ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY INTERACTIVE MAP
The map presents information on the location, impairments, venture type and problem solved of AT inventions in the context of the current state of assistive technology development in Europe and encourages users to filter and consult it according to their needs.
Group Project: Jingyi Wu ( Data collection, Information Architecture, User Interface Design ) ; Yanwen Ding; Yu Yan; Yingqi Tang
TARGET USER
In 2022, the World Health Organization and UNICEF published a report aimed at improving global access to assistive technology. With one-third of the world's population requiring such products to enhance their quality of life, assistive technology has critical implications for users, businesses, and social justice.
Though still a developing industry, if fragmented information about assistive products, their availability, and user demographics across regions could be organized into a visible network, it would help stakeholders more effectively search for and find relevant solutions.
An Assistive technology map serves multiple stakeholders:
1. People with disabilities, who are searching for the functionality, usefulness accessibility and price of specific technology/device in their needs.
2. Organisations, who are more interested in the venture, profit and financial status of various AT companies or organizations for evaluation.
3. Governments, focus more on the venture, scalability, statistics of the bigger picture.
4. Multilaterals, who are concerned with the core value, cash flow, projections and plan of a specific AT company or organization.
DATA COLLECTION
Information on Assistive technology in the European area is collected and classified in terms of the following categories:
1. Basic information: Name of the companies & organisations, links, founding year, region, city.
2. Type of venture: charity, project, academic, for-profit.
3. Type of innovation: product, process, paradigm, position.
4. Type of impairment: mobility, visual, hearing, cognitive.
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE & WIREFRAME
After understanding user needs and identifying the specific types of information required, a website overview was created based on information navigation and hierarchy. The top-level structure includes a navigation bar with a homepage and a map navigation system. The lower levels and subcategories are listed and expanded through various filters, such as company type, innovation type, and disability categories.
