Hobbs David A, Close Jo K, Downing Andrew R, Reynolds Karen J, Walker Lloyd T
Division of Research & Innovation, Novita Children's Services, Regency Park, Adelaide, SA 5942, Australia.
Aust Health Rev. 2009 Feb;33(1):152-60. doi: 10.1071/ah090152.
Assistive technology (AT) plays a pivotal role in the lives of people who require assistance with one or more aspects of daily living. Ranging from simple devices such as an augmented fork to complex devices like a power wheelchair with integrated environmental control, AT is a broad term to describe a range of products and services that provide assistance. Historically used in the "disability sector", in recent years AT devices have merged into the ageing sector as more Australians develop an impairment through "age-related disability", creating a larger market for equipment that provides independence or restores lost/reduced functionality. Despite the national focus on ageing, Australia lacks a nationally coordinated and cohesive AT sector - most AT equipment and devices are imported and the sector struggles for local research, development, and commercialisation funding. In an attempt to address this issue, a network of rehabilitation engineering and AT centres, universities, and industry players formed a collaboration to submit a Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) proposal to drive Australian AT products and services. The main focus was on developing Australian capacity within the sector and creating innovative products that met Australian needs, leading to import replacement. A secondary focus was on providing a national education program to provide ongoing AT training and development across multiple disciplines associated with both disability and ageing.
辅助技术（AT）在那些在日常生活的一个或多个方面需要帮助的人们的生活中起着关键作用。从诸如加大叉之类的简单设备到带有集成环境控制功能的电动轮椅等复杂设备，辅助技术是一个广泛的术语，用于描述一系列提供帮助的产品和服务。辅助技术过去常用于“残疾领域”，近年来随着越来越多的澳大利亚人因“与年龄相关的残疾”而出现损伤，辅助技术设备已融入老龄化领域，从而为提供独立性或恢复丧失/降低的功能的设备创造了更大的市场。尽管全国都在关注老龄化问题，但澳大利亚缺乏一个全国协调且有凝聚力的辅助技术领域——大多数辅助技术设备都是进口的，该领域在争取本地研究、开发和商业化资金方面面临困难。为了解决这个问题，一个由康复工程与辅助技术中心、大学和行业参与者组成的网络合作提交了一份合作研究中心（CRC）提案，以推动澳大利亚的辅助技术产品和服务。主要重点是发展该领域内的澳大利亚能力，并创造满足澳大利亚需求的创新产品，从而实现进口替代。次要重点是提供一项全国性教育计划，以便在与残疾和老龄化相关的多个学科中持续开展辅助技术培训和发展。
