Centre for Assistive Technology and Connected Healthcare

The University of Sheffield is establishing a Centre for Assistive Technology and Connected Healthcare which will be a focus for research into technology for people with disabilities, older people and people with long-term conditions. The Centre will bring together and co-ordinate the input of more than 30 research and clinical scientists with a range of expertise in healthcare, engineering, social science and science, and will additionally invest substantially in a dedicated multi-disciplinary research team working within an innovative ‘living lab’ environment. The Centre will work closely with industry, with the NHS, social care organisations and with users.

The Centre will specialise in areas of personalised healthcare and personal independence. The aim being to assist people to live independently at home for longer without need for hospitalisation or care institutionalisation. Areas covered include assisted living, assistive technology, telehealth, telemonitoring, telecare and telerehabilitation. The Centre encompasses expertise and experience to cover activities across the spectrum, including: identifying healthcare and user needs; carrying out research into future technology; user-centred design and development of prototypes; evaluation in ‘living lab’ and patient/user groups; large-scale trials and health economics; supporting and studying implementation in the NHS.

• Research into future NHS and users’ technology-related needs through close links with NHS, social care and user groups
• Fundamental technology-related research with future application in assisted living and healthcare, for example:

         - Natural speech technology (speech recognition and dialogue) with applications in telecare, telehealth and assistive technologies
         - Machine learning and inference with applications in clinical decision support and lifestyle monitoring
         - Persuasive technology with applications in promotion of health behaviour change and self care
         - In-home and body sensor networks and communications

• User-centred design and development allowing the incorporation of user needs and requirements into prototype technology development
• Incorporation of evidence-based practice into technologies and technology-supported services
• Development and testing of technologies within a ‘living lab’ – a dedicated laboratory space reproducing a home environment
• Access to patients and volunteers willing to take part in research, together with a highly developed evaluative research track record allowing:

           - Evaluation of prototype technologies and technology-supported services in small-scale studies
           - Modelling of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of technology and technology-supported service implementations
           - Evaluation of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of technologies and technology-supported services in large-scale studies (including RCTs)

• Support for, and study of, implementation and adoption of technologies and technology-supported services in the NHS and social care

For further information, contact r.m.france@sheffield.ac.uk