Journal 8 - Adaptive Technology

Communication

AAC, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication, is any method other than oral language that an individual uses to express their wants, needs, thoughts, and ideas. These include things like body/hand gestures, facial expressions, or use of a tool (e.g. writing, pictures, etc.) to augment verbal expression in order to clarify communication. Everyone uses AAC, but it can be especially important for individuals who have a mental or physical handicap and possessed of limited or no verbal communication to develop AAC skills in order to communicate effectively.


Unaided AAC: unaided AAC is any means of communication that does not require the individual to use an exterior device or tool; communication is accomplished with the body. Common forms of unaided AAC are facial expressions, nonverbal sounds, body gestures/movements, pantomime, or use of sign language. American Sign Language is a great type of AAC that allows the communicator to form an unlimited number of messages, but it requires a high level of fine motor skills on the part of the communicator and training on the part of the communicator's partner to understand the language.

Aided Low Tech AAC: aided AAC refers to any exterior device or tool that an individual may use to communicate. Tools can be very low tech; meaning that they do not require electronics, electriciy, or batteries to operate. One very simple and easy to use tool is a communication board that features different symbols or pictures, letters, words, or phrases that when pointed to indicate the speaker's wants or needs. Depending on the speaker's mobility, a communication board may need to be used in conjunction with a pointing device such as a head or mouth stick.

Aided High Tech AAC: high tech AAC tools refer to any communication device that have electronics, and require electricity or batteries to operate. A common high tech AAC tool is a speech generating device (SGD). This is an electronic device that allows the communicator to select a word or phrase from a screen, then have the device vocalize the phrase. There are many types of SGDs that vary greatly in ease of use, memmory capacity, range of available letters/words, and portability. Although they can allow the communicator greater freedom of expression, these devices can be somewhat unreliable so it is best to use a low tech tool as a backup. Use can be further assisted through an adapted mouse or eye movement tracking devices that allow communicators to select things on the screen without use of a body part.

Accessibility


An input device is any computer component that allows the user to input data on the computer. A common example of an input device would be a mouse or a keyboard. Without an input device to input and manipulate data on a computer, the computer is essentially an expensive paperweight. A person with a disability may choose to use an adaptive input device to meet their needs.

Software: Click-N-Type is a great piece of software that anyone can download for FREE. It is a virtual full use keyboard for someone who is not able to operate a regular keyboard. Anyone who has the ability to use a mouse, modified mouse, joystick, touchscreen, mouth pointer, or other pointing device is able to operate the Click-N-Type virtual keyboard. Once downloaded, the user can use the virtual keyboard to type directly into any Window or DOS application.

Hardware: An interesting hardware input device that I found is the Jouse2. The Jouse2 is a modified mouse that is controlled via a joystick that the user can manipulate with his/her mouth, cheek, tongue, or chin. The joystick also has built in sip and puff controls that serve two functions. It allows the modified mouse to perform left and right click functions, and it can be set to Morse code mode which allows the user to input different letters and characters. The Jouse2 can either be purchased with a regular fixed mouth piece for one user, or if the device will be used by multiple users it can be made with disposable mouth piece covers that can be pulled off and discarded after use. The Jouse2 offers very fine pointer control for use with games or drawing programs. The Jouse2 is more portable than similar devices because it mounts to the desk rather than to the user, requires no external power supply, and is based on usb technology so that it is easy to plug in and use on multiple types of computers and other devices. The Jouse2 is essentially a mouse and a keyboard all in one.