Another piece of technology that I thought was interesting was an amplifier for individuals that cannot project their voice. I had a student in the past that really struggled with speaking in anything above a whisper, and it wasn't for lack of trying. He would try so hard to talk to his friends, and no one could understand what he was saying unless the room was completely quiet. A device like this could have benefited him in social situations by making his voice more audible and allowing him to communicate more freely with his peers and teachers.
Other useful technologies are screen magnifiers which I have seen used by both my aunt because of visual problems and a student in one of the other classrooms in my school, seen screen readers, joysticks instead of a mouse, and touch screens.
This weeks topic also reminded me of my own experience using assistive technology in the form of a wheelchair during my first year in college at MCC. I had seriously injured my back resulting in nerve damage that made it difficult to walk. I spent six months in a wheelchair which allowed me the mobility to participate in college just like any other student. I found that while the technology (wheelchair) was a blessing, often times places simply are ill-equipped to utilize assistive technology efficiently and effectively. I struggled to maneuver in buildings with steep ramps, elevators placed in out of the way locations, and desks not made for a wheelchair to roll up to. When I had class in the lecture halls I had to take an elevator to the very top of the hall and sit by myself in the balcony instead of down in the classroom with all of my peers. Assistive technology can be great, but after my experience I realize that providing technology just to the individual with a disability is not enough, buildings themselves need to be better designed to utilize the technology to it's fullest potential.