Socio-Technical Environments and Assistive Technology Abandonment

Introduction This chapter will explore the use of socio-technical analysis in design of assistive technology. It starts out with a discussion of assistive technology (AT) and the various user types (roles) that are involved in AT development and adoption, with particular focus on the high rate of abandonment of complex AT. It continues, contrasting the conventional approach of studying system design and adoption with a socio-technical perspective in work environments, with using the same tools in a context of voluntary use. Of course both of these environments are, in a fundamental way, voluntary – employees can always quit; but in the case of AT the motivation is not so much economic and psychological (e.g. job satisfaction) as literally functional (i.e. ability 2 to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL) 1 or Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) 2). The discussion begins with defining and exploring the dimensions of assistive technology in design and use, with particular attention to the process of adoption and abandonment. Following this is a short review of the traditional process of socio-technical systems and environments 3 , looking at it from the perspective of typical domains studied and the evolution of the field. Within this section are presented several practices or tools used in socio-technical evaluation and design. The process of using socio-technical principles to inform design of assistive technology is illustrated by discussing MAPS, a ADL task support tool for persons with cognitive disabilities. The chapter continues by following the design process from participant designer selection and study thru adoption of a prototype system and finally presenting the lessons learned. Then follows a more formal comparison between 'traditional' STE study and AT based STE work, decomposing the elements of the MAPS system. Finally the chapter concludes with some suggestions for further work 1 ADLs refer to refers to six activities (bathing, dressing, transferring, using the toilet room, eating, and walking) that reflect the patient's capacity for self‑care. 2 IADLs are tasks that enable people to live independently in the community. Examples include shopping, cooking and house cleaning. IADLs support ADLs 3 A note about the various permutations of