Disabled keyboard technology could help Assistive Control with growth
A WORCESTERSHIRE firm is targeting growth after developing a new product designed to help people with disabilities live more independently.
Assistive Control, which employs five people at its Malvern headquarters, has successfully brought to market ‘Typeassist’ – a computer-based communication aid that meets the needs of disabled people who are unable to use a traditional ‘qwerty’ keyboard.
The patented typing system replaces the traditional keyboard with 16 large touchscreen cells and state-of-the-art word prediction to ensure fast typing and speech output.
Typeassist is already proving extremely popular with adults and children with cerebral palsy, an acquired brain injury or degenerative conditions, such as motor neurone disease.
Kate Browne, director at Assistive Control, said: “We have spent many years developing the software to make ‘Typeassist’ possible and I am delighted to now see it being used to make a difference to so many lives.
“Our assistive technology is ready to use straight from the box as we completely hide the underlying Windows software making it straightforward to operate for the user, their family and their carers.
“Access to the computer is so important in this day and age that we have to make them accessible as it can have a major bearing on someone’s independence.”
The firm, a division of Malvern Scientific, this year marks its 15th anniversary. It has been supported both technically and financially in the development of its assistive technology product range by the Manufacturing Advisory Service’s New Product Gateway programme.
The company successfully secured a UK patent for Typeassist. Working with MAS advisors Alison Philips and Peter Roach it then finalised the development and CE marking of its new ‘Switchcontrol’, which will open up technology to people with a wider range of disabilities.
In addition to the one-on-one support, MAS has also put the firm in touch with Aston Business School, Growth Accelerator and the University of Warwick.
“The package of support we’ve received has been fantastic and it has helped us build a business that has the potential to make a real difference to thousands of people across the world,” added Dr Marc Beale, Assistive Control director and one of the UK’s leading experts on assistive technologies.
“We’ve proved that we can create products that work in real life environments and are continually looking at new concepts we can turn into reality. There are quite a few in the pipeline.”
Peter Roach, Manufacturing Advisor at MAS, said: “Giving people with disabilities more independence by introducing new products into the marketplace is a massive opportunity and Assistive Control is ahead of the game.
“It has invested a lot of time and money into developing the base technologies that a lot of the aids are based on and now is the time to exploit these by really driving their sales and marketing.”
All eyes are now focused on the autumn when the company’s second product is set for its global launch.
Branded ‘Helpmate’, the assistive technology systems provide the user with independent access to music, DVDs, books and photos through a range of communication symbols.
