Assistive Technology for Computer Access Unlocking the Mind with the Keys of Understanding!

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Assistive Technology for Computer Access
Unlocking the Mind with the Keys of
Understanding!

• Carolyn P. Phillips Liz Persaud
• Tools for Life
• Georgia Assistive Technology Program
• phone [phone]
• email carolynpphillips_at_mindspring.com
• email lizpersaud_at_mindspring.com
• www.gatfl.org

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Considering Computer Access What Works for the
Individual
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Why Assistive Technology?

• For a person without a disability, technology
  makes things easier.
• For a person with a disability, technology makes
  things possible.

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Assistive Technology Matching A TEAM APPRAOCH

• The Person with the disAbility
• Circle of Support Family of Choice
• Case Managers
• Technologist
• Occupational Therapist
• Speech Language Pathologist
• Physical Therapist
• Engineer

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Human Activity Technology (HAAT) Model

• Human represents the skills and abilities of the
  person with a disability
• Activity a set of tasks to be performed by the
  person with a disability
• Context the setting or social, cultural and
  physical contexts that surround the environment
  in which the activity must be completed
• Assistive Technology devices or strategies used
  to bridge the gap between the persons abilities
  and the demands of the environment
• Developed by Cook Hussey

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Promoting Strengths Managing Weaknesses
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A Holistic Approach
School
Work
Personal
Social
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Selection of an AT Device

• Depends on an analysis of the following
  conditions
• Prior experience or knowledge, and interests
• The individuals specific strengths, weaknesses
• The specific device (reliability, ease of
  operation, technical support, cost)
• Usefulness across settings
• Usefulness over time as symptoms manifest!

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Most Effective Technological Products

• Able to level out the playing field
• Work in cross-settings
• Portable
• Easy to maintain
• Affordable to replace and/or maintain
• Good and reliable technological support
• Accessible training format

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Staying off the FAST Track!

• Frustration
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Tension

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Technology gives me hope I need a lot of
Hope!" Earnestine
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Universal design principles

• equitable use
• flexibility in use
• simple and intuitive to use
• perceptible information
• tolerance for error
• low physical effort
• size and space for approach and use

http//www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/univ_design/princ_o
verview.htm
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Multi-modal

• Multi-modal systems
• use more than one sense (or mode ) of interaction
• e.g. visual and aural senses a text processor
  may speak the words as well as echoing them to
  the screen

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Challenge

• Very hard to design a product for everyone
• What happens when you cant?
• Design for all vs. Design for most
• Assistive technology
• Any item, equipment or system, that is used to
  increase, maintain, or improve functional
  capabilities of a person with a disability

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Considerations

• Function
• absence of a limb
• paralysis
• tetraplegia/quadriplegia all four limbs
• paraplegia lower limbs only
• Strength
• Tremor/Accuracy
• Slowness

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Speech Conversation

• Conversation is a dialogue in which the one
  taking breath is called the listener
• 150 words/minute
• High-speed input for people with limited manual
  dexterity
• Predictive interface, stored phrases, iconic
  boards
• Chat

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Acceleration Techniques

• Create macros
• Use Word prediction
• Abbreviations
• Word Completion

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Windows Accessibility Features

• Mouse pointers, speed and trails
• Display resolution settings, high contrast etc.,
  Magnifier (XP)
• Cursor repeat rate or delay and blink rate
• Keyboard options sticky keys, filter keys and
  toggle keys, onscreen keyboard (XP).
• SoundSentry screen sounds for VI
• Narrator-Screen Reader (XP)
• Accessibility Wizard Windows ME and above for
  setting features in control panel based on user
  need

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Software Modifications

• Sticky keys
• Slow keys or disable auto-repeat
• Modify keyboard mappings
• On-screen keyboards

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Possible Switches

• Foot pedal
• Leaf switch highly sensitive
• Sip and puff
• Dual switch (can be used for Morse code)
• Joy stick
• Muscle switch
• Neural implant
• Eye gaze

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Switches for Access

1. Jelly Bean Red Switch by Ablenet
2. Buddy Button switch by TASH
3. Leaf Switch by Enabling Devices
4. Frog Switch by Enabling Devices
5. Untouchable a Proximity Single Switch
6. Grasp Switch
7. Voice Activated Switch by Enabling Devices
8. Activation Pressure Adjustable Switch by Penny
   and Giles
9. Ultimate Switch (with mount included) by
   Enabling Devices
10. Switch Tray for switch mounting by Maxess
11. Universal Switch Mount by Ablenet
12. Switch and Latch Timer for switch use by Ablenet
13. Battery Adapter (adapts battery operated toys to
    single switch) by Ablenet

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Mouse alternatives

• Trackball
• Proportional joystick
• Switched joystick or cursor keys
• Head sensor or mouth stick
• Eye-gaze
• Keyboard only

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Cursor Control

• Microspeed trackball.
• Standard trackball.
• Penny and Giles joystick with keyguard.
• Penny and Giles trackball.
• Trackball from Crayola.
• Trackball from Penny and Giles.
• Hand mouse.
• Mouse with switch interface from Logitech and
  Mini mouse (for small hands).
• Glidepoint touch pad by Cirque
• Graphite Tablet with stylus for drawing.

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Switch Interfaces for Computers Access

1. Macintosh Switch Interface by Don Johnston
2. USB Switch Interface by Quizworks
3. Switch Adapted Mouse by Logtec
4. SAM trackball mouse by Microspeed
5. IntelliKeys USB board by Intellitools

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Keyboard Modifications

• Keyguards
• Alternative layouts
• Reduce movement
• One-handed keyboards, possible chords
• Membrane surfaces (minimize required pressure)

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Onscreen Keyboards
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Alternative Input Devices

• Speech input
• Dictation versus control

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Typing Sticks
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What is a Direct Brain-Computer Interface?
a system that captures signals directly from
the human brain, providing a channel to control
computers and other devices. The GSU
BrainLab Mission is to pioneer real-world
applications research for biometric technologies
to improve the quality of life for people with
severe disabilities, and to explore mainstream
applications.
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Brain Signal Detection Techniques
Invasive implanted electrodes (single neuron)
Noninvasive scalp electrodes (EEG)
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Restoring Motion - Neural Prosthetics

• Brain re-learns how to move limbs via an
  artificial
• nervous system
• Simulation
• Virtual reality hand
• Restoring Physical Motion
• Robotic arm

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The Aware Chair

• Integrated communication and environmental
  control
• Intelligent, neurally controlled wheelchair
• Conversation and environmental control
  prediction
• Learns users habits and context
• Provides emotional expression

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Take Aways!

• Think about universal design principles helps
  all users, not just people with disAbilities
• Technology can help provide access and control of
  computer
• Wide range of solutions
• Try before You Buy!
• Nothing About Us without Us - Work with users!

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The Starfish

• There was a young man walking down a deserted
  beach just before dawn. In the distance he saw a
  older woman
• appear to be dancing.
• As he approached the woman,
• he saw her picking up stranded starfish and
  throwing them back into the sea.
• The young man gazed in wonder
• as the woman again and again threw the small
  starfish from the sand to the water.
• He asked, Why do you spend so much energy doing
  what seems to be a waste of time.
• The woman explained that the
• stranded starfish would die if left in the
  morning sun.
• But there must be thousands of
• beaches and millions of starfish! exclaimed the
  young man.
• How can you make any difference?
• The woman looked at the small starfish
• in her hand and as she threw it to the safety of
  the sea, she said,
• It makes a difference to this one!.

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For Your Time Interest!We Want to Hear from
You!
Thank You!