Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(12), 2627; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15122627
Intersections Between Systems Thinking and Market Shaping for Assistive Technology: The SMART (Systems-Market for Assistive and Related Technologies) Thinking Matrix
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Department of Psychology, John Hume Building, North Campus, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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Assisting Living & Learning (ALL) Institute, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, P.O. Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
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Olomouc University Social Health Institute (OUSHI), Palacký University, Univerzitnà 22, Olomouc 771 11, Czech Republic
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Department of Law, New House, South Campus, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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Centre for European and Eurasian Studies, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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UCL Interaction Centre (UCLIC), University College London, 66-72 Gower Street, London WC1E 6EA, UK
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Global Disability Innovation Hub, UCL at Here East, 8-9 East Bay Lane, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E15 2GW, UK
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The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 17 August 2018 / Revised: 19 October 2018 / Accepted: 6 November 2018 / Published: 23 November 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disability and Global Health)
Abstract
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aspire to “leave no-one behind”. Universal access to assistive products is a critical link between the realization of the SDGs and those most likely to be left behind. However, assistive technology provision in many countries, particularly low- and middle-income countries, has traditionally been conducted through small-scale local providers, manufacturing products of varying degrees of quality at a limited price range. An effective way to scale these production and provision enterprises to the required level is needed to close the gap between available and required assistive technology. We argue that better access to assistive technology will only be realized through the adoption of a far stronger systems thinking and market shaping approach. We undertook a rapid literature review to explore the relationship between market shaping and assistive technology. Based on our review, we present an emergent framework for conceptualizing intersections between systems thinking and market shaping for assistive technology—the SMART (Systems-Market for Assistive and Related Technologies) Thinking Matrix. View Full-TextKeywords:
systems thinking; market shaping; assistive technology; assistive products; resource poor settings; low- and middle-income countries
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MacLachlan, M.; McVeigh, J.; Cooke, M.; Ferri, D.; Holloway, C.; Austin, V.; Javadi, D. Intersections Between Systems Thinking and Market Shaping for Assistive Technology: The SMART (Systems-Market for Assistive and Related Technologies) Thinking Matrix. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 2627.
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Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health
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