Date: Wednesday 18 May 2011
Time: 18:30 – Tea 6:00pm for 6:30 start
Speaker: Paul Doyle – Hereward College www.hereward.ac.uk
Location: AS321d, Coventry University
Abstract:
Hereward College is a general further education college located in Tile Hill, in Coventry, supporting day and residential students with a broad spectrum of complex learning needs, local non-disabled students may also attend the college. The college offers a range of specialist facilities which include comprehensive ICT and assistive technology (please see for example http://www.hereward.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=99&Itemid=97).
In his presentation Paul Doyle focused on a project that he has been involved in using assistive technology for aiding people with impairments and disabilities, normally in their homes. Using video feed from U-Tube the person benefitting from that project was able to give his perspective! Paul also explained his interest in specifically promoting the need for the technical people involved in developing, installing and supporting such equipment and services to have good awareness about the people being helped and their situations to ensure the implementation is both functionally effective and appropriate on a personal level to meet their specific needs. During this talk Paul highlighted that kids of all abilities love high-tech gadgets, and the latest offerings are ideal for “sawing and soldering” into functional interfaces to established care devices.