Using It/Is Applications to Empower Physically Challenged Individuals to Enjoy a High Quality of Life

摘要

We are living in an era of modern technology and enhanced hygiene. The advancements in the technology have brought us luxury and comfort in every aspect of life while improved hygiene has helped us in living longer. At the same time, technology has led us to accidents and problems due to high speed automobiles, various modern-day diseases and increased levels of toxicity owing to industrial wastes, whereas healthy longer living has ended up in higher ratios of older and fragile populations resulting in more fall incidents. These accidents/ problems, diseases, toxicities and falls have resulted in an increased number of incidents of brain injuries. Brain injuries often deprive the victims from living a normal high-quality life. Most of the victims suffer one or multiple types of disabilities. Our focus in this work is on monoplegia, paraplegia and quadriplegia (loss of control in one limb, two limbs and all four limbs respectively), which is generally due to lack or disruption of neurological signals to the muscle. Patients suffering from such conditions, do have natural organs/limbs with all muscles, bones and ligaments intact but they are unable to send signals to relevant muscles to perform required activities. This paper conceptualizes the use of IS/IT, specifically smart textile gloves/socks/garments integrated with sensors and actuators to control limbs to enable such individuals to more easily perform daily life activities and thus enjoy a higher quality of life.