Towards a framework for user involvement in research and development of emerging assistive technologies Evert-Jan HOOGERWERF a, Lorenzo DESIDERI a , Massimiliano MALAVASI a , Matteo RIMONDINI a , Andrea KÜBLER b a AIAS Bologna onlus Ausilioteca team, Bologna, Italy b Institute of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Germany Abstract. Many research and development projects in the field of assistive technology involve the participation of people with disabilities as potential end users. Within the context of a recent brain-computer interface (BCI) project, the AT team of AIAS Bologna has tried to identify the core components of a framework that would endow end users with an enhanced role in the design of innovative solutions based on emergent technologies. The components identified are described in this paper. Keywords. Research and development, brain-computer interfaces, user centred design, living lab, UN Convention 1. Introduction Carrying out research into the benefits of emerging technologies for people with disabilities represents an important way of advancing the utilization of assistive technologies (AT). In many cases, such research activities will involve the development of applications and prototypes that require testing by potential end users. This paper focuses on user involvement in research and development (R&D) projects. Our objective is to contribute to the current discussion about how people with disabilities can play an enhanced role in the design and development of innovative solutions based on emerging technologies [1]. 2. Background This paper is based on the experience of the AIAS Bologna onlus Ausilioteca team as a partner in the TOBI 1 (Tools for Brain-Computer Interaction) project which was funded by the European Commission between 2009 and 2013 under the 7th Framework Program 2 . Ausilioteca is a nonprofit multidisciplinary AT service that supports people with disabilities in identifying appropriate AT solutions. The TOBI project developed applications in the field of AT and neuro-motor rehabilitation based on non-invasive Brain-Computer Interaction (BCI) [2]. 1 For more information please visit: http://www.tobi-project.org/ 2 This paper reflects the views only of the authors. The European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information provided.