Rehabilitation Engineering
Rehabilitation engineering is the application of science and technology to increase or improve
functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Rehabilitation engineering is that segment
of assistive technology that is designed specifically to rehabilitate an individual from his or her
present set of limitations due to some disabling condition, permanent or otherwise. The
development of these technological products required the contributions of mechanical, material,
electrical engineering, orthopedic surgeons, prosthetists and orthotists, allied health professional
and computer professionals.
Knowledge and techniques from different disciplines must be utilized to design technological
solutions that can alleviate problems caused by various disabling conditions. In rehabilitation
engineering design is the creative process of identifying needs and then devising an assistive
device to fulfill those needs. Key elements of the design process involve the following
sequential steps: analysis, synthesis, evaluation, decision, and implementation.
Rehabilitation engineering is the systematic application of engineering sciences to design,
develop, adapt, test, evaluate, apply, and distribute technological solutions to problems
confronted by individuals with disabilities. Functional areas addressed through rehabilitation
engineering may include mobility, communications, hearing, vision, and cognition, and
activities associated with employment, independent living, education, and integration into the
community.
The rehabilitation process for people with disabilities often entails the design of assistive
devices intended to promote inclusion of their users into the mainstream of society, commerce,
and recreation. The mission is to "improve the potential of people with disabilities to achieve
their goals through the use of technology".
Impairments
Impairments are defined any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or
anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological,
musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular,
reproductive, digestive, genitourinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin, and endocrine. A mental
impairment is defined any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic
brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities.
Disabilities
Disability is any restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity within the range considered
normal for a human being. It is characterized by excesses or deficiencies of customarily
expected activity performance and behaviors, and these may be temporary or permanent,
reversible or irreversible, and progressive or regressive. Disabilities may arise as a direct
consequence of impairment or as a response by the individual, particularly psychologically, to a
physical, sensory, or other impairment. Disability represents objectification of impairment, and
as such it reflects disturbances at the level of a person.
Handicaps
Any physical or mental defect either congenital or acquired which preventing or restricting a
person from participating in normal life or limiting his capacity to work.
1
, Measurement and Assessment
The application of assistive technology can be conceptualized as minimizing the functional gap
between the person and his or her environment. This reality is what technology does for all of
us to varying degree. The conceptual framework from the model as proposed by Roger Smith
consists of three cycle elements that come into play when humans interact with technology. The
components are: (i) the human and his or her innate sensory, cognitive, and functional abilities;
(ii) the human factor’s characteristics of the interface between the human and the technology;
(iii) the technical characteristics of the technology itself in terms of its output as a result of a
specific input by the user. People with disabilities may have varying degrees of dysfunction in
their sensory, cognitive, and functional abilities. The interface will have to be selected or
adapted to these varying abilities in order to allow the person to effectively interact with the
technology. The technology itself will need to possess specific electronic or mechanical
capabilities in order to yield the desired outcome. The essence of assistive technology
applications is to integrate all three of these elements into a functional outcome that meets the
specific needs of the user. This is usually done by selecting commercially available devices and
technologies at a cost that can be met by either the individual or his or her third-party payment
source. When technologies are not available, then they must be modified from existing devices
or designed and fabricated as unique custom solutions. It is particularly in these latter activities
that a rehabilitation engineer can make his or her unique contribution to team process.
It should be realized that there are several levels of assistive technology. The first might be
termed fundamental technology in contrast to advanced technology. Fundamental technologies,
such as walker, crutches, many wheelchairs, activities of daily living (ADL) equipment, etc.,
usually do not require the involvement of the rehabilitation engineers in their application. Others
on the team can better assess the need, confirm the interface compatibility, and verify that the
outcome is appropriate. The rehabilitation engineer is most often involved in the application of
advanced technologies, such as powered wheelchairs, computerized workstation designs, etc.,
that require an understanding of the underlying technological principles in order to achieve the
best match with the abilities and needs of the user, especially if custom modification or
integration of devices are required to the original equipment. The rehabilitation engineer is
usually the key persons if a unique solution is necessary.
An evaluation is meant to guide decision-making for the person with a disability toward
appropriate and cost-effective technology. Often, more than one functional need exists for which
assistive technology could be prescribed. Costly, frustrating, and time-consuming mistakes often
can be avoided if a thorough evaluation based on a person’s total functional needs is performed
before any technology is recommended. Following the evaluation, a long-range plan for
acquisition and training in the chosen technology can be started.
Engineering concepts in sensory and motor rehabilitation
Sensory Rehabilitation
The two senses: vision and hearing are the main input channel through which data with high
information content can flow. A loss of one or the other of these senses (or both) can have a
devastating impact on the individual affected. Rehabilitation engineers attempt to restore the
functions of these senses either through augmentation or via sensory substitution systems.
Eyeglasses and hearing aids are examples of augmentative devices that can be used if some
residual capacity remains. A major area of rehabilitation engineering research deals with
sensory substitution systems.
2
Rehabilitation engineering is the application of science and technology to increase or improve
functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Rehabilitation engineering is that segment
of assistive technology that is designed specifically to rehabilitate an individual from his or her
present set of limitations due to some disabling condition, permanent or otherwise. The
development of these technological products required the contributions of mechanical, material,
electrical engineering, orthopedic surgeons, prosthetists and orthotists, allied health professional
and computer professionals.
Knowledge and techniques from different disciplines must be utilized to design technological
solutions that can alleviate problems caused by various disabling conditions. In rehabilitation
engineering design is the creative process of identifying needs and then devising an assistive
device to fulfill those needs. Key elements of the design process involve the following
sequential steps: analysis, synthesis, evaluation, decision, and implementation.
Rehabilitation engineering is the systematic application of engineering sciences to design,
develop, adapt, test, evaluate, apply, and distribute technological solutions to problems
confronted by individuals with disabilities. Functional areas addressed through rehabilitation
engineering may include mobility, communications, hearing, vision, and cognition, and
activities associated with employment, independent living, education, and integration into the
community.
The rehabilitation process for people with disabilities often entails the design of assistive
devices intended to promote inclusion of their users into the mainstream of society, commerce,
and recreation. The mission is to "improve the potential of people with disabilities to achieve
their goals through the use of technology".
Impairments
Impairments are defined any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or
anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological,
musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular,
reproductive, digestive, genitourinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin, and endocrine. A mental
impairment is defined any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic
brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities.
Disabilities
Disability is any restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity within the range considered
normal for a human being. It is characterized by excesses or deficiencies of customarily
expected activity performance and behaviors, and these may be temporary or permanent,
reversible or irreversible, and progressive or regressive. Disabilities may arise as a direct
consequence of impairment or as a response by the individual, particularly psychologically, to a
physical, sensory, or other impairment. Disability represents objectification of impairment, and
as such it reflects disturbances at the level of a person.
Handicaps
Any physical or mental defect either congenital or acquired which preventing or restricting a
person from participating in normal life or limiting his capacity to work.
1
, Measurement and Assessment
The application of assistive technology can be conceptualized as minimizing the functional gap
between the person and his or her environment. This reality is what technology does for all of
us to varying degree. The conceptual framework from the model as proposed by Roger Smith
consists of three cycle elements that come into play when humans interact with technology. The
components are: (i) the human and his or her innate sensory, cognitive, and functional abilities;
(ii) the human factor’s characteristics of the interface between the human and the technology;
(iii) the technical characteristics of the technology itself in terms of its output as a result of a
specific input by the user. People with disabilities may have varying degrees of dysfunction in
their sensory, cognitive, and functional abilities. The interface will have to be selected or
adapted to these varying abilities in order to allow the person to effectively interact with the
technology. The technology itself will need to possess specific electronic or mechanical
capabilities in order to yield the desired outcome. The essence of assistive technology
applications is to integrate all three of these elements into a functional outcome that meets the
specific needs of the user. This is usually done by selecting commercially available devices and
technologies at a cost that can be met by either the individual or his or her third-party payment
source. When technologies are not available, then they must be modified from existing devices
or designed and fabricated as unique custom solutions. It is particularly in these latter activities
that a rehabilitation engineer can make his or her unique contribution to team process.
It should be realized that there are several levels of assistive technology. The first might be
termed fundamental technology in contrast to advanced technology. Fundamental technologies,
such as walker, crutches, many wheelchairs, activities of daily living (ADL) equipment, etc.,
usually do not require the involvement of the rehabilitation engineers in their application. Others
on the team can better assess the need, confirm the interface compatibility, and verify that the
outcome is appropriate. The rehabilitation engineer is most often involved in the application of
advanced technologies, such as powered wheelchairs, computerized workstation designs, etc.,
that require an understanding of the underlying technological principles in order to achieve the
best match with the abilities and needs of the user, especially if custom modification or
integration of devices are required to the original equipment. The rehabilitation engineer is
usually the key persons if a unique solution is necessary.
An evaluation is meant to guide decision-making for the person with a disability toward
appropriate and cost-effective technology. Often, more than one functional need exists for which
assistive technology could be prescribed. Costly, frustrating, and time-consuming mistakes often
can be avoided if a thorough evaluation based on a person’s total functional needs is performed
before any technology is recommended. Following the evaluation, a long-range plan for
acquisition and training in the chosen technology can be started.
Engineering concepts in sensory and motor rehabilitation
Sensory Rehabilitation
The two senses: vision and hearing are the main input channel through which data with high
information content can flow. A loss of one or the other of these senses (or both) can have a
devastating impact on the individual affected. Rehabilitation engineers attempt to restore the
functions of these senses either through augmentation or via sensory substitution systems.
Eyeglasses and hearing aids are examples of augmentative devices that can be used if some
residual capacity remains. A major area of rehabilitation engineering research deals with
sensory substitution systems.
2
