Overview

This book presents the latest research and development of assistive and rehabilitative technologies essential for promoting health, independence, and longevity among the elderly and people with disabilities. It introduces innovative devices that support motor, sensory, and cognitive functions to enhance activities of daily living (ADL) and overall quality of life (QOL). Grounded in the principles of inclusive and barrier-free design, the book emphasizes user participation, highlighting how collaboration with older adults and persons with disabilities drives innovation in rehabilitation engineering. Through practical case studies, it showcases a wide range of devices developed by the author and collaborators—from mobility and balance-support systems to communication aids and telerehabilitation technologies. The author’s extensive experience in welfare and rehabilitation engineering is conveyed in a clear, accessible style that bridges medicine, engineering, and social science. Designed for clinicians, engineers, students, and researchers in rehabilitation science and ergonomics, as well as for general readers interested in inclusive technology, this book serves as a vital reference for understanding and creating the next generation of assistive systems.

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9789819557820

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Author Information

Toshiaki Tanaka, Ph.D., Physical Therapist(P.T.), Ergonomist) is Senior Program Advisor at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) and the Institute of Gerontology (IOG), The University of Tokyo. He received his M.A. in Physical Therapy from New York University (1992) and Ph.D. in Engineering from Hokkaido University (1998). Dr. Tanaka has devoted his career to developing assistive and rehabilitative technologies that enhance mobility, balance, and daily living activities for older adults and people with disabilities. His research integrates kinesiology, rehabilitation science, ergonomics, and assistive engineering, leading to innovations such as wheelchair alert systems, telerehabilitation platforms, and multisensory balance training devices. He previously served as Professor at The University of Tokyo and Sapporo City University, and as a visiting researcher at MIT and EHESS (France–Japan Foundation).

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