Progress of the European Assistive Technology Information Network

Area of Science:

• Information Science
• Assistive Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• The European Assistive Technology Information Network (EASTIN) was established in 2005 through an EU collaborative project.
• EASTIN provides a comprehensive online resource for assistive technology (AT) products and related information via www.eastin.eu.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail recent advancements and integrations within the EASTIN information system.
• To highlight improvements aimed at enhancing user experience and expanding the network's reach.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a multilingual query processing component to assist non-expert users.
• Integration of a user rating and comment facility to gather feedback and improve content.
• Development of a detailed taxonomy for describing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based assistive products.
• Federation of the EASTIN system with the Unified Listing as part of the Global Public Inclusive Infrastructure (GPII) initiative.

Main Results:

• Enhanced website functionality with multilingual support for broader user engagement.
• Improved information architecture through a detailed taxonomy for ICT assistive products.
• Successful integration with the Unified Listing, contributing to the Global Public Inclusive Infrastructure.

Conclusions:

• The EASTIN platform has significantly evolved, offering advanced features and broader accessibility.
• Ongoing EU-funded projects continue to enhance EASTIN's capabilities and its role in the global assistive technology landscape.