CONFERENCE REPORT Technology for improving cognitive function: Report on a workshop sponsored by the U.S. Interagency Committee on Disability Research MARCIA J. SCHERER 1 & CATHY BODINE 2 1 Institute for Matching Person & Technology, Inc., Webster, New York, and 2 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, USA Abstract The U.S. federal Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) and its Subcommittee on Technology (IST) sponsored a state of the art workshop on ‘‘Technology for Improving Cognitive Function,’’ from 29 – 30 June 2006 in Washington, D.C. This paper summarizes the content of the keynote and panel presentations. Keywords: Assessment, disability, Alzheimer’s disease, intellectual disability, traumatic brain injury, stroke, assistive technology, disability statistics, biomedical engineering Introduction The U.S. federal Interagency Committee on Dis- ability Research (ICDR) and its Subcommittee on Technology (IST) [1] sponsored a state of the art workshop on ‘‘Technology for Improving Cognitive Function,’’ from 29 – 30 June 2006 in Washington, D.C. The ICDR is authorized by the U.S. Rehabi- litation Act of 1973, as amended, to promote coordi- nation among federal departments and agencies conducting rehabilitation research programs. The ICDR and its five subcommittees hold regularly scheduled interagency meetings, as well as sponsor summits and conferences that bring together agency representatives, researchers, policy makers, consu- mers and advocates. The purpose of these activities is to reveal gaps in current research and determine pri- orities and future directions for U.S. federal disability research. People with cognitive disabilities include those with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, psychiatric disabilities and impaired memory due to aging or other causes (e.g., Alzheimer’s, traumatic brain injury, and stroke). These conditions affect over 20 million American citizens or approximately 7% of the U.S. population. Prevalence rates for cognitive disability are growing rapidly as the nation ages and as advances in medicine and rehabilitation extend the lifespan of persons with disabilities. The two-day event was a national forum for clini- cians, researchers, consumers, providers, advocates and industry to share information and innovative ideas about the state of the science in assistive and accessible technologies that support the needs of people with cognitive disabilities. Participants in the workshop explored: (1) Technology needs for improving cognitive function; (2) Trends in research and development; (3) Products marketed and consumer responses to them; (4) Gaps in current research; (5) Technology transfer or product development opportunities; and (6) Industry responses to the potential market and how to best work with the research com- munity and government to stimulate invest- ment and commercialization of technologies for persons with cognitive disability. The workshop included presentations and panel discussions on these topics, and the PowerPoint Correspondence: Marcia J. Scherer, PhD, MPH, Institute for Matching Person & Technology, 486 Lake Road, Webster, New York 14580, USA. E-mail: IMPT97@aol.com Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, September 2006; 1(4): 257 – 261 ISSN 1748-3107 print/ISSN 1748-3115 online ª 2006 Informa UK Ltd. DOI: 10.1080/17483100600982977