ABSTRACT
Special needs equipment and assistive products, from bath chairs to simple gadgets, have been manufactured over a long period of time with the intention to 'fit' so-called disabled people to their environment. Many of these meet a need, but little or no design input has gone into their development. Two World Wars, and later the Vietnam War, prompted the development of prosthetics and aids and equipment for disabled combatants, in particular wheelchairs. Assistive products were also developed to aid independence, such as stair lifts and jar openers. Advances in technology led to innovations in assistive technology, such as voice synthesisers and electric wheelchairs, while new materials and manufacturing techniques were harnessed in the development of contact and varifocal lenses. Genetic science offers considerable potential to modify and manipulate bodily processes, while intelligent technologies have the potential to make environments, products and services significantly more responsive to individual needs and preferences.
