Research
Technologies for Independent Living
The developed world is facing massive growth in the number of elderly people, combined with decreasing numbers of younger people to support and care for them. This has generated intense interest in the development of Assistive Technologies that can enable elderly people to live independently, and safely, in their own homes. As Professor of Disabiliity Sciences, Martin Fergusson-Pell has significant experience of Assistive Technologies that have been designed to assist disabled people; his expertise has seen him work closely with the NHS to help create a new national centre for the design and development of these technologies.
Although the needs of disabled and elderly people can be vastly different, the sharing of expertise by professionals in both fields will undoubtedly be to the advantage of everyone. Martin is delighted both that his work is benefitting from this new ineterest, and that his work is advancing the efforts of his colleagues.
With increased business sector interest, Assistive Technologies are becoming increasingly hi-tech and the Aspire Centre for Disability Sciences will be looking at and developing, amongst other things, Smart Homes, Tele-rehabilitation, Tele-care and Tele-medicine.