The Computer: Best Assistive
Device
Through a variety of interlinked
technologies, Jeff has realized a significant return of his capacities
without lifting a finger… although he does have to wiggle his lips and
tongue.
Jeff has become a “power user” of
two computers: a desktop system and a laptop system that mounts on his
wheelchair. These are some of the components:
 Voice
recognition software by
Dragon Systems, Inc.
Jeff can “write” documents by voice, search and surf the net, download
music and video files, and buy things. He can draw, design publications
using sophisticated layout programs, and he can edit photographs. And, of
course, he can correspond by e-mail. Feel free to drop him a note.
A
mouse-substitute called a
It is a joystick mounted on an adjustable arm. Jeff has one Quad-Joy for
his desktop system, and another mounted on his wheelchair. He can actually
operate both computer systems at once! Jeff uses moves the joystick wand
with his lips and tongue. As he does so, the cursor on the screen moves
just as it would if a normal mouse were being moved by hand. Jeff “clicks
the mouse” by sipping on or puffing into the wand; and the computer reacts
as if the left or right mouse button were being pushed. The QuadJoy was
designed by the late Tom Street, himself a quadriplegic. It is a
simple device that multiplies the ease with which a disabled person can
operate a computer. Every high quad should have one, or something like it.
High-quality model 853 microphone (photo, #4) by
Audio-Technica. A good microphone is absolutely critical to the
system. We didn’t want Jeff to use a headset mic, as is normally done for
voice recognition. The A-T mic is mounted on Jeff’s main controller bar
(click on picture, see #4), and easily captures Jeff’s voice while
filtering out background noise.
 Wireless
microphone relay by Lectrosonics.
The signal from the microphone is converted into radio waves by a
transmitter --
model M175.
The airborne signal is picked up
a desktop receiver --
model DR175
-- which feeds the sound into the computer as if the microphone were
directly connected to it. In this way, Jeff can talk to the computer from
anywhere in the house.
More details about the computer
and microphone systems can be found at the
wheelchair page. |
