Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Research

Many groups of people, including older and disabled people, and people with long-term conditions, can increasingly be assisted to live independently in their own homes, supported by new developments in technology. Under the broad heading of Assistive Technologies, these include rehabilitation technologies, telecare, telehealth and electronic assistive technology. With an ageing population, and a rising number of people with long-term conditions, more people will in future require such support to enable them to live with independence and dignity in their own homes and communities. Research and innovation is required to develop new user-friendly technologies and technology-supported services and to build an evidence base for their use. This is the mission of the Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Research Group.

Current research projects include

• Overcoming the Barriers to Mainstreaming Assistive Living Technologies (MALT), Technology Strategy Board Assisted Living Innovation Platform, £1.8M (2011-14)
• Valuing Active Life in Dementia (VALID). National Institute for Health Research; £2.3M (2011-2015)
• Lifestyle Matters: Randomised controlled trial. MRC Lifelong Health and Wellbeing: £1.13M (2011-2015)
• Putting Life in Years (PLINY): Randomised controlled trial of telephone befriending for older people. NIHR Public Health Board. £799K (2011-2014)
• Supervised Care and Rehabilitation Involving Personal Telerobotics (SCRIPT), EU STREP, £2.7M (2011-2014)
• Voice Input Voice Output Communication Aid 2 (VIVOCA2), NIHR HealthTechnology Devices programme, £823,364, (50/50 DH grant / industrial match funding) -(2010-2012)
• Virtual Extra-care (Virtex), Technology Strategy Board Assisted Living Innovation Platform, £1.03M (2008-10)
• Knowledge Transfer for Extending Quality of Life (KT-EQUAL) EPSRC £1.8M (2009 – 2013)
• South Yorkshire Collaboration for Leadership in Health Research and Care, National Institute for Health Research, £20 million (50% grant funded with match funding from NHS/universities) (2008-13)
• Devices for Dignity (D4D), NIHR Health Technology Co-operative, £1.38M (2008-2012)
• SMART: Self Management supported by Assistive, Rehabilitation and Telecare Technologies, EPSRC (EQUAL programme), total grant £2.9M, (2008-2012)
• Communication Matters - Research Matters: An AAC Evidence Base, BIG Lottery Fund Research Programme, £467,751 (2010-2012)