Environmental Concerns – Adaptive Health Technologies

Environment: The surroundings, conditions, or influences that affect an organism or the cells within it.

The environment encompasses both the built environment, such as curb cuts or stairs, and the natural environment, such as icy weather or hilly topography. Sometimes it is possible to alter the environment through principles of universal design, but other times the environment must be managed in its current state.

Click a button below for questions and examples related to the indoor and outdoor environments.

Outdoor Environment

Question Example Self-Feeding Device Glucose Monitoring App

How can a device be adapted to work in all weather conditions? The use of mobility devices may be affected by poor neighborhood drainage, icy sidewalks, and poor snow removal. Extreme temperatures may affect the functionality of any device used outdoors. The OBI is water-resistant but is not waterproof, and should be kept away from rain and extreme temperatures. This may limit the device’s use in some environments. The lithium ion batteries in the phone will have trouble working outside in very cold temperatures. Heavy rain may damage the phone.

How is it affected by topography? A wheelchair may need to handle steep hills or gravel roads. N/A Large mountains may interfere with cellular coverage.

How can the device be adapted and mobile in case of travel? Size and weight will affect a device’s ability to go on airplanes. A device may not work in certain countries. The device is not able to adapt to different types of eating utensils used by the same person. Lots of people do not have international cell phone plans. The phone itself may not be able to be charged without a plug adaptor.

What principals of universal design would make the community device-friendly? Curb cuts and ramps can assist wheelchair users or people with limited mobility. Automatic doors can help someone who can’t pull a door open. Some public buildings may use tables or chairs that are not sturdy enough for the device, meaning that the user would not be able to self-feed if the user was in a community building during a meal. There generally aren’t any requirements for buildings to have open wifi, so a person would need to use their data plan unless the app could run without an internet connection.

Question	Example	Self-Feeding Device	Glucose Monitoring App
How can a device be adapted to work in all weather conditions?	The use of mobility devices may be affected by poor neighborhood drainage, icy sidewalks, and poor snow removal. Extreme temperatures may affect the functionality of any device used outdoors.	The OBI is water-resistant but is not waterproof, and should be kept away from rain and extreme temperatures. This may limit the device’s use in some environments.	The lithium ion batteries in the phone will have trouble working outside in very cold temperatures. Heavy rain may damage the phone.
How is it affected by topography?	A wheelchair may need to handle steep hills or gravel roads.	N/A	Large mountains may interfere with cellular coverage.
How can the device be adapted and mobile in case of travel?	Size and weight will affect a device’s ability to go on airplanes. A device may not work in certain countries.	The device is not able to adapt to different types of eating utensils used by the same person.	Lots of people do not have international cell phone plans. The phone itself may not be able to be charged without a plug adaptor.
What principals of universal design would make the community device-friendly?	Curb cuts and ramps can assist wheelchair users or people with limited mobility. Automatic doors can help someone who can’t pull a door open.	Some public buildings may use tables or chairs that are not sturdy enough for the device, meaning that the user would not be able to self-feed if the user was in a community building during a meal.	There generally aren’t any requirements for buildings to have open wifi, so a person would need to use their data plan unless the app could run without an internet connection.

Question Example Self-Feeding Device Glucose Monitoring App

How can the device be installed or removed without damage to home, car, or other property? A chairlift could damage a staircase. Something installed in a wall would put large holes in drywall. Certain nonremovable items, like bathtubs, may affect the home value. Some devices may not be an option for someone who lives in an apartment or condo. The device requires a stable eating surface like the dining room table bed tray, but does not need to be hard-mounted. A user would need to have enough space to run the app.

How can the user’s home environment support the assistive technology? Some countries have laws requiring reinforced bathroom walls in new construction. Older homes may not have walls strong enough to support a grab bar. The home needs to have a table on which the device can be mounted. The user would need to have wifi and constant electricity.

Communication Concerns

Ethnicity Concerns

Socioeconomic/
Political Concerns

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