Disability Technology
Giving a Techno-Toy for the Holidays?
Whether for Yourself or Someone
Else,
Make Sure the Gadget is Accessible
by Jeni Mundl
Walk into Best Buy or CompUSA
and you are immediately bombarded with the latest and greatest in
technological products whether hardware or software. Cell phones,
computers, personal digital assistants and digital cameras line every
aisle, advertising extraordinary memory and features making the average
customer glowing with anticipation of what benefits and fun the product
will hold for them. Some are dreaming of becoming more organized
while others are dreaming of playing the latest games. Whatever your
goal... the salespersons are there to sell it to you whether you
need it or not. It is easy to be swayed by a sweet-talking salesperson,
so make sure you know what you’re looking for before you head
to your local store or online Web site.
The first step in defining what you should buy is determining how
you plan to use the device. Are you looking for a simple solution,
the ability to add adaptations, or a multipurpose device? By answering
these questions, you are on your way to making a knowledgeable decision
rather than purchasing an item that may not meet your needs.
Standalone versus Multipurpose
Over
the past five years, the trend in technology has been to provide
more and more options. For individuals with disabilities, this
change can be beneficial or problematic. For instance, a person with
a cognitive disability needs a device to be simple to use. Multipurpose
devices increase the difficulty to operate the device by adding multiple
steps to access each feature and decreasing intuitive nature of
the product. A person with a physical or visual disability, however,
may benefit from having one device rather than many devices to
operate, thus streamlining the process. A smart phone is an example
of a multipurpose device; it works as a cell phone, organizer, PDA
and MP3 player.
Access versus Functionality
Whatever
device you choose, the first step in finding the best option is testing
it out and talking to other users about their experiences. Nothing
is more disappointing than to wait excitedly for a new “toy,” only
to find that it is not accessible to use. For instance, many people
have purchased the Razor cell phone on recommendations of friends,
but have not been able to benefit from the technology because of
the small size of buttons which must be pressed to place calls
and access the features.
Cell Phones
The everpresent
cell phone is practically a necessity in today’s
world; the ring of their music can be heard from the doctor’s
office to the playground. Yes, even elementary school children are
commonly found with their ear snugly pressed against the speaker
on a cell phone. The first concept to understand when purchasing
a cell phone is that different cellular companies have different
protocols of transmission. You must match the protocol to both the
phone and your provider. The two types of protocols are GSA and CDMA.
If you are planning on purchasing a certain model of cell phone,
you must ensure it will work with your cell phone company.
Adaptations available for
cell phones are few. HearMore. com started selling a few products
for amplification and hearing aid compatibility. Pressing buttons
is another accessibility issue. ITalk and Vocalization by Broadband
Communications provide the only truly hands-free system for people
with physical disabilities. Firefly is a good solution for people
with cognitive disabilities as it allows for only preprogrammed numbers
and has five large buttons to operate it. Several phones have come
out with voice output to assist blind individuals in finding numbers
when using a directory system. Another option is Talking Cell Phone
Accessibility 2, which can be added on to most new-generation products.
Personal Digital Assistants
A
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) is an electronic organizer and
scheduler. It is basically a small handheld computer on which many
software programs such as Microsoft Outlook and Pocket Word can be
installed. Some PDA products are multipurpose, providing a camera,
scheduler, cell phone, organizer, MP3 player and more into one single
product.
The normal method of
PDA operation—using a small stylus to
press tiny keys on an onscreen keyboard—is problematic for
many users with disabilities. Fortunately, more and more adaptations
are becoming available on a monthly basis. PDASay is a voice-activated
applet providing SOME functionality but is not entirely hands-free.
External and larger keyboards are one option to overcome the problem
with access. A thicker stylus can be purchased at OfficeMax for individuals
with dexterity and grasp limitations. Both Dolphin and Freedom Scientific
manufacture voice output personal digital assistants and organizers.
MP3 Players
Downloading music
is all the rage with teenagers. An MP3 player, such as the IPod,
provides a medium where music can be loaded onto a computer, organized,
edited, and added to a playlist of music preferences. One such
device may hold over 500 songs. The access problems arise from the
small dial used to scroll through the playlist and the tiny writing
on the display.
One adaptation for the
blind user is Milestone. However, the reviews on this product vary — the
biggest question is regarding the features you get for the $370
device. Rockbox is an open source replacement firmware for MP3
players. It runs on a number of different models and allows those
MP3 players to have their own screen reader.
Digital Cameras
Say Cheese.
The benefits of digital cameras over SLR film models include instant
viewing, no cost in developing the pictures onto the computer,
sharing pictures with friends through e-mail, high-resolution at
an affordable price, and using software to fix up flaws in pictures
taken.
There are a few adaptations on the market today. For the individual
with limited muscle control, a switch operated digital camera is
available from Orcca, along with various mounting arms to attach
a digital camera to a wheelchair. Similarly, the user with low vision
may prefer using a 2.7 inch LCD screen over the standard 2.0-2.5
inch display. Some cameras come with the capability of creating a
voice note to help the individual remember what the picture is or
where it was taken.
Game Controllers
Fun and games
are crucial for learning and developing, even though we would sometimes
like to negate this fact. (Yes, some games are more appropriate than
others—but the fact still remains.)
Most kids are familiar with the latest games for the PlayStation,
Xbox, Game Boy, and Sega. Not surprisingly, children with disabilities
want to play these games with their peers—and many need adaptations
to do so.
Enabling Devices and RJ Cooper sell several varieties of large-button
and switch-operated game controllers. Additionally, there are game
controllers that work with sipping and puffing on a straw to operate
the entire game. Visual impairments can be accommodated by using
larger monitors. Many games on the computer are purposely designed
around specific learning needs. There are some good programs now
available for people with cognitive and learning disabilities to
work on coordination, attention, academics, and problem solving.
We all have become accustomed
to the latest and greatest advancements in technology. Although
assistive technology still lags behind the initial release date
of these new products, the good news is that there seems to be
a trend to make the products more universally designed for all
to use. In the meantime, when you purchase those techno-toys, you
need to be considered the adaptations available—whether
voice input, switch access, voice output or other.
Jen Mundl is an assistive
technology specialist at Courage Center.
