Universal Design and Assistive Technology
Answer 1
In “Wheelchair Diaries” documentary, the fundamental aspect is the lack of accessibility in Europe. The disabled are limited to the areas they can visit, such as restaurants. The concept of Universal Design (UD) is to ensure similarities in wheelchair features and facilities, such as restaurants, to enhance accessibility by the disabled. A profound example of the impacts of the UD for people with disabilities is when one is traveling using the public transport system or entering buildings. If the individual cannot walk, the only option is to stay at home due to stairs or the height of boarding the bus. The UD would involve having a mechanism that allows a person with a disability and in a wheelchair to board a bus or enter a building.
Answer 2
The documentary “Fixed” focuses on the interactions between humans and machines to alleviate their disabilities. Technologies, such as glasses, implants, and exoskeleton, demonstrate how people wish to do more than average and according to their situations. The technologies promote one’s ableism. The advantages of these technologies include enabling the individual becomes better, addressing the challenges of disability, and social enhancements. The disadvantages of these technologies include the negative impacts of technologies such as cosmetic surgeries that go wrong, the competition between the abled and disabled, and creating super humans. For instance, disabled people with enhancement become better with technology improvements, and ordinary people prefer taking drugs that enhance their abilities.