Rehabilitation engineering: towards a systematic process

Two parts of the rehabilitation engineering process, client assessment and task analysis, are examined, and an approach to further delineate and systematize these components is described. The tasks of the rehabilitation engineer are taken to be the selection of appropriate available assistive devices and the design of new devices that will enable a handicapped client to accomplish a life task for which he or she would otherwise by physically disabled. Generalizable concepts and speculations on new tools that are perceived to be needed to help rehabilitation engineers do their job are emphasized. Human performance concepts are used as a basis for analyzing processes. Analogies from traditional engineering design and practice are used for insight.<>