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

1. 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: 404-638-0390 email: carolynpphillips@mindspring.com email: lizpersaud@mindspring.com www.gatfl.org

2. Considering Computer Access: What Works for the Individual

3. For a person without a disability, technology makes things easier…. For a person with a disability, technology makes things possible. Why Assistive Technology?

4. 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

5. 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 person’s abilities and the demands of the environment • Developed by Cook & Hussey

6. Promoting Strengths & Managing Weaknesses

7. A Holistic Approach School Work Social Personal

8. Selection of an AT Device Depends on an analysis of the following conditions: • Prior experience or knowledge, and interests; • The individual’s specific strengths, weaknesses; • The specific device (reliability, ease of operation, technical support, cost) • Usefulness across settings • Usefulness over time as symptoms manifest!

9. 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

10. Staying off the FAST Track! Frustration Anxiety Stress Tension

11. “Technology gives me hope & I need a lot of Hope!" ~ Earnestine

12. 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_overview.htm

13. 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

14. Challenge • Very hard to design a product for everyone • What happens when you can’t? • “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

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

16. 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

17. Acceleration Techniques • Create macros • Use Word prediction • Abbreviations • Word Completion

18. 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 Windows’ Accessibility Features

19. Software Modifications • Sticky keys • Slow keys or disable auto-repeat • Modify keyboard mappings • On-screen keyboards

20. 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

21. Switches for Access • Jelly Bean Red Switch by Ablenet • Buddy Button switch by TASH • Leaf Switch by Enabling Devices • Frog Switch by Enabling Devices • Untouchable a Proximity Single Switch • Grasp Switch • Voice Activated Switch by Enabling Devices • Activation Pressure Adjustable Switch by Penny and Giles • Ultimate Switch (with mount included) by Enabling Devices • Switch Tray for switch mounting by Maxess • Universal Switch Mount by Ablenet • Switch and Latch Timer for switch use by Ablenet • Battery Adapter (adapts battery operated toys to single switch) by Ablenet

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

23. 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.

24. Switch Interfaces for ComputersAccess • Macintosh Switch Interface by Don Johnston • USB Switch Interface by Quizworks • Switch Adapted Mouse by Logtec • SAM trackball mouse by Microspeed • IntelliKeys USB board by Intellitools

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

26. Onscreen Keyboards

27. Alternative Input Devices • Speech input • Dictation versus control

28. Typing Sticks

29. BrainLab 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.

30. Brain Signal Detection Techniques Invasive: implanted electrodes (single neuron) Noninvasive: scalp electrodes (EEG)

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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!

34. 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!”.

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