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Sign Language
One of the first forms of communication before assistive technologies were ever invented. In the year 1620, Bonet wrote a book that contained the first known manual alphabet system. How well do you know sign language? Take the American Sign Language quiz and see!
(Click the link below). https://www.sporcle.com/games/jayrodss7/signlanguage_alphabet?t=asl -
The Ear Trumpet
The Ear Trumpet, also known as the first hearing aid, came in many different shapes and styles and was made of everything from animal horns to sheet iron. Check out these ear trumpets, or old time hearing aids!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Ez3rVdCIM -
Braille
Named after Louis Braille. He accidentally blinded himself at the age of three with a stitching awl he took from his father's workshop. Pretty insane right? Try these fun games to see how well you know you're braille! (Click on link below).
https://braillebug.org/Games.asp -
Hearing Aid
In 1898, Miller Reese Hutchison created the first electric hearing aid. His design used an electric current to amplify weak signals. -
Stairlift
In 1924, C.C. Crispen built what he called an inclinator, after seeing a convalescing neighbor confined to an upstairs bed. The Inclinator Company of America introduced the first widely-used stair lift soon after. It then became know as the stairlift. -
Zimmer frame
Commonly referred to as a Zimmer frame due to the genericised use of the company name most famous for producing them, walking aids were first developed by William Cribbes Robb of Stretford, England, who submitted a patent in 1949 for his means of assisting someone with walking or balance difficulties. -
Sip-and-Puff
Engineer, Reginald Maling, invented the Sip-and-Puff. This technoloy is very cool and has become even more developed over the years. Check out this video of how Jared uses the sip and puff on his computer with this link here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhj5vs9P5cw -
Speech Generating Devices
Speech-generating devices, or SGDs, were first made commercially available in the 1970s. The first company in the UK to provide them was Toby Churchill; the man himself was diagnosed with locked-in syndrome in 1969 after swimming in a polluted lake, and only later regained the use of his arm and legs -
Prosthetic Limb
Prosthetic limbs have been around for longer than this, but better developments and designs were created in the 80's. -
Accessibility Software
Microsoft issued Windows 95, the first time their OS had built in accessibility features (rather than as an add-on).
Watch this link on how schools have made software accessible to people with disabilities!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCTzfu82SG0&feature=youtu.be -
Prehensile Robotics
This invention is still ongoing, that's why it is listed as 2020. There are many inventions such as prosthetic limbs, but the next step is the creation of technology that performs prehensile functions using only signals from the brain. -
Autonomous Cars
The technology is still developing, but it is thought that autonomous cars will be a feature of our roads by 2020.
