7 replies to this topic

[JoshuaAndHeather]

We've had a really hard time with my fiance's injury... he was shot in the neck a year ago while serving in Iraq leaving him a C4 incomplete (Complete at C7). He has complete movement of the shoulders and weak movements of the neck, still. After the initial injury he ended up with an incredibly high temperature (108.8 degrees) which honestly they didn't expect him to live through. Man's a marine though - and tough, so he pulled through! The only signs of brain damage we have today are that it ruined his eyesight (he cannot see anything further than a few feet away) and he lost his ability to speak (he spells by nodding when we've said the letter spelling his words out). We've been trying to get a good system allowing him to use a computer to help him speak until he regains his speech. We tried the eye tracker system but it just didn't work for him. Does anybody know of any other systems that we could use? Seems like everything really requires good eyesight - which he doesn't possess. But we need it so he can speak - among other things. Any suggestions????

[reallyjustme]

We've had a really hard time with my fiance's injury... he was shot in the neck a year ago while serving in Iraq leaving him a C4 incomplete (Complete at C7). He has complete movement of the shoulders and weak movements of the neck, still. After the initial injury he ended up with an incredibly high temperature (108.8 degrees) which honestly they didn't expect him to live through. Man's a marine though - and tough, so he pulled through! The only signs of brain damage we have today are that it ruined his eyesight (he cannot see anything further than a few feet away) and he lost his ability to speak (he spells by nodding when we've said the letter spelling his words out). We've been trying to get a good system allowing him to use a computer to help him speak until he regains his speech. We tried the eye tracker system but it just didn't work for him. Does anybody know of any other systems that we could use? Seems like everything really requires good eyesight - which he doesn't possess. But we need it so he can speak - among other things. Any suggestions????

I don't have any ideas, sorry. I just wanted to say hello and good luck. Tell Joshua thanks for serving and I hope to 'hear' from him on here soon!! I hope someone has some great ideas soon.

[Mike Ellison]

I'm pretty new to this, but I don't know of anything right off.

First thing will be to find the easiest way for him to communicate to the computer. A sip/puff switch of some sort might work, or maybe rig a switch or two that he can trigger with his shoulder or eyebrows. There are also brain interfaces (basically EEG's and the like) that might be a possibility, although I have no experience with them.

Second thing to do is figure out the best way for the computer to communicate back to him. Is audio the only realistic method? Could he read a word or a letter off the screen if it was displayed using the entire screen? Is it difficult for him to hold his neck in a position where he can see the screen?

What types of hardware / software do you currently have?

• Operating system?
• Processor type?
• Input types (joystick, mouse, keyboard, etc)?

Anyway, if you haven't found anything that'll work yet and no one has a better suggestion, I'm up for writing software to help. If you're interested, answer the questions above as much as best you can and we'll see if we can figure out something that will work for him.

[Mike Ellison]

I'm pretty new to this, but I don't know of anything right off.

Found an conference paper with decent descriptions of a few different techniques that have been used before for switch users with low vision. These are along the same lines as what I'd expect to write. You might be able to contact the authors and see if they have suggestions for products as well.

HOW DOES A BLIND SWITCH USER WRITE?

[Barrie Ellis]

What about a head-tracker? I'm wondering about Natural Point's SmartNav head-tracker...

www.naturalpoint.com/smartnav

There's a lot of adjustment available for speed control - and you can use it not just with your head, but with any part of your body that you can attach a sticky reflective dot to.

After practice your fiancee may be able to type words in via an on-screen keyboard (Windows XP has this within the Accessibility folder within the Programs list). You can set it so that if you hover over a letter - it selects it. You can also use a magnifier and the narrator - although there are better alternatives available (see www.abilitynet.org.uk).


If this sounds too difficult or didn't work - what about using a nod to control the computer? You could try the free software utility "TrackMapper" with the SmartNAV head-tracker (and cheaper Track-IR too - although the SmartNAV is better for all round testing and access) which allows you to assign key-strokes to certain tracked positions.

http://www.game-acce...pic.php?pid=177

Imagine if you mapped the top half of the tracking zones to trigger a SPACE BAR stroke. A good testing area for this would be SEN Switcher: http://www.northerng...e/sen/intro.htm to develop basic skills. From there - the On Screen Keyboard can be set to work in a one-switch scan and select mode.

With practice much more could be opened up.

There's other solutions - but this one is not too expensive and can be tried in a number of ways.

Barrie
www.OneSwitch.org.uk

Edited by Barrie Ellis, 24 January 2008 - 03:27 PM.

[Scottl523]

Hi, sorry to hear about what happened I have a brother-in-law in Army special Forces he got shot last year while he was in Afghanistan but he's ok just got his thumb. Back to your question, I'm a quadriplegic C3-4 complete I have good eye sight so don't know much on that end but there is lots of software to help with that but to operate the computer I use what is called a headmaster it's made by Prentke Romich www.prentrom.com I wear a head set when I move my head a laser moves the mouse and I blow in a straw to click the mouse I think they might have quit making this one though but you can always call them there is also this company with a similar device Origin Instruments you can email me if you need any help scottl520@gmail.com
Scott

[kewlcatkez]

Hi Heather ( and Joshua)


I have just replied to another thread regarding Head trackers and also wanted to add the following link to yours. The link has information about software etc for Visually Impaired/Blind people, as well as a whole host of other methods of accessing computers etc which may be of use to Joshua.

Please go to Adaptive computer products technology

I hope this helps you/or someone else.

Please do let us know how you go on in your search for the suitable pooter stuff.

Take care,

K

[d parmar]

[quote name='JoshuaAndHeather' date='Jan 13 2008, 03:28 PM' post='49687']
We've had a really hard time with my fiance's injury... he was shot in the neck a year ago while serving in Iraq leaving him a C4 incomplete (Complete at C7). He has complete movement of the shoulders and weak movements of the neck, still. After the initial injury he ended up with an incredibly high temperature (108.8 degrees) which honestly they didn't expect him to live through. Man's a marine though - and tough, so he pulled through! The only signs of brain damage we have today are that it ruined his eyesight (he cannot see anything further than a few feet away) and he lost his ability to speak (he spells by nodding when we've said the letter spelling his words out). We've been trying to get a good system allowing him to use a computer to help him speak until he regains his speech. We tried the eye tracker system but it just didn't work for him. Does anybody know of any other systems that we could use? Seems like everything really requires good eyesight - which he doesn't possess. But we need it so he can speak - among other things. Any suggestions????

I am using IntegraMouse. it is a device that enables the user to activate all computer functions by use of very small lip movements.
it is connected to the PC via USB and No software installation is required.
It is primarily intended for people who are unable to use their hands and have no head movement.
I have been using it since 2005 and find it very useful

I hope this works out

http://www.keytools....d...at=0&page=1