Assistive Technologies in Care and Rehabilitation: Research, Developments, and International Initiatives—Second Edition
A special issue of Technologies (ISSN 2227-7080). This special issue belongs to the section "Assistive Technologies".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 1685
Special Issue Editor
Interests: biomedical engineering; robotics; artificial intelligence; digital health; rehabilitation; smart technology; cybersecurity; mental health; animal-assisted therapy; social robotics; acceptance; diagnostic pathology and radiology; medical imaging; patient safety; healthcare quality; health assessment; chronic disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Following the success of the first edition of our Special Issue—featuring over 20 published contributions —we are pleased to announce the second edition of "Assistive Technologies in Care and Rehabilitation: Research, Developments, and International Initiatives."
[First Edition: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/technologies/special_issues/3JP949711D]
Assistive technologies continue to play an essential role in transforming the landscape of care and rehabilitation, offering innovative pathways to enhance autonomy, communication, mobility, and participation. From wearable sensors to AI-driven robotics, from immersive virtual environments to networked telemedicine systems, these technologies are no longer confined to the laboratory—they are reshaping care delivery in hospitals, homes, and communities.
This second edition aims to deepen and broaden the discussion, with special focus on personalized and person-centered approaches, usability and ethical dimensions, and the interplay between international policy frameworks and technological innovation. Anchored to regulatory and conceptual pillars such as the WHO Global Report on Assistive Technology and the ICF framework, this Special Issue welcomes contributions that bridge the gap between theory and practice, design and implementation, and technology and the lived experience of users.
We invite submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Integration of robotics, AI, and smart environments in care and rehabilitation;
- Personalization of assistive devices and adaptive systems;
- Wearables and mobile technologies supporting autonomy and monitoring;
- Advances in prosthetics, orthotics, and implantables;
- Remote care, tele-rehabilitation, and connected health platforms;
- Communication technologies for people with speech or cognitive impairments;
- Virtual and augmented reality applications in therapeutic settings;
- Regulatory challenges, accessibility issues, and equitable access;
- Implementation of ICF in the design and evaluation of assistive tools;
- WHO strategies, guidelines, and global action plans;
- User-centered design, usability studies, and co-creation with end users;
- Training and digital literacy for healthcare professionals and users;
- Socio-economic impact, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability;
- Cross-sector collaborations—research, industry, healthcare, and policy;
- Ethical, legal, and social implications in assistive tech deployment.
We look forward to contributions from researchers, clinicians, technologists, and policy experts worldwide. Together, we aim to foster a multidisciplinary dialogue that supports the responsible development and dissemination of assistive technologies—advancing not only technical innovation, but also inclusion, dignity, and quality of life.
Sincerely,
Prof. Dr. Daniele Giansanti
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Technologies is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- assistive technology
- aid
- robotics
- telemedicine
- digital health
- artificial intelligence
- augmentative and alternative communication
- WHO
- ICF
- mhealth
- ehealth
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
