Assistive technology or adaptive technology (AT) is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them. AT promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to or changed methods of interacting with the technology needed to accomplish such tasks. (Assistive Technology, 2011) . Adaptive technology to me is anything technical that helps a person do something that they have trouble doing normally. This could be from dressing themselves, hearing, moving around, and playing sports.
Interactive whiteboards, or Smartboards, are becoming more common in schools and conferences now. They are a great tool to use interactively and physically. The boards are mounted onto the wall and are approximately 170cm x 130cm and 13cm thick. This particular model sits at around $2000. The functions of the smartboards are that various types of media can be played through the smartboard (VCR, document camera, DVD player or other peripherals), you can pick up one of the pens and write over any source including video, you can create, organize and save notes, drawings and screen captures. You can also have an onscreen keyboard, connect with other networked computers, and make use of other tools such as the spotlight and magnifier tools. Here is a video on how to use a smartboard. Click here.
Interactive whiteboards allow students to physically participate in their own learning experience by touching the board and creating various things themselves. There are also games that are specifically designed for interactive whiteboards that involve moving things around or tapping images on the screen for example.
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