Event marks beginning of bringing organisations together to improve people’s lives through innovative assistive technology
An event to begin a debate about how and where assistive technology will evolve and help improve the lives of Shropshire people in the future was held today (Wednesday 1 November 2017) at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury.
Delegates at Tech Severn Seed event
The Tech Severn Seed event, organised by Shropshire Council’s housing services, was presented by BBC Radio Shropshire’s Vicki Archer, and saw a range of speakers talking about their personal and professional experience of technology and their expectations for the future.
The conference welcomed more than 100 delegates from a range of health and care commissioners and budgetholders, industry experts, and users of services.
Tech Severn Seed event brochure
Assistive technology is a broad term covering everything from computer software for visually impaired users, to advanced prosthetics. Aside from the economic benefits, these new developments can also remove the barriers preventing children with disabilities from achieving in school, and help people maintain their independence into old age.
Visitors had a chance to speak to some of the industry’s innovators and get up close with the very latest cutting edge technology, and learn how it can empower people with disabilities to be more independent and improve the quality of life for those with long-term conditions.
At the end of the session delegates also took part in a ‘question time’ session involving a panel of experts.
Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, adult social care and housing, said
“Shropshire Council is delighted have launched the first in a series of technology events. We know the challenges our county faces in terms of health, social care, housing, and supporting a vibrant and thriving local economy.
“We hope that visitors will come away inspired and with a new perspective and understanding of what assistive technology is, who uses it, and how this could evolve in the near future to take on some our greatest challenges.”
Andy Begley, Shropshire Council’s director of adult social care and housing, said:
“Advances in design and technology over recent years have transformed the way we live our lives. This transformation both in the range of technology available and how people interact with it has benefited many areas of our society – at work, in education and at home.
“Our Tech Severn Seed event provided a great opportunity to begin the debate about how and where assistive technology will evolve, and marks the beginning of a new way forward, to tackle our greatest challenges, to change the way we do things and improve the lives of us all, both now and well into the future. I hope everyone who attended has a new understanding of the true potential technology offers.”
Tech Severn Seed precedes a larger national technology event which will take place in Shropshire in 2018.
