Assistive technology

What is Assistive technology you may wonder?
I like how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: United Sates Department of Commerce (2011) define it as:

"Any item, piece of equipment, or system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is commonly used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities." 

So basically, (from what I understand), assistive technology is any type of technology, whether it be hardware/ software which assists/ helps a person with a disability in functionally performing tasks and improving their capabilities.
Cook and Hussey (1995) state a number of important components to include in the definition of assistive technology.
Firstly, including modified, customized and commercial devices means we "encompass an extremely wide range of applications" (p. 8). Secondly by talking about the functional capabilities of the individual the success of assistive technology devices can be measured from visible functional outcomes. And thirdly the "emphasis on individual persons with disabilities underscores the importance of treating each application of technology as a unique circumstance" (p. 8).

A particular piece of assistive technology that was introduced in our tutorial was an iPad. The latest iPad is an iPad 2. I am not yet familiar with all the functions and options available that the iPad 2 has to offer and therefore want to explore it more.
The iPad 2 measures 185 by 241 by 86mm, and weighs in at 603 grams
Cost: $799.00
Functions:
-6x faster than original iPad
-Face time video chat
-Board games and games, you can choose many games (apps) when you own an iPad that are very interactive
-Interactive books
-Have your own book library with all your favorite books
-Flick through book pages
-Record your own voice
-Take photos
-Photos move according to the orientation of ipad
-Watch movies
-Easy to navigate, flick, slide through photos
-Create music from the garage band application: play keyboard, drums etc....
-Type on the touch screen
-Click on a dice which rolls
-Internet  connection

The iPad 2 increases occupational capacity for the user by allowing them to do so many things. Just some examples are the voice recorder: This allows a person to record their own voice which can remind them of messages/ tasks they must do etc... or can benefit other people, eg. a mother can read a story and record her voice so that her children can follow along on an online book. The iPad 2 also allows a person to easily and quickly type a message that they want to say to another person. This can beneficail, if (for example) they are non-verbal. A person who cannot throw a dice is still able to use one with this technology.
In our tutorial and lecture, we got to play some of the interactive games that are available. There was music creator on the garage band application, the opportunity to play board games, or be creative and make colorful, fun pieces of art. There were so many opportunities to do different things on this iPad.

Here is some more info on iPads, check out these videos and the link provided

-In-depth preview: The iPad 2

Cook, A. M., & Hussey. S. M. (1995). Assistive technologies: Principals and practice. St. Louis, MO: Mosby.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: United Sates Department of Commerce. (2011). Glossary of section 508 terms. Retrieved from http://www.cio.noaa.gov/Policy_Programs//508_Glossary.html