Access to assistive technology: a comparison of integrated and distributed control

The use of a single input device to operate more than one piece of assistive technology – known as ‘integrated control’ – can be useful to some persons with disabilities. In contrast, separate ‘distributed’ input devices can also be used to access individual assistive devices. Since integrated controllers are relatively new, few guidelines exist to indicate to clinicians when they are appropriate to recommend. A 3-year study was conducted to compare and evaluate the use of systems configured with integrated and distributed controls. The study consisted of a retrospective review of clients at a rehabilitation technology center and case study evaluations of access performance using both integrated and distributed controls. This paper presents the findings of the case studies. Overall, integrated control appeared to be useful for persons with very few access sites and for those for whom the ‘best’ access methods for each assistive device are the same. Some individuals also preferred integrated control for personal (e.g. aesthetics) or performance (e.g. reduction in fatigue) reasons.