EASTIN: A Trans-National Information Network on Assistive Technologies

At the 10th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs held July 12-14 at the University of Linz, Austria, the EASTIN (European Assistive Technology Information Network) introduced a transnational information service network on assistive technologies. EASTIN’s sole purpose is to collect and distribute accessibility information to people with disabilities and special needs.

The EASTIN project aims at bringing about awareness on the various assistive technology solutions available commercially for people with disabilities. It works from a network of information systems based in Italy (Portale SIVA), Germany (Rehadat), Denmark (HMI Basen), the United Kingdom (DLF Data), The Netherlands (Hulpmiddelenwijzer) and Spain (Catálogo de Ayudas Técnicas). The network works with commonly accepted standards and is integrated through the new EASTIN website.

The network’s underlying purpose is to disseminate information about the different assistive technologies (AT) to empower people with disabilities and their families to make informed decisions regarding AT solutions. In addition, the network provides professionals, vendors and policy-makers with qualified data regarding the various assistive technologies that exist and about the advancements and developments that are taking place.

In 2003, seven big information systems from around the world formed the International Alliance of Assistive Technology Information Providers. They aimed at working together as a network and capitalize on each other’s experience, enhance the information, extend the user base and offer impeccable services. The EASTIN is the first project generated by the Alliance and reflects the network’s purpose  Each of the six partners of the EASTIN provides nationwide databases and educational materials.

Before integrating, these systems differed substantially in terms of their structure, technical approach and language. The integration process went through three validation stages with external user groups composed of end-users, healthcare professionals and AT industries. The EASTIN website now acts as a system integrator, facilitating multilingual access and a user-friendly guidance and orientation. The website is equipped with search facilities using the Web service servers and Web service clients. It also offers options like downloading documents, submitting information about new products and cross-search facilities across all databases.

The multilingual feature of the website works out effectively because of the internally pre-defined translation tables. A number of tests were conducted to make the translations as accurate as possible. Each partner chose an appropriate professional product to translate the information from their native language to English and vice versa. By running in batch mode, the required translations are generated and the users can retrieve any information in the language of their choice.

To make sure they reached out to the intended audience, market validation interventions were carried out in the course of the project. An external assessment by a sample population representing the three major target groups, end-users, professionals and industrialists, and an internal assessment by the partners were carried out. As the network developed gradually in the course of the project, further market validation activities were carried out addressing issues like weaknesses of the six systems, the extent to which these six should be integrated and their perception of its sustainability in terms of technicalities, usability, finances and organization structure.

The findings indicated that a revamped EASTIN website was required, a deployment of strategy regarding the organizational and financial model was necessary for the sustainability of the network and that addressing awareness and advertisement efforts in the deployment stage would be required. An International Association has been established to deploy, maintain and further develop the network, with the EASTIN partner as its founding members.