151 - AsTeRICS, University of Applied Sciences Technikum Vienna,
Austria
C
ONTACT
University of Applied Sciences Technikum Vienna
Mr. Christoph Veigl
Austria
www.asterics-academy.net+43 676 780 76 80
veigl@technikum-wien.atO
VERALL GOAL
/
MISSION
The AsTeRICS project seeks to promote international networking in the sector of ICT-based Assistive Technology by
implementing hands-on workshops with flexible open source assistive technology tools, which enable people with
severe physical disabilities to handle a computer and get access to e-learning platforms and educational resources.
T
HE SOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED
First and foremost in low-income countries, and there especially for low-income families, the access to assistive
technology devices is very restricted. The reasons differ, but there is often a lack of adequate technological
infrastructure and special assistive technology solutions are very expensive. Furthermore, the necessary expertise for
the application of ICT-based assistive tools is often not at hand. Because of it, the AsTeRICS project has created and
developed a set of affordable open source tools that are able to support people with physical disabilities. With the help
of these tools, computers and smartphones can easily be used, also by people with severe physical disabilities. The tools
are provided as construction kits with full documentation of hardware and software and during hands-on workshops,
that were organized in cooperation with partners from other countries, demonstrations were given to show how to use
and how to build the tools on a local basis.
C
OUNTRIES IN WHICH IT WAS DEVELOPED
:
Austria
C
OUNTRY
/
COUNTRIES IN WHICH IT IS OPERATING
:
International
F
ACTS ABOUT SIZE AND SCOPE
1.
The project started in the year 2013 and it sees itself as a non-profit-research and internationalisation activity.
In the first project year the FLipMouse and FABI tools were developed.
2.
During the first two years of the project, workshops and trainings have been performed at eight partner
organisations with an estimated entry number of 200.