How supportive and assistive technology can benefit society

Conduct a literature review of 5-10 articles, journals, websites - include at least 3 academic articles and create a brief summary of your topic. Provide citation for references.

1. Anderson-Inman, L., & Horney, M. A. (2007). Supported eText: Assistive Technology through Text Transformations. Reading Research Quarterly, 42(1), 153–160. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4151710

Here, the authors look to support the assertion that electronic text can be used to help supplement the learning of those using traditional methods. In this instance, electronic text can be used to help better convey the meaning of certain articles and passages within the reading. It can also be used to help supplement the overall learning of grammar and sentence structure with the passage. This is important, according to the author, as the education system overall is becoming much more diverse. Many students are now foreign with little exposure to the English language and the pronunciation of particular words. In addition, many may be unfamiliar with sentence structure and how to properly formulate an English sentence. As a result, electronic assistive can be leverage as a supportive technology within the education environment. The author however, does note the limitation of the supportive technology within the education sphere. Here, they note the electronic text should be to supplement learning as oppose to replacing it.

2. Smith, C. (2008). Technology and Web-Based Support. The American Journal of Nursing, 108, 64–68. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24466484

This research article in the American Journal of Nursing notes how supportive technologies can alleviate the administrative and cost burdens within the overall healthcare system. The article indicates that healthcare expenditures currently account for roughly 18% of United States GDP. By 2030, according to the article, this figure will rise to nearly 20% of GDP or $11 Trillion. This is higher than any other developed nation in the world. Even more alarming, the article indicates that healthcare outcomes are much lower than other developed nations. Essentially, the United States is paying more for worse healthcare outcomes.

Technology is helping to alleviate these concerns by lowering the overall the friction costs of transactions through supportive and assistive technologies. These technologies include the adoption of electronic medical records, telehealth, and telemedicine initiatives. Each of these are design to help improve efficiency by providing administrative services through the internet. They also help to provide routine treatment services online as well. This improve efficiency and lowers cost by avoiding cancelations, delays, and absences. It also helps to improve the speed of service as treatment is conducted in an online format.

3. Minerva, F., & Giubilini, A. (2018). From assistive to enhancing technology: should the treatment-enhancement distinction apply to future assistive and augmenting technologies? Journal of Medical Ethics, 44(4), 244–247. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26879709

This research article looks to make ethic arguments as it relates to the use of technology within medical interventions. As the article is published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, it provides compelling arguments as to how technology can encroach on the personal freedoms of clients. It also argues how certain records can be manipulated particularly if they are related to those with disabilities or limited mental capacity. The article goes on to describe how these ethical breaches might occur, along with the moral implications of such developments. Although harmful the article suggests that these occurrences are acceptable given the vast benefits of supportive and assistive technology within the medical profession overall.

4. Parette, H. P., & Brotherson, M. J. (1996). Family Participation in Assistive Technology Assessment for Young Children with Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 31(1), 29–43 http://www.jstor.org/stable/23879021

This article looks to establish the benefits of supportive and assistive technologies for children suffering from mental retardation and development disabilities. The article focuses heavily on how families can use assistive technologies to help mitigate the development deficiencies of children. The first portion of the research focuses heavily on the literature review of assistive technologies and their overall benefits to families. Here the article notes that the evidence is mixed and requires still further research to substantiate the benefits of assistive technologies on those who have mental illness or developmental disabilities. The second section of the research report provides a model for families to help them leverage assistive technologies within their own families to support those with learning disabilities.