The document discusses assistive technologies for disabled and elderly individuals. It provides an overview of assistive technology products, the study background and objectives. The goals are to examine current and emerging assistive technology products and to analyze the market size and projections through 2016. The report methodology includes primary and secondary research interviews with manufacturers and consumers. [/SUMMARY]

1. Disabled and Elderly Assistive Technologies
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS
Assistive technology products are designed to assist people who, because of specific
disabilities or the general infirmities that often accompany aging, would otherwise be unable
to participate meaningfully in economic, social, political, cultural, and other forms of human
activity in their communities. Assistive technology encompasses a broad range of devices,
from "low-tech" products such as eyeglasses and large-print books, to technologically
sophisticated products such as voice synthesizers, Braille readers, and wireless monitoring
devices.
STUDY BACKGROUND
BCC published its last report on disabled and elderly assistive technologies in 2008. Since
that time, continued progress in medical science as well as technology and healthcare,
combined with demographic trends, societal evolution, and changing attitudes, have
continued to drive the market for assistive technologies. Thus, it would seem that the time
has come for a new review of the market' s overall size and direction.
Not only has there been substantial growth in the number of disabled and elderly people,
but they are living longer lives and living independently or semi-independently longer.
These individuals need to perform activities such as shopping, personal hygiene, and
communications that once might have been performed by a family member or an
institutional caregiver.
Not only do many disabled and elderly people need to perform basic activities for
themselves, but they have also undergone a revolution in their life expectations. They may
now expect to be gainfully employed, participate in the political process, and attend cultural
and social events, to name only some of the possibilities.
These changes have coincided with dramatic shifts in public and professional attitudes
toward the disabled and the elderly. Persons with disabilities, including the elderly, are now
considered full citizens entitled to receive a range of services of their choosing to maintain
their quality of life and enjoy full inclusion in society.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which took effect July 26, 1992, is the
clearest expression of this attitudinal shift. The ADA says, in essence, that participation in
the mainstream of daily life is an American right, regardless of race, religion, or disability.
The ADA contains provisions dealing with equality of employment, equal access to
government services, equal access to private businesses that deal with the public, and
telecommunications for the disabled. Subsequent legislation and decisions by the courts
have clarified and extended the basic provisions of the ADA in a process that has continued
up to the present. These demographic, social, political, and legal developments have
created an opportunity as well as a challenge for medical technology and manufacturing to
develop and commercialize new products.

2. Another recent piece of legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act of
2010, is likely to have a significant impact on the market for various assistive technologies.
Among its other provisions, the new law imposes a tax on medical devices such as
prosthetic limbs, pacemakers, and wheelchairs that will increase the cost of these devices
and may decrease their use.
The new health law contains various other provisions that could have a significant impact on
the market for assistive technologies, particularly through changes in Medicare. There is
considerable controversy about the extent of these impacts even if the law is implemented
as it is currently written (there is considerable political support for major changes in the law
or even its repeal). However, the uncertainty about the healthcare law' s impact on the
assistive technologies market makes this an opportune time to look at alternative scenarios.
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the report is to examine market opportunities for assistive technology products
that are now on the market or that are likely to enter the market over the rest of the
decade. Specific objectives of the report include analyzing the following:
• Major product types and applications, both commercial and developmental.
• Market size and segmentation, including historical data on sales by application and
product type.
• Market drivers and constraints.
• Detailed market projections through 2016.
• Industry structure, competition, and market shares.
• Factors that may influence the long-term assistive technologies market.
Browse All Medical Devices Market Research Reports
INTENDED AUDIENCE
The report has been written explicitly for those with an interest in disabled and elderly care
issues, including the following:
• Healthcare professionals
• Manufacturers and distributors
• Regulators and health insurers
• Investors
• The financial and analyst community
The report is tailored especially for readers with an interest in the marketing, financial, and
management dimensions of the assistive technologies industry. However, readers with a
more general interest in disabled and elderly care may find it useful as well.
SCOPE AND FORMAT
The report focuses on the U.S. market for the various types of devices and products that are
on the market or under development to enable disabled and elderly persons to move about,
see, hear, speak, dress themselves, and perform many other everyday activities as
"normally" as possible. Where practical, market developments on the global level are also
addressed, although in less detail than domestic market developments.
In the past few years, BCC has published a number of other reports in related areas, such
as prosthetics and orthotics, microelectronic medical implants, drugs for the elderly, as well

3. as anti-aging products. The findings and conclusions of these other reports will be cited in
this report, where appropriate, for the sake of completeness. However, it is not the author'
s intention to duplicate their coverage and analysis; attention will be focused instead on the
following:
• Mobility- and dexterity-enhancing products.
• Products for the vision-, hearing-, and speech-impaired.
• Toileting and incontinence products.
• Medical/personal monitoring products.
• Other products such as environmental controls and daily living aids.
This report does not cover physical therapy and exercise equipment designed for the elderly
and disabled. The scope of this report also does not include therapeutic treatments such as
surgery that are intended to mitigate or eliminate the underlying causes of a particular
disability.
In terms of format, the report is divided into the following major sections:
• Technologies used in disabled and elderly care products
• Conditions and applications addressed
• Product types
• Legal, regulatory, and insurance issues
• Patent and IP issues Market size and segmentation
• Market drivers
• Market projections from 2010 through 2016
• Industry size and structure
• Competition and market shares
METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES
Both primary and secondary research methodologies were used in preparing this study. The
findings and conclusions of this report are based on information gathered from
manufacturers and distributors, hospitals, doctors, and other end users. Interview data
were combined with information gathered through an extensive review of secondary sources
such as trade publications, trade associations, company literature, and online databases to
produce the baseline market estimates contained in this report.
The base year for analysis and projection is 2010. With 2010 as a baseline, market
projections were developed for 2011 through 2016. These projections are based on a
combination of a consensus among the primary contacts combined with our understanding
of the key market drivers and their impact from an historical and analytical perspective. The
analytical methodologies used to generate the market estimates are described in detail in
the section on Detailed Market Projections.
Unless otherwise stated, all dollar projections presented in this report are in 2010 constant
dollars.
ANALYST CREDENTIALS
The author of this report is Andrew McWilliams. Mr. McWilliams, a partner in the Boston-
based international technology and marketing consulting firm of 43rd Parallel, LLC, is the
author of the previous edition of this report. He is also the author of several other BCC
Research studies related to the subject of this report, including HLC016D - Microelectronic
Medical Implants: Products, Technologies and Opportunities; HLC038C - Patient Monitoring;

4. HLC054B - Home Medical Equipment: Technologies and Global Markets; HLC045A -
Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Cosmetic Enhancement Products; HLC014D - Telemedicine:
Opportunities for Medical and Electronic Providers; HL048C - Healthcare Information
Technology; HLC066A - Medical Automation Technologies, Products and Markets; and
HLC070A - Preventive Healthcare Technologies, Products and Market.
Table of Contents
Chapter- 1: INTRODUCTION - Complimentary
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS
STUDY BACKGROUND
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
INTENDED AUDIENCE
SCOPE AND FORMAT
METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES
ANALYST CREDENTIALS
RELATED BCC RESEARCH REPORTS
BCC ONLINE SERVICES
DISCLAIMER
Chapter- 2: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Table 0 : PROJECTED U.S. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SALES, THROUGH 2016
Figure 0 : PROJECTED U.S. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SALES, 2010-2016
Chapter- 3: OVERVIEW
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
TECHNOLOGIES
APPLICATIONS AND CONDITIONS ADDRESSED
PRODUCT TYPES
PATENT ANALYSIS
REGULATORY, LEGISLATIVE, AND INSURANCE ISSUES
Chapter- 4: U.S. MARKET FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, 2010 TO 2016
SUMMARY
DETAILED MARKET PROJECTIONS
Chapter- 5: GLOBAL MARKETS
Table 62 : GLOBAL MARKET FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, THROUGH 2016
Figure 28 : GLOBAL MARKET FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, GEOGRAPHICAL MARKET
SHARES, 2010 AND 2016
Table l28 :
Chapter- 6: INDUSTRY STRUCTURE AND COMPETITION
NUMBER AND SIZE OF FIRMS
MARKET SHARES

5. Chapter- 7: COMPANY PROFILES
AUTOMATED VOICE SYSTEMS, INC.
BAY ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
BLUE CHIP MEDICAL PRODUCTS
BRUNO INDEPENDENT LIVING AIDS, INC.
COBOLT SYSTEMS, LTD.
CONVATEC
CYBERNET MEDICAL CORP.
DOLPHIN COMPUTER ACCESS, LTD.
DUXBURY SYSTEMS, INC.
DYNAVOX TECHNOLOGIES
EXACT DYNAMICS B.V.
FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC, INC.
GW MICRO, INC.
HONEYWELL HOMMED, LLC
HUMANWARE
INCLINATOR COMPANY OF AMERICA
INVACARE CORP.
KROWN MANUFACTURING
LIFTAVATOR INC.
MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC.
OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE GMBH
PHILIPS LIFELINE SYSTEMS, INC.
PRIDE MOBILITY PRODUCTS CORP.
RICON CORP.
SAVARIA CORP..
SCOTTCARE CORP.
SIEMENS HEARING INSTRUMENTS, INC.
SUNRISE MEDICAL, INC.
SVENSKA CELLULOSA AKTIEBOLAGET SCA
TERRY GROUP, LTD.
THYSSENKRUPP ACCESS
TWIG
WHIRLPOOL CORP.
List of Tables
Summary Table : PROJECTED U.S. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SALES, THROUGH 2016
Table 1 : PROJECTED NUMBER OF DISABLED PEOPLE IN THE U.S., THROUGH 2016
Table 2 : REPORTED INCIDENCE OF HEARING PROBLEMS AMONG U.S. ADULTS, BY
SEX/AGE GROUP, 2009
Table 3 : REPORTED INCIDENCE OF BLINDNESS AND VISION IMPAIRMENT IN THE U.S.,
BY SEX/AGE GROUP, 2009
Table 4 : REPORTED INCIDENCE OF IMPAIRED MOBLITY AND DEXTERITY IN THE U.S., BY
SEX/AGE GROUP, 2009
Table 5 : INCIDENCE OF DOCTOR-DIAGNOSED ARTHRITIS CASES AND CHRONIC JOINT
SYMPTOMS IN THE U.S., BY AGE GROUP, 2009
Table 6 : PROJECTED TRENDS IN NUMBER OF U.S. TOTAL HIP AND KNEE REPLACEMENTS,
THROUGH 2016
Table 7 : OSTOMY POPULATION WITH OSTOMIES, BY AGE GROUP

6. Table 8 : AMBULATORY AID MANUFACTURERS
Table 9 : WHEELCHAIR MANUFACTURERS
Table 10 : SCOOTER MANUFACTURERS
Table 11 : MOTOR VEHICLE DISABLED ACCESS CONVERSION KIT MANUFACTURERS
Table 12 : NAVIGATION AIDS MANUFACTURERS
Table 13 : ACCESS AID MANUFACTURERS
Table 14 : DISABLED BED, SEATING, AND ERGONOMIC AIDS MANUFACTURERS
Table 15 : DAILY LIVING AIDS MANUFACTURERS
Table 16 : SPEECH AND WRITING AID MANUFACTURERS
Table 17 : HEARING AID MANUFACTURERS
Table 18 : COMPUTER AID MANUFACTURERS
Table 19 : READING AND VISION AID MANUFACTURERS
Table 20 : ENVIRONMENTAL AID MANUFACTURERS
Table 21 : MEDICAL/PERSONAL MONITORING AID MANUFACTURERS
Table 22 : PROJECTED U.S. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SALES, THROUGH 2016
Table 23 : PROJECTED U.S. MOBILITY AIDS SALES, THROUGH 2016
Table 24 : PROJECTED U.S. POPULATION 65 YEARS AND OLDER, THROUGH 2016
Table 25 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF AMBULATORY AIDS, THROUGH 2016
Table 26 : WHEELCHAIR USE BY AGE GROUP, 2010
Table 27 : U.S. POPULATION UNDER 65 YEARS OLD, THROUGH 2016
Table 28 : PROJECTED TRENDS IN THE NUMBER OF SEVERELY OBESE AMERICANS,
THROUGH 2016
Table 29 : U.S. SALES OF WHEELCHAIRS AND SCOOTERS, THROUGH 2016
Table 30 : PROJECTED NUMBER OF U.S. WHEELCHAIR USERS AGED 18 TO 64 YEARS,
THROUGH 2016
Table 31 : U.S. SALES PROJECTIONS OF VEHICLE CONVERSIONS FOR THE DISABLED,
THROUGH 2016
Table 32 : U.S. SALES PROJECTIONS OF ELECTRONIC NAVIGATION AIDS FOR THE BLIND,
THROUGH 2016
Table 33 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF DISABILITY ACCESS AIDS BY SEGMENT, 2010
THROUGH 2016
Table 34 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF RESIDENTIAL ELEVATORS, THROUGH 2016
Table 35 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF STAIR LIFTS, THROUGH 2016
Table 36 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF WHEELCHAIR LIFTS, THROUGH 2016
Table 37 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF ACCESSIBLE BATHTUBS AND SHOWERS, THROUGH
2016
Table 38 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF BATH AND POOL LIFTS, THROUGH 2016
Table 39 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF TRANSFER LIFTS, THROUGH 2016
Table 40 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF DOOR OPENERS, THROUGH 2016
Table 41 : PROJECTED U.S. BEDS, SEATING SYSTEMS, AND OTHER ERGONOMIC AIDS
FOR THE DISABLED MARKET, THROUGH 2016
Table 42 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF HOME CARE MEDICAL BEDS AND SEATING
SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2016
Table 43 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF OTHER ERGONOMIC AIDS, THROUGH 2016
Table 44 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF DAILY LIVING AIDS, THROUGH 2016
Table 45 : PROJECTED TRENDS IN THE FEMALE POPULATION OF THE U.S., THROUGH
2016
Table 46 : IMPACT OF GROWING PUBLIC AWRENESS ON MARKET FOR
INCONTINENCE/OSTOMY PRODUCTS, 2001-2009
Table 47 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF INCONTINENCE AND OSTOMY PRODUCTS,
THROUGH 2016

7. Table 48 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF COMMODE AND SHOWER CHAIRS, THROUGH 2016
Table 49 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF OTHER DAILY LIVING AIDS, THROUGH 2016
Table 50 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF COMMUNICATION AIDS, THROUGH 2016
Table 51 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF HEARING AIDS, THROUGH 2016
Table 52 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF SPEECH AIDS, THROUGH 2016
Table 53 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF COMPUTER ACCESSIBILITY AIDS, THROUGH 2016
Table 54 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF VISION AND READING AIDS, THROUGH 2016
Table 55 : PROJECTED U.S. EYEWEAR SALES, THROUGH 2016
Table 56 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF READING MACHINES, THROUGH 2016
Table 57 : PROJECTED U.S. ACCESSIBLE BOOK SALES, THROUGH 2016
Table 58 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF ENVIRONMENTAL AIDS, THROUGH 2016
Table 59 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF MEDICAL/PERSONAL MONITORING AIDS, THROUGH
2016
Table 60 : PROJECTED U.S. PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE DEVICES, THROUGH 2016
Table 61 : PROJECTED U.S. SALES OF REMOTE MONITORING DEVICES, THROUGH 2016
Table 62 : GLOBAL MARKET FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, THROUGH 2016
List of Figures
Summary Figure : PROJECTED U.S. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SALES, 2010-2016
Figure 1 : U.S. POPULATION WHOSE DAILY ACTIVITES ARE LMITED BY HEALTH
CONDITIONS, ACCORDING TO AGE GROUP, 2009
Figure 2 : PROJECTED INCREASE IN U.S. DISABLED POPULATION, 2010-2016
Figure 3 : PREVALENCE OF COGNITIVE/MENTAL IMPAIRMENT AMONG MEDICARE
PARTICIPANTS, 2010
Figure 4 : PREVALENCE OF SELECTED CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS AMONG MEDICARE
PARTICIPANTS, 2010
Figure 5 : U.S. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PATENTS ISSUED SINCE 1976 AND PATENT
APPLICATIONS PENDING, BY TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY
Figure 6 : PROJECTED U.S. ASSISITIVE TECHNOLOGY MARKET TRENDS, 2010-2016
Figure 7 : PROJECTED U.S. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY MARKET SEGMENTATION, 2010 -
2016
Figure 8 : PROJECTED MOBILITY AIDS SUBSEGMENTS, 2010 AND 2016
Figure 9 : U.S. SALES OF AMUBULATORY AIDS, 2010
Figure 10 : U.S. WHEELCHAIR AND SCOOTER MARKET, 2010
Figure 11 : U.S. WHEELCHAIR/SCOOTER SALES BY AGE GROUP, 2010
Figure 12 : LEADING CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH WHEELCHAIR/SCOOTER USE, 2010
Figure 13 : PROJECTED U.S. DISABILITY ACCESS AIDS MARKET, BY TYPE OF PRODUCT,
2010 AND 2016
Figure 14 : PROJECTED BABY BOOMER SPENDING ON HOME RENOVATION PROJECTS,
2010-2016
Figure 15 : U.S. DISABLED BED, SEATING, AND OTHER ERGONOMIC AID MARKET
SHARES, 2010 AND 2016
Figure 16 : U.S. SALES OF DISABLED BEDS AND SEATING, 2010
Figure 17 : PROJECTED U.S. DISABILITY AIDS MARKET, BY TYPE OF PRODUCT, 2010 AND
2016
Figure 18 : U.S. INCONTINENCE AND OSTOMY PRODUCTS MARKET, 2010
Figure 19 : U.S. SALES OF OTHER DAILY LIVING AIDS, 2010
Figure 20 : U.S. UNIT SALES OF DIGITAL VERSUS ANALOG HEARING AIDS, 2010
Figure 21 : TRENDS IN U.S. GDP VERSUS UNIT SALES OF HEARING AIDS, 2003 THROUGH
2010

8. Figure 22 : U.S. COMPUTER ASSISITIVE TECHNOLOGY MARKET, 2010
Figure 23 : U.S. MARKET FOR EYEGLASSES AND CONTACT LENSES, 2010
Figure 24 : U.S. READING MACHINE SALES, 2010
Figure 25 : U.S. SALES OF ACCESSIBLE BOOKS, 2010
Figure 26 : PROJECTED MEDICAL/PERSONAL MONITORING AIDS SUBSEGMENTS, 2010
AND 2016
Figure 27 : U.S. ACTIVITY/EMERGENCY LOCATION MONITOR SALES, 2010
Figure 28 : GLOBAL MARKET FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, GEOGRAPHICAL MARKET
SHARES, 2010 AND 2016
Figure 29 : U.S. MOBILITY AIDS MARKET LEADERS, 2010
Figure 30 : ACCESS AIDS MARKET LEADERS, 2010
Figure 31 : BEDS, SEATING SYSTEMS, AND ERGONOMETRIC AIDS MARKET LEADERS,
2010
Figure 32 : DAILY LIVING AIDS MARKET LEADERS, 2010
Figure 33 : COMMUNICATION AIDS MARKET LEADERS, 2010
Figure 34 : COMPUTER ACCESS AIDS MARKET LEADERS, 2010
Figure 35 : VISION AND READING AIDS MARKET LEADERS, 2010
Figure 36 : MEDICAL/PERSONAL MONITORING AIDS MARKET LEADERS, 2010
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