HAAT Model

A conceptual framework for understanding and designing assistive technology systems that identifies four interconnected components: the human user, the activity being performed, the assistive technology itself, and the context in which the activity takes place. Developed by Cook and colleagues, the HAAT model emphasizes that assistive technology solutions cannot be evaluated in isolation — they must be considered in relation to the specific person using them, the tasks they need to accomplish, and the environment in which those tasks occur. The model is widely used in rehabilitation engineering and occupational therapy to guide the selection, design, and evaluation of assistive devices and systems.