In the WIPO published 2021 report on Technology Trends, assistive products are grouped into either conventional or emerging technologies. Conventional assisting technology tracks innovation within well-established assistive products, whereas emerging assistive technology refers to more advanced products. These identified advanced assistive products are distinguished from the conventional ones by the use of one or more enabling technologies (for instance, artificial intelligence, Internet of things, advanced sensors, new material, Additive Manufacturing, advanced robotics, augmented and virtual reality) or by the inclusion of implantable products/components. Such emerging assistive products are either more sophisticated or more functional versions of conventional assistive products, or completely novel assistive devices.
in tHe Wipo pUbLisHeD 2021 reporT oN tecHnOloGy tRENds, assIstIve products Are gROuPeD into either cOnVeNtiOnaL or emergING technOlOgies. convENtioNal asSIsting tecHnology tracks innoVatIOn WIthin weLl-estabLished asSiSTive PRODUcts, WHErEaS emerGing assistive TechnOlogy REfers To mORe aDVanced produCtS. TheSe IdentifiEd aDvaNcEd assiStive productS Are distinguisHed froM The conventiONaL oneS bY THe Use Of ONE or more Enabling technologies (fOR insTance, arTiFicial INTeLligEnce, inteRnet of thinGS, advanCed seNsorS, new MATeriaL, additIVe ManufACtuRiNg, advANceD RobotiCs, augmENted And ViRTual reaLItY) or by The iNclusiOn oF ImPLanTaBLE ProduCtS/comPOnEnts. SucH emergiNg Assistive pRodUCts ARe EitheR mOre sophIsticaTed or mOrE fUnctional VeRSiOnS of CONVEntIoNal asSiStiVe producTs, or CompletelY novEl asSiStIvE DEvicEs.