Computer aided rehabilitation for the handicapped

Miniaturization in electronics and unlimited flexibility of computers has helped in providing a comprehensive support to the disabled for their independent living. Earlier difficulties in drawing hardware specifications encountered due to individual variations, anthropometric dimensions, local diverse conditions and the desirable response have now been overcome. Here, an integrated approach to develop an rehabilitative technological aid is suggested. A 5-linkage model is proposed takes into account the user, transducer, microelectronics, interface for the computer and the actuator that triggers the user response to the input. Use of alternate modalities provide for the desired sophistication at affordable cost that can be implemented in developing countries. Three representative examples to depict the role of computers and electronics in rehabilitation engineering that are in use are presented