Electrical stimulation of the spinal cord to rejuvenate dormant circuits in people with physical disability

With the emerging new technology aids such as Spinal Cord Electrical Stimulators, new hope is being found for people who have suffered spinal cord or brain injuries that led to severe mobility issues and sometimes total paralysis. Brains usually are passing message through the spinal cord nerve channels to make muscles move and body parts accordingly. People with physical disabilities, particularly who are suffering from spinal cord injuries have that process of nerve signal communication blocked due to nerves damage.

Applicability of teaching aids in extension education

Transference of the bookish knowledge is not enough for effective teaching so teaching should be supplemented with new teaching models or new emerging technology. However, do the students give importance to teaching aids for better instruction and learning? is the concerned area. This question is answered in this study by identifying the importance of teaching aids from students’ perspectives. Data were collected through the questionnaires from secondary school students (aged 14-15 years). Collected data were analysed by employing frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Findings indicated that teaching aids bring accuracy to get first-hand knowledge for obtaining the desirable objectives among students. Students’ learning becomes easy, quick and long-lasting as these aids leave high level of impressions on students’ mind and behaviour eventually. Teaching aids are helpful for teaching difficulty and complex concepts. No one can deny the importance of teaching aids in students’ learning. This study urges more practice of technology aids in teaching and training process either being practiced formally or non-formally.

Community-based public transportation training with the integration of assistive technology: A pilot program for young adults with intellectual disability

BACKGROUND: Young adults with an intellectual disability require transportation to participate in work and leisure, however reports on specific public transportation training programs, use of assistive technology supports, and outcomes are limited. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study was designed to explore if a transportation training program which utilized technology aids decreased the amount travel assistance required. A secondary objective was to observe and describe the specific assistive technology utilized while traveling within the community. METHODS: Eight individualized training sessions were administered within the community with the integration of technology aids and travel skill training through a facilitated learning model. The Pre & Post Travel Training Test was administered pre-test and post-test. RESULTS: The paired t test (n= 10) revealed a significant increase in scores upon post-test (p= 0.00011), indicating a decrease in assistance required for travel. The most preferred technology aid was individualized, printed Google Maps directions (60%) followed by smartphone Apps (40%) and visual social stories (40%). CONCLUSIONS: All participants increased independence in public transportation travel skills. Ample opportunity to trial low to high technology aids should be considered. Through this initial pilot, possible greater availability of access to work and community opportunities may result after community-based transportation training.

Mouse-Less Cursor Control for Quadriplegic and Autistic Patients Using Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is a field within computer science that attempts to simulate and build enhanced human intelligence into computers, mobiles, and various other machines. It can be termed as a powerful tool that has the capability to process huge sums of information with ease and assess patterns created over a period of time to give significant results or suggestions. It has garnered focus from almost every field from education to healthcare. Broadly, AI applications in healthcare include early detection and diagnosis, suggesting treatments, evaluating progress, medical history, and predicting outcomes. This chapter discussed AI, ASD, and what role AI currently plays in advancing autistic lives including detection, analysis, and treatment of ASD and how AI has been improving healthcare and the existing medical and technology aids available for autistic people. Current and future advancements are discussed and suggested in the direction of improving social abilities and reducing the communication and motor difficulties faced by people with ASD.

Strategies and Technology Aids for Teaching Science to Blind and Visually Impaired Students

This chapter aims to provide a panorama of suitable teaching resources and strategies for science education of blind and visually impaired students. Although it is not a thorough review, its intention is to provide examples of what is possible to do specifically for experimental sciences (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics). The authors will also present the foundations for designing inclusive learning materials based on the user-centered design and universal design for learning (UDL) frameworks, using as example the development of technology-based tactile three-dimensional prototypes for teaching biology. An example of low-technology adaptations for making accessible instruments for the chemistry lab, using recycled materials will also be described, as well as adaptations for laboratory safety. Finally, there is also a section elaborating on the educational strategy to create inclusive and engaging environments in science laboratories.

Food Irradiation An Established Food Processing Technology for Food Safety and Security

Food irradiation is a well-established and effective technology for food processing and preservation. The technology aids in reducing food losses and ensuring food safety by elimination of pathogens and parasites causing illness and death. Radiation treatment can be applied to agricultural produce and animal food products to get extended shelf life with improved microbiological safety and quality. Irradiating food can greatly reduce illness from foodborne pathogens thereby preventing morbidity and mortality. Various national and international food and health organisations have endorsed and supported the safety of food and foodstuffs subjected to ionising radiation based on the research and testing data of more than 50 year. A review is presented on the historical developments of food irradiation technology, radiation sources for treatment of food and, the safety and wholesomeness of foods processed by ionising radiation.

Preanalytical challenges – time for solutions

The European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group for the Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE) was originally established in 2013, with the main aims of (i) promoting the importance of quality in the preanalytical phase of the testing process, (ii) establishing best practices and providing guidance for critical activities in the preanalytical phase, (iii) developing and disseminating European surveys for exploring practices concerning preanalytical issues, (iv) organizing meetings, workshops, webinars or specific training courses on preanalytical issues. As education is a core activity of the WG-PRE, a series of European conferences have been organized every second year across Europe. This collective article summarizes the leading concepts expressed during the lectures of the fifth EFLM Preanalytical Conference “Preanalytical Challenges – Time for solutions”, held in Zagreb, 22–23 March, 2019. The topics covered include sample stability, preanalytical challenges in hematology testing, feces analysis, bio-banking, liquid profiling, mass spectrometry, next generation sequencing, laboratory automation, the importance of knowing and measuring the exact sampling time, technology aids in managing inappropriate utilization of laboratory resources, management of hemolyzed samples and preanalytical quality indicators.

Technology and Learner Autonomy: An Argument in Favor of the Nexus of Formal and Informal Language Learning

This article discusses some of the current research on technology in relation to learner autonomy, outlining major findings on the relationship between technology and learner autonomy in formal and informal learning contexts. Extant literature has discussed both teacher-initiated technology-enhanced formal learning environments and learner-constructed self-directed learning experience in informal learning contexts. Although valuable in the insights it provides into how technology aids learner autonomy, the two bodies of literature have largely been independent from each other, which may constrain our understanding.