Given that the market for all communication resources is very large, it is essential that consumers and providers keep up and stay on top of the current trends, says Christopher M. Lee. "Communication trends such as artificial intelligence (AI) software with voice assistance like Siri, Cortana, Alexa, and Google Assistant can virtually do anything a user asks for, thus catapulting AI to the top of communications trends."
That being said, what drives AI and most of the other top trends in product improvements in the communication sector is the Internet of Things (IoT) development. "IoT connects to objects that can easily exchange data and information and will play a major role in designing and implementing augmentative communication resources for the next few years," according to Lee. "IoT is about expanding the Internet beyond standard devices to a number of physical devices and everyday objects that are traditionally not web-enabled. IoT communication supports innovations in the fields of medicine, healthcare, elderly care and transportation, which have already had a positive effect on the everyday lives of people with disabilities."
Whether it’s AI or IoT – the market for augmentative communication devices exhibits continuing global growth. Thanks to the aging population and increasing demand for accessible products and services, Christopher M. Lee is certain that the market will continue to grow and mainstream companies will be prepared to profit from this customer segmentation in the future. Lee confidently adds that "over the next decade, consumers will observe established companies investing resources by integrating the principles of universal design and accessible user experience into their design and development cycles." He estimates that companies will increasingly incorporate principles of accessible design, such as flexibility in use, simple and intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, and size and space for approach and use.
In the coming years, it remains to be seen whether this prediction proves correct. Until then, this year's REHACARE can afford you the opportunity to discover the latest developments in the augmentative communication market – whether you choose to stop by any of the numerous exhibitors in the halls or visit the first-ever M-Enabling Forum Europe, which will take place on September 27 at the REHACARE trade fair. Digital accessibility and assistive technologies will be the primary focus at this event. How all of this is connected is something Axel Leblois, President and Executive Director of G3ict, recently summed up in an interview with REHACARE.com: "The best assistive technologies cannot be useful if our digital environment is not accessible".