- 期刊
Assistive technologies: Their development from a technology assessment perspective
摘要
This paper highlights some major challenges involved in the research and technology development process for assistive technologies. Referring to a research project conducted by the authors, the outcomes include an analysis of goals and concepts of assistive technologies as well as the context of their application. Trade-offs that include the risk of substituting human assistance by technology, a threat to privacy or unintended side effects regarding their use should be considered at the outset of the research and technological development process. As far as funding schemes are concerned, programmes need to include an evaluation of the impact of assistive technologies in a broader socio-economic, cultural and socio-political context. Hence the underlying normative assumptions need to be scrutinised before the process begins.