AbstractHow to put on socks, let alone tights, if you cannot reach your legs? Many such problems remain unanswered, despite a large possible market for suitable gadgets. Attempts to direct research towards such problems are hindered by social attitudes (the poor image of the handicapped) and by officialdom (the poor image of existing aids, and the problems of actually obtaining them).That techological solutions can be found is demonstrated by both successes that do exist, and by the commercial successes in developing and marketing products for use in the more socially acceptable contexts - such as walking aids for one-year olds (rather than for 80 year olds).This area provides good examples of research being influenced by social attitudes rather than by underlying needs.