Technology of The Future
by Jeni Mundl
Historically, the 18th century was the industrial age and the 19th
century was the technology and information era. Our society was built
on manufacturing in the 18th century. The 19th century brought exciting
developments from the automobile to the Internet. Just imagine what
it is like for someone who was born 80 plus years ago and the changes
they have witnessed. It is hard to believe that many senior citizens
were born when the horse and buggy was still the main mode of transportation.
Today, more options for travel exist, such as boats, hybrid cars, airplanes,
and roller-blades.
2005—we are at
the beginning of a new millennium and a new age. Futurists are
calling it the biomedical and biotechnical age. Technology has
inundated the medical field. The two fields are merging together
and changing the way we think about medicine and the way we receive
treatment. Things such as medicine pumps, robotics, and new materials
in transplants are revolutionizing society.
When thinking of the future, there are four areas that impact the
rehabilitation of persons with disabilities: computers, electronic
aids of daily living, biotechnology/biomedicine and robotics. No longer
is cure the priority for the treatment of an illness, injury or condition
but rather emphasis is placed on independence where assistive technology
becomes crucial in the process.
Computers
Voice
recognition has been around since the 1940s. It is not a new technology,
but rather one that is now becoming usable. Dragon Naturally Speaking
is a premier product for computer access. The preferred version’s
vocabulary includes 250,000 words with the ability to add additional
words and phrases. Built-in commands for common procedures such
as saving and printing, make it a hands-free process in operating
a PC computer. Equivalent programs are being created for the Macintosh.
To implement this technology, a powerful computer with ample RAM
and speed is necessary. Voice recognition is not only for computers.
Currently, the trend is to embed the capability into microprocessors.
This means practically any electrical equipment or appliance could
potentially become voice-activated. Cell phones have jumped on
the bandwagon as they provide safety to the user. Other products
such as your microwave, door locking mechanism and thermostat may
one day be trained to your voice.
For persons with blindness, vision loss or a reading disability, OCR
with voice output offers many new technological capabilities. OCR is
Optical Character Recognition. This means the user is able to scan
printed information into a computer. The information is translated
into text with accuracy close to 100%. Dedicated programs will scan
and then start reading the information, whereas individualized scanning
software, such as OmniPage, converts information only. Individualized
scanning programs, therefore, will need an additional screen reader
or voice output to read out loud. It allows quick access to books,
as information does not need to be read out loud by a human voice into
a tape recorder. The academic and work world requires such abilities
as our society relies on information.
Computer technology for the individual with minimal movement has exploded.
Eye gaze will be the next great breakthrough. There are a few programs
available, but they are not user-friendly or reliable yet because the
transfer speeds on the computer are not fast enough. With FireWire
and Bluetooth, the reaction time from eye movement to translation into
mouse movement is finally becoming instantaneous. Head pointing has
been around for a longer period of time and will soon take advantage
of the same technology.
Electronic Aids of Daily Living
Bill
Gates’ visionary home is slowly becoming a reality for
anyone desiring it. The cost of home automation and electrical aids
of daily living significantly have fallen. It is feasible to think
that in 10 years the residents of a house will wear a bracelet with
their personal preferences. When the person walks into a room, the
temperature and lights change to the best setting for them. The home
automation may also customize the television channel choices and
turn on the music automatically. The individual will just talk rather
than using a remote or switch when changes are needed to the initial
setup. There still will be scanning options for those who cannot
speak clearly. Communication devices have started placing home automation
options into the infrared transmitter. Thought control may be available
as an access method. Through biofeedback or an electrode planted
on the brain, controlling appliances is accomplished.
Biotechnology/Biomedicine
Doctors are changing treatment protocols for their patients daily.
Technology and medicine are merging together. The use of implantable
medication pumps is one example where medicine is directly delivered
into the spinal cord or bloodstream. Persons with diabetes eventually
will have a continuous glucose monitor where the pump would adjust
to high and low blood sugar automatically. Baclofen pumps will increase
functional capabilities for persons with severe spasticity or tremors.
Pain will be controlled through both internal and external pump systems.
The patient may receive a continuous dosage of narcotics along with
the ability to increase the dosage with severe pain. Chemotherapy will
no longer require visits to the doctor after the pump is implanted
with the treatment.
Robotics
Finally, robotics
is a branch of engineering that involves the conception, design,
manufacture, and operation of robots and devices. This field overlaps
with electronics, computer science, artificial intelligence, mechatronics,
nano-technology, and bioengineering.
Robotics will allow for electrical transplants enabling the ability
to see, hear, move, feel and smell. Many new developments are on the
horizon. A robotic eye will have a miniscule camera implanted near
the optical nerve to project images to the brain. A bionic spine will
stop the need for immobility due to fusion. A swivel disk with new
materials will allow doctors to replace damaged vertebrae. Robotic
arms will be attached to the muscle mass of persons with spinal cord
injuries providing hand movement through other muscles. Prosthesis
devices will be available for the amputee allowing for better dexterity
and movement than can be seen on some able-bodied individuals who have
all their arms and legs.
It is a new era. The daily newspaper is filled with new possibilities
that will soon be a reality for all. Technology is the future!
