Technological advances making life easier for people with physical and mental ...( ble to the totally blind in either spee...)

Katherine Seelman of University of Pittsburgh, another AAAS speaker, discussed the challenges that the hearing-impaired have in natural environments, the technological advances that help support them, and the needs of future research.

With an aging work force and an ever-growing group of people who are hard-of-hearing (the elderly), Seelman believes that the time is critical for developing new technologies for the hearing impaired and situating these advancements in terms of real-life situations.

"These concepts are going to make new and exciting demands on researchers," Seelman said.

Seelman presented some of the latest digital hearing aids and cochlear implants and discussed the need to conduct research under conditions other than a controlled laboratory setting. Research conditions should be in a more natural surrounding; where people live, work and learn, according to Seelman. This concept of performing studies within a natural environment is one that the World Health Organization has recognized as well, citing that research on individuals with hearing disabilities needs to occur in their natural environment.

Empowering people a living with a disability is on the mind of AAAS speaker Ted A. Conway of the University of Central Florida, a transition-to-work specialist who is developing new technological applications. For one student with severe spasticity and diminished mental capacity transitioning from high school to the work force, Conway's team helped build a headrest with switches that will operate a photocopier machine. Since the student has the most motor control in his head, he can use this technology that maximizes his mobility in order to ope
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16-Feb-2003