An idea - can anyone help?

[David]

Hi folks,

I am a student doing a Masters in Information Technology, and I'm looking to develop a website to allow older people and social and healthcare professionals to access infomation on assistive technology. Do you think that this sort of website would be useful? What kind of information would you like it to provide? What kind of interactive features should it include?

Any advice you can give me would be very welcome!

David

 

[Grannie G]

Hello David.

What a good idea.

The biggest help I`d find is simple explanations to the necessary terminlolgy, no jargon, and no assumptions. Even the term `assistive technology` could have a variety of meanings to a novice.

No one should need to guess.

When I was taking written exams, I was told to believe the examiner is an idiot, and not assume s/he knows anything.

It was good advice.

Good Luck.

 

[CraigC]

Hi David,

Firstly, good luck with your project.

As you will be providing a website for assistive technology I'm assuming that your website is going to have to be incredibly accessible. So my first stop would be to ensure the website is very easy to navigate and meets the needs of all the people you are targeting. For example, many websites do not even have the basic font size change accessibilily required by WC3. So just make sure the site meets the needs and demands of the people who will access it.

It is such a huge area if you are targeting all disabled people I'd start by taking a look at one of the Alzheimers forums factsheets:

Assistive technology - http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=109

There is loads of information within the above factsheet.

I'd also look at the Disabled Living Foundation. They have done a great job of providing the kind of service you are talking about unless I've missunderstood your remit?

http://www.dlf.org.uk/
and
http://www.dlf.org.uk/public/suppliers.html

Kind Regards
Craig

 

[citybythesea]

Kudos To You!

This is such a wonderful idea. I know as a care giver for an AD patient I am always search the net for info.

My thing would be to have extra links to other sources of the same. I know to that a lot of people would appreciate the stages of alzheimers being better described as would the same with the stages of grief.

I hope you find the right way for your site.