1.2 Lifeskills technologies and curriculum assistive technologies

Another way to break down the different types of assistive technology is in terms of ‘lifeskills technologies’ and ‘curriculum assistive technologies’ (JISC TechDis, undated).

Lifeskills assistive technologies are those that aid someone in their daily living (such as Stephen Hawking’s text-to-speech software, remote door openers, talking measuring jugs for cooking, tilting chairs for easier access, talking handheld global satellite positioning for blind people or video phones for British sign language users).

Curriculum assistive technologies are those that are only really ever used in a learning context (such as mind mapping software).

There are some technologies that could be included in both categories. For instance, a talking measuring jug is a lifeskill technology for most people but if you are doing a module in catering it becomes a curriculum tool.