Involving children in the development of assistive technology devices

Area of Science:

• Assistive Technology Design
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Inclusive Education

Background:

• Designing assistive technology (AT) traditionally lacks direct input from end-users, particularly children.
• Primary school environments offer a unique setting for engaging children in the AT design process.
• Web-based surveys present a scalable method for gathering user preferences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of a web-based survey for incorporating children's perspectives into AT device design.
• To assess the usability of a digital survey tool for children within a primary school setting.
• To identify challenges and successes in engaging diverse student populations in AT co-design.

Main Methods:

• A web-based survey was administered to 257 primary school children (mean age 9y 8m) across six schools.
• Participants included children with and without disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, deafness, global developmental delay, and Down's syndrome.
• Observations were conducted during survey completion to document user interaction and identify support needs.

Main Results:

• All participating children successfully completed the survey tasks.
• Children with disabilities generally experienced longer completion times.
• A significant proportion of children with disabilities required assistance from support staff or sign language interpreters.

Conclusions:

• Web-based surveys offer a novel approach to involve children, including those with disabilities, in AT design.
• The study highlights the need to address specific support requirements for children with disabilities to ensure equitable participation.
• Further refinement of the survey methodology is necessary for broader implementation in inclusive AT design initiatives.