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Open research questions in Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility

481 gap statements mined from Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 3,617 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • Future research analysing the connection between public bodies (WHO, government, and funding institutions) and private entities (manufacturers, service providers, and health professionals) is crucial for establishing a well-organised care network based on principles of equity, autonomy, and social inclusion. These three impacts should be regarded as insights for future research.

    A Network-Based Quantitative Analysis of the Societal Impacts of Assistive Technology · 2025 · DOI

  • The lack of understanding of the complex effects of Assistive Technologies on users’ lives. The need for a comprehensive analysis of the relationships among the impacts of Assistive Technology.

    A Network-Based Quantitative Analysis of the Societal Impacts of Assistive Technology · 2025 · DOI

  • People with intellectual disabilities and blindness have difficulties in activity engagement, orientation and mobility, communication, and motivation. They have limited ability to discriminate and handle objects. The technology system needs to be able to guide the participants to the correct destination rooms without requiring research assistants' input.

    Technology to Enable People with Intellectual Disabilities and Blindness to Collect Boxes with Objects and Transport Them to Different Rooms of Their Daily Context: A Single-Case Research Series · 2025 · DOI

  • Further research could explore the use of this technology system in different contexts, such as domestic and vocational settings. Research could investigate the long-term effects of using this technology system on the participants' activity engagement and motivation.

    Technology to Enable People with Intellectual Disabilities and Blindness to Collect Boxes with Objects and Transport Them to Different Rooms of Their Daily Context: A Single-Case Research Series · 2025 · DOI

  • Technical challenges, such as the need for a virtual environment for different python versions and issues with continuous block execution in Blockly. The lack of user-friendly interfaces for integrating high-tech assistive technologies into Speech and Language Therapy practice. Ensuring the alignment of ATLog with real Speech and Language Therapy practices.

    A Design-Based Research Approach to Streamline the Integration of High-Tech Assistive Technologies in Speech and Language Therapy · 2025 · DOI

  • Limited generalizability due to cross-sectional and non-experimental design. Complexity of the assistive technology service delivery process.

    Improving Satisfaction with Assistive Technology Through Better Service Delivery: Evidence from the WHO rATA Survey in Italy · 2025 · DOI

  • Limited population-level evidence on assistive technology service delivery. Lack of understanding of the relative influence of pre- and post-delivery services on user satisfaction.

    Improving Satisfaction with Assistive Technology Through Better Service Delivery: Evidence from the WHO rATA Survey in Italy · 2025 · DOI

  • The absence of accessibility and inclusive principles in technology poses increasing complexity for individuals with physical or neurological needs. The paper identifies a gap in the development of computational artifacts that adapt to specific characteristics, promoting equity and participation for all.

    Participatory and Inclusive Design Models from the Perspective of Universal Design for Children with Autism: A Systematic Review · 2024 · DOI

  • The poor integration of ICT in classrooms due to the lack of specific plans for the correct integration of technological tools. The existence of technological resources and digital applications in educational centres does not guarantee an effective integration of ICT in the educational environment.

    Technological Tools in Higher Education: A Qualitative Analysis from the Perspective of Students with Disabilities · 2024 · DOI

  • Despite the high prevalence of communication difficulties with a brain tumour, research into interventions to ameliorate these difficulties is lacking.

    Co-design and evaluation of a communication intervention package for people living with a brain tumour · 2026 · DOI

  • The intervention was perceived as acceptable to participants; of interest to health professionals, patients, and families; and practical to deliver; however, due to the small sample size of stage 3, the feasibility of the intervention remains unknown.

    Co-design and evaluation of a communication intervention package for people living with a brain tumour · 2026 · DOI

  • Although research on assistive mobility has expanded rapidly, limitations and challenges identified through empirical evaluations remain insufficiently synthesized.

    A Scoping Review of Wayfinding and Navigation Approaches for Supporting Mobility in People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired · 2026 · DOI

  • The abilities and needs of this population change during disease progression, but it remains unclear which ATs are best suited for specific stages.

    Mapping assistive technologies along the progression of Alzheimer's disease: A scoping review · 2026 · DOI

  • Teaching spelling and the development of written expression with individuals who need or use AAC is underexplored.

    Service Providers' Experiences and Challenges in Teaching Writing to Students Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Three Schools · 2026 · DOI

  • Although widely adopted in real-world settings, formal clinical evaluation remains limited, with gaps in evidence regarding functional outcomes, safety, and performance across diverse environments.

    AI-driven, low-cost aids for people with visual impairment · 2026 · DOI

  • While future research is needed to explore these findings in investigative interview settings to ensure greater external validity, the results indicate that communication boards with graphical symbols, particularly when supplemented with text labels, hold promise as an aided AAC tool for supporting communication of witnessed events in investigative settings.

    Aided Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in investigative settings: conveying witnessed events via communication boards · 2026 · DOI

  • Little is known about assistive device use by young children with cerebral palsy (CP) classified as Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) III–V.

    Wheeled Mobility, Seating, and Bathroom Device Use by Children With Cerebral Palsy · 2026 · DOI

  • Despite evidence supporting the benefits of individualised disability housing, the extent to which the built environment in these housing models meets the needs of tenants with disability and complex needs remains unclear.

    How do people with disability and complex needs experience the built environment in apartments designed for people with disability? · 2025 · DOI

  • Future research should explore the scalability of PLCs in AAC and their long-term impact on service provision and client outcomes.

    Building Capacity for Bilingual Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Insights From Professional Learning Community Participants · 2025 · DOI

  • However, little is known about how OTs choose ATCs, and the rehabilitation strategies involved in their implementation.

    Prescribing Assistive Technology for Cognition to Support Aging in Place: OTs’ Perspective · 2025 · DOI

  • Technical barriers and limited teacher readiness, which hinder widespread adoption. Ethical concerns such as privacy and algorithmic bias, which need careful consideration.

    Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality on Educational Inclusion: A Systematic Review of Technologies Supporting Students with Disabilities · 2024 · DOI

  • Exploring the potential adoption of ConvAI in SLT for children, - Investigating the use of text-generative AI for conversations in SLT, - Developing new frameworks for conceptualizing the design processes of ATs…

    A Design-Based Research Approach to Streamline the Integration of High-Tech Assistive Technologies in Speech and Language Therapy · 2025 · DOI

  • Further empirical research to explore the long-term impact of AI and VR technologies - Research to address the challenges of high cost of implementation, technical barriers and limited teacher…

    Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality on Educational Inclusion: A Systematic Review of Technologies Supporting Students with Disabilities · 2024 · DOI

  • Further research is needed to explore the impact of ICT on students with disabilities in different educational contexts - Studies could investigate the effectiveness of specific technological tools in improving the educational experience of students with disabilities - Research could also examine the role of teachers and educators in supporting the integration of students with disabilities into the digital…

    Technological Tools in Higher Education: A Qualitative Analysis from the Perspective of Students with Disabilities · 2024 · DOI

  • There is limited research that documents the various roles of related service providers when considering literacy adaptations and implementation…

    “It's a Lot of Collaboration”: Related Service Providers Supporting Literacy Instruction for Learners Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication · 2025 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility

Most recent work

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This page shows what the Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility literature already flags as unresolved. To narrow it to your specific question, search the Research Gap Finder: the search is free with a free account and lists the papers closest to your topic first. Unlocking that topic (50 credits, charged once) fills the comparison table from our 7.9M-paper local library and writes the gaps from its rows.

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) Despite the high prevalence of communication difficulties with a brain tumour, research into interventions to ameliorate these difficulties is lacking (“Co-design and evaluation of a communication intervention package for people…”, 2026); (2) The abilities and needs of this population change during disease progression, but it remains unclear which ATs are best suited for specific stages (“Mapping assistive technologies along the progression of Alzheimer's disease: A…”, 2026); (3) Although widely adopted in real-world settings, formal clinical evaluation remains limited, with gaps in evidence regarding functional outcomes, safety, and performance across diverse environments (“AI-driven, low-cost aids for people with visual impairment”, 2026); (4) Little is known about assistive device use by young children with cerebral palsy (CP) classified as Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) III–V (“Wheeled Mobility, Seating, and Bathroom Device Use by Children With Cerebral…”, 2026); (5) The lack of understanding of the complex effects of Assistive Technologies on users’ lives (“A Network-Based Quantitative Analysis of the Societal Impacts of Assistive…”, 2025). 481 gap statements have been mined from Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 3,617 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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