DST supports assistive tools, technologies and techniques to combat challenges faced by Divyangjan(Persons with Disabilities) & Elderly during COVID-19

In order to support people with disabilities( Divyangjan) and elderly in this time of COVID-19, DST has supported many organisations to come up with tech innovations. E-Tool by Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai, will help in creating awareness about COVID-19 and health issues. This E-Tool will enable the people to use tabs and mobiles to have a fun learning experience.

Delhi, The Department of Science and Technology has taken several initiatives to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 among Divyangjan(person with disability) and Elderly and identified various challenges faced by them for finding technological solutions, also tweeted.

Science for Equity Empowerment and Development(SEED), a division of DST supports many organisations and these have been instrumental in coming up with various assistive tools, technologies and techniques, that are affordable and adaptable to the Indian milieu through its programme on Technology Interventions for Disabled and Elderly (TIDE), for creating inclusiveness and universal accessibility for Divyangjan and Elderly.

E-Tool. Courtesy, DST

How does this programme work especially for those persons with intellectual disabilities and how it helps to overcome their loneliness due to COVID-19 pandemic.

• Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai has designed an e-tool to create awareness and impart health and hygiene related information along with education and entertainment. due to COVID-19 pandemic.
• Using the tabs and mobiles, these persons with intellectual disabilities will experience a fun learning.
• The e-tool can also be converted to other vernacular languages

This e- tool is under Beta Trial with 200 specially-abled children.

Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST while stressing the importance of this less known S&T field for providing greater autonomy to Divyangjan and Elderly, called for development of more and more technically feasible and economically viable S&T solutions for Elderly and Divyangjan, which are the need of the hour for creating an inclusive society.

Screenshot of the e-Tool showing different components of the software/app;A wearable sensor device, costing Rs 1500/- (when produced in bulk) has been developed by PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore to remotely monitor the activities of Elderly and Divyangjan staying alone or those who happen to be under quarantine or isolation wards. The device also predicts and detects fall and frailty levels in Elderly.

Screenshot of the e-Tool showing different components of the software/app. Courtesy, DST

Screenshot of the e-Tool showing different components of the software/app. Courtesy, DST

Sensor Configuration;A wearable rehabilitation band with real time monitoring and feedback of recovery process through guided rehabilitation protocols has been developed for elderly with motor function disabilities.

The device will help the elderly to get quantified outcomes regarding the improvement in the muscle strength, muscle flexibility and muscle endurance during the course of rehabilitation, without direct and physical interventions from doctors and physiotherapists.

Wearable Device. Courtesy, DST

User interface of the mobile app;These devices have been tailor-made for the current COVID-19 situations and further process is on for developing apps for recognition of objects, distances, scene recognition, people identification which will eliminate the need to touch things and various other assistive devices like automatic hand sanitization scrub for Divyangjan.

An action plan has been initiated for large scale production of these devices through the Technology Business Incubators of DST for deployment and further dissemination involving Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India.