Edges of perception: balancing sensory loss and potential in assistive technology.

Abstract

Being deafblind means my perception differs profoundly from those who are conventionally sighted and have non-impaired hearing. A lot of hidden knowledge is to be found in the disparity between these differing experiences that could be of great value in developing assistive technologies that have a broad scope to engage with both disabled and non-disabled users. This article explores the balancing act between sensory loss and the potential inherent in all of us and how this should be part of the design process of haptic assistive technology.Facing the true impact of my sensory loss, I realised it held the unexpected gift of a-literally-different perspective. I am losing sights and sounds, but the world still reveals itself to me in many ways. Exploring my sensory potential, I combine daily life experiences and theoretical knowledge to better understand how to get the most out of my sensory processing systems. The goal is not to compensate what is lost, but stay connected in a way that enables me to live my life to the fullest.I undertake sensory life hacks based on the brain's unmatched capacity to adjust to circumstances and work with any kind of input. Both predicting processing and neuroplasticity offer an operating system of highly evolved flexibility that allows and even encourages creative solutions. I adjust my coping strategies to align them with these processes shaping my perceptual experience, balancing sensory loss and sensory gain.I believe there is great potential to enrich daily life experiences with haptic assistive technology, building on the natural sensory abilities we have as human beings, co-creating life. However, this comes with challenges: researchers who are not sensorily impaired should consider through experience that we all have limited perception in a way. At the edges of the familiar, you have to face your perceptual limits, pushing you out of your comfort zone and in doing so space is being created for growth; researchers used to the dominance of sight and hearing are less used to consciously experiencing the power of sensory proximity, such as touch and proprioception. These bodily tactile senses, however, are grounding senses in all of us and display a broad scope of sensations to be experienced.The hereditary disease that causes deafblindness forced me to explore the edges of my perception, and instead of devastating loss I discovered a richness of sensory abilities. This article is a plea to dive into this, using my lived experience and critical knowledge. Realising this potential can mean that inclusive research on assistive technologies might really do what it promises, co-creating technologies to enhance life experiences.