look like? Ask someone who can’t see.
This narrative explains that the push for technology to help with accessibility for disabled groups, especially blind or visually impaired individuals, has spurred scientific innovation which is to the benefit of everyone.
Discussion Prompts:
What are the benefits of developing technologies and innovations which aim to solve a specific problem? How might this lead to unprecedented positive innovations? How can accessibility become a priority, and become adequately incentivized, in tech development, instead of other priorities such as profit?
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- University of Houston
- 2015
The article explains what a BCI is, how it helps amputees, and how BCI technology continues to innovate.
- University of Houston
- 2015
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Researchers Build Brain-Machine Interface To Control Prosthetic Hand
The article explains what a BCI is, how it helps amputees, and how BCI technology continues to innovate.
Discussion Prompts:
As BCI technologies continue to develop, what are ways that they could harm or benefit users or other stakeholders? Why do you think this study used the test subjects it did? What are the potential short and long term benefits and/or harms of using this particular group of subjects?
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- The Robot Report
- 2021
The article explains the working definition of Brain Computer Interface technologies (BCI), the current startup BCI tech companies in this sector which mostly focus on BCI applications for assistive prosthetics.
- The Robot Report
- 2021
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- The Robot Report
- 2021
Brain-computer interface startups augmenting human body
The article explains the working definition of Brain Computer Interface technologies (BCI), the current startup BCI tech companies in this sector which mostly focus on BCI applications for assistive prosthetics.
Discussion Prompts:
How do BCI technologies make the world “safer”, “more productive”, and “more accessible”? How are these terms defined in the article and by whom? In what ways does the article discuss co-design methods used with prosthetics users? How well do you beleive these potential BCI users understand the short and long term risks of this emerging medical technology? How well does the article discuss the potential harms?
- ZDNet
- 2021
Alexa Conversations improves its quality of natural language processing as users feed them sample conversations. This feedback system allows Alexa Conversations to cut costs of training developers and managing related data.
- ZDNet
- 2021
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- ZDNet
- 2021
Amazon makes Alexa Conversations generally available
Alexa Conversations improves its quality of natural language processing as users feed them sample conversations. This feedback system allows Alexa Conversations to cut costs of training developers and managing related data.
Discussion Prompts:
What are some measures you think technology companies should implement to ensure the protection of users’ privacy? What role do you think the government should play?
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- 2 min
- azfamily.com
- 2018
Facial recognition technology has found a new application: reuniting dogs with their owners. A simple machine learning algorithm takes a photo of a dog and crawls through a database of photos of dogs in shelters in hopes of finding a match.
- azfamily.com
- 2018
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- 2 min
- azfamily.com
- 2018
Facial recognition technology now used in Phoenix area to locate lost dogs
Facial recognition technology has found a new application: reuniting dogs with their owners. A simple machine learning algorithm takes a photo of a dog and crawls through a database of photos of dogs in shelters in hopes of finding a match.
Discussion Prompts:
How could this beneficial use of recognition technology find even broader use?