Are you an end-user or carer who have or intend buying, smart technology or other products including monitoring or security devices? The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute want volunteer research participants to be part of a national study into assistive technologies (AT). The New and Emerging Assistive Technologies research seeks to address the implications of new and emerging AT for people living with disability and older people. (See survey details below).

The aim of the study is to identify the social and economic benefits and opportunities that AT does and can play in supporting independent living and the ability for people to age at home. It will investigate how people with disability perceive AT and their views on incentives and disincentives to invest in them; and what drives or does not encourage better AT policy.

According to project leader and director of UNSW School of Architecture and Design, Professor Catherine Bridge, AT usage in housing for people with disability, its popularity and potential growth remains unclear. This is despite the existence of a nexus between housing design, geography and retrofit and upgrade strategies. “Previous research studies and grey literature reports indicate that people with disabilities and older people do not obtain the AT that would be of most benefit because of issues with retrofitting, usability and consequences of user error, cost and interoperability,” she told F2L.

A focus group with representatives of industry, peak bodies and policymakers and users of AT will be organised in three states to present and discuss the literature findings in relation to different national policy and practice contexts. These discussions will feed into policy recommendations.

This collaborative project is being undertaken between the University of New South Wales, Faculty of the Built Environment, City Futures; The University of Adelaide, Centre for Housing, Urban and Regional Planning (CHURP) and University of Tasmania, Housing and Community Research Unit, School of Sociology and Social Work AHURI Research Centre.

Eligibility criteria:

  • have assistive device(s) at home that use Google Home, Amazon Alexa or similar
  • are 18+ or a guardian can complete the survey for the participant
  • have a disability, age or non-age related

For information or requiring large print, Braille, tape or translation PH: 1800 305 486 or email: hminfo@unsw.edu.au

All submissions must be received by November 30, 2019.

To take the 15 minute online survey CLICK HERE! https://tinyurl.com/y4cqul93\