 |
In October 2000, the Rehabilitation Engineering Research
Center on Technology Transfer (T2RERC), partnered with the RERC on Communication
Enhancement to begin the Demand-Pull Project on Communication Enhancement.
The goal of this Project is to identify unmet needs in the Augmentative
and Alternative Communication industry and to facilitate the transfer
of technology from Federal Labs, research institutions and other advanced
technology developers to meet these needs.
The Project focused on four technology areas: input, output, processing
and wireless technology. Technology needs identified within these four
areas represent important and unmet customer concerns having a significant
business potential for manufacturers. Further, technology solutions required
to address these needs are likely to be beyond current industry capabilities
or resources.
The Project depends upon the participation of a wide variety of disability
specific stakeholders. In the case of the Communication Enhancement Project
these include product end-users (consumers), referral sources (clinicians),
evaluators of existing or developing technologies (clinical researchers),
producers of technology for commercial application (manufacturers), innovators
of new technology (Federal Laboratory Consortium scientists), as well
as representatives from various governmental agencies.
Full stakeholder participation helps to ensure that: unmet needs of consumers
and manufacturers are clearly identified; the technological state-of-the-practice
for current products is well characterized; and reasonable design and
performance parameters are established for both short-term and long-term
technology solutions. All stakeholders benefit from this process. Product
customers shape the design and performance characteristics of next generation
products. Scientists, engineers and clinicians become aware of research
needs and transfer opportunities. Product manufacturers are introduced
to business opportunities and advanced technology solutions.
Further details on the steps and process of the Communication Enhancement
Project can be found in the Project Description of these Proceedings.
[ Top of Page ]
|
|
