AT Frameworks: The HAAT Model

1. Frameworks: HAAT Model
Cook and Hussey, Chapter 2
Damian Gordon

2. Last Week

3. What is Assistive Technology?
“Any product, instrument,
equipment or technical
system used by a disabled
or elderly person, made
specially or existing on the
market, aimed to prevent,
compensate, relieve or
neutralise the deficiency, the
inability or the handicap.”
International ISO-9999
Standard

4. What is Assistive Technology?
They allow
–someone (a person with a disability)
–to do something (an activity)
–somewhere (within a context)

5. What is Assistive Technology?
The goal of the AT practitioner is to
recommend an AT device that
meets their needs, and is
consistent with their skills, and
allows them to accomplish the
unique functions they want.

6. What is Assistive Technology?
It is important to note that we are less
concerned with the remediation of a disability
as we are with enabling functional results
and helping the individual to accomplish what
he or she wants.

7. CASE STUDY: Marion
Marion is a teenage girl with spastic cerebral
palsy that affects all four limbs. Because of
these motor impairments she is unable to
speak or write. During conversations her
facial expressions do not appear to mirror
her feelings.

8. CASE STUDY: Marion
Marion uses a language board to
communication by pointing at letters and
spelling out words. Output using this means
is very slow, so she also uses a voice output
communication aid (VOCA) that generates
speech electronically which increases her
rate of communication.

9. CASE STUDY: Marion
Marion communicates with others in many
different contexts, including friends and
peers at school, in social situations, family,
and less familiar individuals.

10. CASE STUDY: Marion
Marion uses her communication board when
with friends in a school setting, here both the
people she is in conversation with, and the
setting are familiar, so it is not necessary to
spell individual words out. Friends can
anticipate what Marion wants to say, thus
increasing her rate of communication.

11. CASE STUDY: Marion
Marion prefers to use the VOCA in less
familiar situations and when dealing with
unfamiliar people, because they cannot be
depended upon to anticipate what Marion
intends to say.

12. The HAAT Model

13. The HAAT Model
The Human Activity Assistive Technology
Model proposes a framework for understanding the
place of assistive technologies in the place of the
lives of those with disabilities.
The model has four components – the human, the
activity, the assistive technology, and the context in
which all three of these exist.

14. HAAT Model

15. The HAAT Model
Each component must be considered both
individually and with the others with
considering, designing, selecting,
implementing, and evaluating an appropriate
assistive technology device.

16. HAAT Model

17. HAAT Model

18. HAAT Model

19. HAAT Model
- Self Care
- Productivity
- Leisure

20. The HAAT Model
The Activity
–This is the process of doing something, and it
represents the functional result of human
performance.
–Activities are carried out as part of our daily living,
are necessary to human existence, can be
learned, and are governed by the society and
culture in which we live.

21. The HAAT Model
The Activity
–Three basic performance areas
Daily living
Work and productive activities
Play and leisure activity

22. The HAAT Model
The Activity
–Three basic performance areas
Daily living
–Dressing, hygiene, grooming, bathing, eating,
communication, health maintenance, socialization, taking
medications, sexual expression, responding to an
emergency, and mobility
Work and productive activities
Play and leisure activity

23. The HAAT Model
The Activity
–Three basic performance areas
Daily living
–Dressing, hygiene, grooming, bathing, eating,
communication, health maintenance, socialization, taking
medications, sexual expression, responding to an
emergency, and mobility
Work and productive activities
–Home management activities, educational activities,
vocational activities, and care of others
Play and leisure activity

24. The HAAT Model
The Activity
–Three basic performance areas
Daily living
–Dressing, hygiene, grooming, bathing, eating,
communication, health maintenance, socialization, taking
medications, sexual expression, responding to an
emergency, and mobility
Work and productive activities
–Home management activities, educational activities,
vocational activities, and care of others
Play and leisure activity
–Activities related to self-expression, enjoyment, or
relaxation

25. The HAAT Model
The Activity
–This is not to say that specific activities fit neatly
into these categorisations, the reality is that the
meaning an individual gives to an activity
determines in which performance area it is placed

26. The HAAT Model
The Activity
–e.g., gardening may be a productive activity for
one person and a leisure activity for another.

27. The HAAT Model
The Activity
–e.g., a parent reading to a child reads in a
different way than when that reading is performed
as part of someone’s role as a student or worker.

28. The HAAT Model
The Activity
–We can break down activities into a series of
tasks.
–The skills and abilities intrinsic to the human allow
the individual to complete a series of tasks to
produce the functional outcome of the activity.

29. The HAAT Model
The Activity
–When an individual lacks the capacity to complete
a task, the manner in which that task is completed
including the use of AT, must be changed.

30. HAAT Model
-Physical
-Cognitive
-Emotional
-Novice vs. Expert

31. The HAAT Model
The Human
–The components we consider the person includes
Physical
Cognitive (brain stuff)
Affective

32. The HAAT Model
The Human
–The components we consider the person includes
Physical
–Strength, coordination, range of motion, balance, and
other physical properties
Cognitive
Affective

33. The HAAT Model
The Human
–The components we consider the person includes
Physical
–Strength, coordination, range of motion, balance, and
other physical properties
Cognitive
–Attention, judgement, problem solving, concentration, and
alertness
Affective

34. The HAAT Model
The Human
–The components we consider the person includes
Physical
–Strength, coordination, range of motion, balance, and
other physical properties
Cognitive
–Attention, judgement, problem solving, concentration, and
alertness
Affective
–Emotional elements

35. The HAAT Model
The Human
–Skills and Abilities: It is possible to
distinguish between a person’s skills and abilities.
An ability is a basic trait of a person, what a
person brings to a task, a skill is a level of
proficiency

36. The HAAT Model
The Human
–Skills and Abilities: In AT this distinction is
very important, it is possible to assess a person’s
abilities, but it is difficult to predict the level of skill
someone will develop using a technology
–e.g. a person might develop skill in the use of a
joystick as a computer interface and then transfer
this motor skill to the use of a power wheelchair.
–So the acquired skill in the first task, becomes an
ability that can be used in the second task.

37. The HAAT Model
The Human
–Novice versus Expert User: The term
Novice User describes a user of AT who has little
or no experience in using that system, or task for
which it is used. The term Expert User describes
a user of an AT system that has significant
experience with that system.

38. The HAAT Model
The Human
–The Novice: More likely to use the system in
prescribed ways, less likely to generalize use of
the system from one task to another, and must
use more conscious effort to control it.
–The Expert: Takes more risks with the
equipment, in terms of stretching the way it can
be used and trying new activities with the system,
and an expert exerts less conscious effort.

39. HAAT Model
-Physical
-Social
-Cultural
-Institutional

40. The HAAT Model
The Context
–As mentioned previously the move from focusing
on disability as a medical flaw or impairment
(starting around the 1950s), to identifying the
environmental factors which provide barriers to
the disabled person (in the 1990s).
–So rather than focusing on disabled people as a
“minority group model” the move toward
universalism advocates broader social justice and
policies and that are more inclusive of all persons.

41. The HAAT Model
The Context
–The four major considerations in context are;
Physical context
Social context
Cultural context
Institutional context

42. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Physical context
–This is easy to understand.
–The physical attributes of the environment that
enable, hinder, or affect performance of daily
activities, with or without AT.
–It is important to realise that an AT device that
works in one environment may not work in
another.

43. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Physical context
–e.g. Voice recognition software may work in a
quiet home setting, but may not in a noisy, office
environment

44. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Physical context
–It is important to distinguish between the natural
and the built environment.
–Is the user intending to use an AT device in both
contexts?
–e.g. Wheelchair tire thread depth

45. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Physical context
–Three commonly measured parameters are;
Heat (related to temperature)
Light
Sound

46. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Physical context
–Heat
–e.g. the properties of foams and gels used in seat
cushions can change under very high or low
temperatures.
–e.g. Liquid Crystal Displays are affected by
temperature

47. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Physical context
–Light
–e.g. Liquid Crystal Displays are affected by
ambient light
–e.g. Light in classrooms might be too bright for
computer screens as they may cause glare

48. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Physical context
–Sound
–Ambient noise has a significant impact on the
intelligibility of voice synthesizers and voice
recognition systems.

49. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Social context
–This refers to all of the individuals who interact
with the individual who uses the assistive
technology, either directly or indirectly.
–Their acceptance or rejection of the AT is a critical
component of whether or not the individual using
the AT will be successful with it.

50. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Social context
–People with disabilities comment that the social
environment, the attitude of others, creates more
of a handicap that the physical barriers in the
environment.
–The use of AT can further contribute to this
stigmatization and lead to further isolation.

51. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Social context
–The individuals closest to the individual, such as
family, friends, teachers, or co-workers, have a
significant impact on the AT being used and
understand the individual’s capacities.

52. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Social context
–When help with technology is provided
consistently by the same individuals, problems
with the AT are lessened
–When help is provided by a variety of individuals,
this may result in inefficient and incorrect of the
AT.

53. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Cultural context
–We all view the world through a “cultural screen”
that is the product of our experiences, family
relationships, heritage, and many other factors.
–If an AT provider and the consumer have different
cultural views, they may have difficulties
establishing and achieving mutual goals.

54. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Cultural context
–e.g. the AT provider may feel that leisure activities
are desirable and satisfying goals, and may
recommend AT systems that incorporate
computer games systems, however if the
individual is from a culture that sees leisure as
being non-productive, he or she may reject the
whole set of systems.

55. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Cultural context
–e.g. wheelchair manufacturers now fabricate their
products in a variety of colours, which allow users
to choose and avoid the “institutional chrome”

56. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Institutional context
–This refers to those responsible for policy-making,
decision-making, processes, and procedures.
–This includes economical, legal, and political
components.
–Funding is probably the most influential element
in this context.

57. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Institutional context
–Funding policies and regulations establish who is
eligible to receive assistance for the purchase of
devices, which devices are supported in funding
schemes

58. The HAAT Model
The Context
–Institutional context
–Legislation establishes laws, policies, and regulations that
enable persons with disabilities to engage in activities in
various contexts with both their local community and more
broadly.
–The laws comment on environmental access issues,
modifications required in workplace environment, and
educational and other settings.
–Legislation also covers product design, function, and safety
standards.

59. HAAT Model
-HTI
-Activity Output
-Processor
-Environmental Interface

60. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Assistive Technologies are also known as extrinsic
enablers because they provide the basis by which human
performance is improved in the presence of disability.
–AT may have any subset or all of the follow components;
HTI
Activity Output
Processor
Environmental Interface

61. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Components
–Interaction between HUMAN and AT is via the
HTI (Human-Technology Interface) component of
the AT. The interaction is two-way.
–For the AT to contribute to functional
performance, it must provide an output, which is
achieved by an Activity Output component

62. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Components
–The Processor links the HCI and the Activity Output ,
which translates information and forces received from
human signals into signals that are used to control the
Activity Output.
–Finally, some AT must also be capable of detecting
environmental data, the Environmental Interface
accomplishes this function, and this links to the processor to
provide environment information to the user via the HCI.

63. HAAT Model

64. HAAT Model
Activity
Output
Processor
Environmental
Interface
HTI

65. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Human Technology Interface
–Consider, for example, a computer keyboard and
video monitor, with the keyboard providing input
and the monitor providing output
–Sometimes only one device is needed to provide
both input and output, e.g. the keyboard can also
provide tactile, auditory, and visual feedback to
the user.

66. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Human Technology Interface
–Positioning Devices and Postural
Support Systems, are a common type of HTI.
–You have to be stable and in a position to
successfully interact with your environment, but
some individuals have insufficient postural control
to support efficient and effective movements
needs for this interaction.

67. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Human Technology Interface
–Another commonly used interface is called the
Control Interface.
–This category includes joysticks for power
wheelchairs, keyboards for computers and
communication devices, and single switches used
to control household devices.

68. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Human Technology Interface
–Displays that provide information to the user
are present in a wide range of AT devices, from
power wheelchairs to computers.
–e.g. the lighted display showing remaining battery
power on powered wheelchairs
–The major types of displays are visual, auditory
(including synthesised speech), tactile (including
Braille).

69. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Processor
–Many AT devices require control and
processing of data to accomplish their desired
functional task.
–The Processor is often a computer which
performs these functions
–These greatly increase flexibility and
adaptability in performing functional tasks and
also allow systems to be tailored to individual
needs much more readily.

70. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Processor
–The processor may also be a simple mechanical
competent to link the (HTI) Control Interface to
the Activity Output.
–e.g. A mechanical reacher to reach objects on
high shelves. The user controls the reacher
through a hand grasp, which is coupled with a
mechanical linkage that closes a gripper to reach
and carry an object.

71. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Activity Outputs
–These include communication, moving from
place-to-place, objects for self-care, work, school,
or recreation, and performing cognitive activities.
–Activities can be either replaced with a functional
equivalent or augmented.
Replaced: e.g. a computer word processor for someone
who cannot use a pencil and paper
Augmented: e.g. a holder that allows someone with a
limited grip to manipulate a pencil

72. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Activity Outputs
–The outputs can include
Communication
Manipulation
Mobility
Cognition

73. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Activity Outputs
–Devices for manipulation are either special
purpose (e.g. a modified spoon) or general
purpose (e.g. robotic systems).

74. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Environmental Interface
–This provides the link between the device and the
external world (or context).

75. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Environmental Interface
–This interface supports sensory performance:
Seeing
Hearing
Feeling

76. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Environmental Interface
–This interface supports sensory performance:
Seeing
–a camera capable of imaging information can be used as
augmentation or replacement. Two broad classes of
performance are typically aided: reading, and mobility for
persons with visual impairment
Hearing
Feeling

77. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Environmental Interface
–This interface supports sensory performance:
Seeing
–a camera capable of imaging information can be used as
augmentation or replacement. Two broad classes of
performance are typically aided: reading, and mobility for
persons with visual impairment
Hearing
–Systems for hearing often include microphones
Feeling

78. The HAAT Model
Assistive Technology
–Environmental Interface
–This interface supports sensory performance:
Seeing
–a camera capable of imaging information can be used as
augmentation or replacement. Two broad classes of
performance are typically aided: reading, and mobility for
persons with visual impairment
Hearing
–Systems for hearing often include microphones
Feeling
–Systems that use transducers to detect external pressures
or forces

79. HAAT Model
-Physical
-Cognitive
-Emotional
-Novice vs. Expert
-Physical
-Social
-Cultural
-Institutional
- Self Care
- Productivity
- Leisure
-HTI
-Activity Output
-Processor
-Environmental Interface

80. Individual and Group Challenge
The earliest record of
wheelchairs date back to the
6th century, and were found
inscribed on a stone slate in
China.
Redesign the wheelchair for the
21
st
century, consider the new
materials, methods of
propulsion, etc. (15 mins.)
Now combine you ideas
together in pairs. (10 mins.)
Come up to the board and draw
a picture.