New AT Recommendations paper published in JMIR

A new paper entitled: "Developing and Evaluating Digital Interventions to Promote Behavior Change in Health and Health Care: Recommendations Resulting From an International Workshop" has been published in the JMIR.

You can read the full article here: http://www.jmir.org/2017/6/e232/

New paper: Informing the Design of “Lifestyle Monitoring” Technology for the Detection of Health Deterioration in Long-Term Conditions: A Qualitative Study of People Living With Heart Failure

A new paper, whose authors include three CATCH academics has been published in the JMIR.

Entitled: "Informing the Design of “Lifestyle Monitoring” Technology for the Detection of Health Deterioration in Long-Term Conditions: A Qualitative Study of People Living With Heart Failure", Dr Sarah Hargreaves, Prof Mark Hawley and Prof Pam Enderby aimed to report in this paper the findings of a study aimed at identifying changes in activity indicative of important changes in health in people with long-term conditions, particularly changes indicative of exacerbation, by exploring the relationship between home activities and health among people with heart failure.

You can read the full article here: http://www.jmir.org/2017/6/e231/

Exhibit at the AAATE2017 Congress

This year there is not one but two opportunities for your organisation to exhibit at the AAATE2017 Congress. Gain access to delegates from around the world including international Researchers, Practitioners, Service Management Executives and students active in AT by booking your stand today.

Join the growing network of AAATE2017 Approved Partners

The AAATE is delighted to announce their latest Approved Partners: The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Assistive Technology (APPGAT), BATA, Hereward College and Communication Matters who are proudly supporting the 2017 Congress in Sheffield.

You can still join our growing list of AAATE2017 Approved Partner organisations.

Socialise in Sheffield at the AAATE2017

This September, the AAATE Congress arrives in Sheffield. What better way to network and discover the city during the week than by attending our social events in some of Sheffield’s best venues. Start to plan your stay now with our handy travel guide and benefit from exclusive discounts on hotel and train bookings.

Five robots that are changing everything

Check out this video from the BBC on the five robots that are changing everything - including Pepper, a robot that CATCH have in their own Home Lab.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-40306617/five-robots-that-are-changing-everything

More talks on AT at AAATE2017 Satellite Events

For the first time, the AAATE will host Satellite Event days as part of the Congress week. Held at St Mary’s Conference Centre, just a short walk from the flagship Conference venue of The Diamond, these events will take place on Tuesday 12th and Friday 15th September.

Pick and mix from a range of less academically focussed talks either side of the Conference. Hear from AT practitioners, health and social care providers, European Project Consortiums and the AAATE itself in these events throughout the Congress week:

Discover over 200 talks in the Extended Programme for AAATE2017

We’re excited to publish the Extended Programme for the AAATE2017 Congress. Read on to discover over 200 talks and various events taking place during the 5-day event this September 2017 in Sheffield and how you can get involved.

Download the Extended Programme here.
(The final version of the programme will be available at the beginning of August 2017.)

Prof Luc de Witte facilitates assistive technology workshops in Bangalore

Last week, CATCH Professor Luc de Witte facilitated two workshops in Bangalore.

Mutually organised by CATCH, Zuyd University and BMS College of Engineering, the first of the two workshops was on the theme of Assistive Technology and Autonomous Systems.

Barnsley Assistive Technology team win the Chairman's award at Hospital's Heart Awards.

Barnsley Assistive Technology Team last Thursday were delighted to win the Chairman's award at the Hospital's eighth annual Heart Awards.

T4I2017: Registration is now open

The Technology for Independence Conference 2017 will be hosted on Friday 15^th September 2017 in Sheffield as part of the AAATE2017 Congress

'Electronic skin' to monitor your health

Researchers in Japan have developed "electronic skin" with an organic circuit that can be worn on the human body.

All Party Parliamentary Group for Assistive Technology launched at Speaker’s House

Last month saw the exciting launch of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Assistive Technology (#AT_APPG) held at Speaker's House in the Palace of Westminster.

CATCH Senior Researcher Dr Peter Cudd attended the event on 6th March, sponsored by Microsoft.

Happy Easter

We're taking a break for Easter - back on Tuesday 18th April with more Assistive and Healthcare Technology news.

Have a great Easter weekend!

AAATE2017 Exhibition Booking Now Open!

The booking system for Exhibition and Sponsorship is now open!

For the first time, the AAATE will host a Public Exhibition during the Congress week, the day before the main Conference starts.

AT practitioners in education and health and social care as well as AAATE delegates and the general public can visit the exhibition free of charge.

T4I2017: CALL for Short Communications Now Open (Deadline: 26.05.2017)

We invite those working to use or innovate Assistive Technology and associated services to submit short communications for presentation or as posters for Technology for Independence (T4I 2017).

This year the conference will happen on Friday 15th September as part of the AAATE2017 Congress (11th to 15th Sept. 2017). Visit the website.

New publication explores how nursing home residents with dementia respond to the interactive art installation ‘VENSTER’

A paper, co-authored by CATCH Professor Luc de Witte entitled: “How nursing home residents with dementia respond to the interactive art installation ‘VENSTER’: a pilot study” has been published.

Opportunity to help shape ground breaking new digital therapeutic tool being made in Sheffield!

The University of Sheffield, is working with Sheffield Flourish and Sheffield Health and social Care NHS FT and a range of other partners to explore the potential opportunities and challenges around using ground breaking digital resources to help people self-manage some mental health conditions.

World Health Organisation releases global priority research agenda for assistive technology

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently published the global priority research agenda for improving access to high-quality affordable assistive technology.

Representing the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE) as the largest professional assistive technology organisation in the region, CATCH’s Professor Luc de Witte was part of the core group who drafted this brief which can be downloaded here.

In the paper, it is outlined what the WHO did to create priorities and promote research and innovation in this vital area. Through this activity, the group identified five global priority research thematic areas as essential to improving access to high quality, affordable assistive technology:

1. Effects, costs and economic impact of assistive technology.
2. Assistive technology policies, systems, service provision models and best practices.
3. High-quality and affordable assistive technology.
4. Human resources for the assistive technology sector.
5. Standards and methodologies for the assessment of assistive technology need and unmet need.

They also propose two guiding principles for any assistive technology-related research activities:

1. User involvement in all aspects of research, especially on policy and service provision.
2. Work from a social and environmental model of disability and participation.

You can download and read the full document here.

For more information on how CATCH’s activities align with this research agenda, please contact Laura Murray.

Hundreds gather at Professor Luc de Witte’s Inaugural Lecture to discover “Technology: who cares?!”

More than 200 guests joined Professor Luc de Witte last Friday in the iconic Diamond Building for his Inaugural Lecture: “Technology; who cares?!”

The event celebrated the arrival of Prof. de Witte as one of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health’s “big-hitters” where he shared how technology can, and will, play a major role in future health and care around the world.

Prof. Dame Pamela Shaw, Vice President and Pro-Vice Chancellor Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health at the University of Sheffield introduced the lecture. Prof. Dame Shaw seamlessly linked Luc’s lecture to the Care 2050 development and the approaches that CATCH, ScHARR and the wider University may take.

Having joined CATCH in October 2016, Luc is already working to put Sheffield at the heart of innovation and reiterated his belief that Sheffield has all the assets to become a key player here in healthcare during this lecture.

Luc received a great response from the audience when he addressed what assistive technology (AT) really is. “How many of you are wearing glasses?” he quipped to realisation around the room that AT doesn’t have to be high tech. In a fascinating statistic shared from the World Health Organisation however, only 10-15% of those in need have access to AT.

Part of the Sheffield Festival of Science and Engineering, Professor de Witte’s lecture attracted members of the public, partners and colleagues from across Europe as well as University of Sheffield staff and collaborators.

It’s safe to say that Prof. de Witte’s Inaugural Lecture was very well received and the buzz that it had generated was clear at the reception that followed.

We’d like to take this opportunity to say a special thanks to the Public Engagement team at the University, notably Nicola Strafford, Public Engagement Manager as well as Kathryn Rooney, Personal Assistant to the Dean of ScHARR for their tireless efforts that contributed heavily to the success of this event.

If you would like to find out more about Professor Luc de Witte’s research or are interested in collaborating with CATCH, please contact Laura Murray.