This is one from the archives, written a few months after the iPad was released. I needed a few permissions before posting, but after getting them, I forgot to hit PUBLISH. So here is an old story that I hope will encourage many to see iOS devices in a different light.
Stroke victims, patients who have communicative disorders, spinal cord injuries, congenital disorders and many of whom are wheelchair bound have difficulty in communicating with the public. Basic needs that we - the ambulatory and vocal - take for granted are difficult for these patients - especially children with developmental and physical disorders. Take the concept of saying "Yes" for example. For us, it is easy to open our mouths, nod our heads, raise a hand with a thumb gesture etc. But for the paralyzed and those who cannot speak or comprehend fully this is not possible. This is especially true in children with developmental disorders. This is where assistive devices come into play. The main drawback to many of these devices is the cost, which can be quite prohibitive. (The cost link will take you to the planning stages, while the Prohibitive link will take you to an actual cost center chart for such devices in a nursing home environment).
Enter Assistiveware. This company uses iOs devices to produce software that is intuitive to people in need. As the pictures from their website show, the software is quite similar to other stand-alone devices costing thousands of dollars.
For patients with disabilities, the device + software has been reduced by as much as 1/3rd. For example if we look at the Software (which is not cheap, but available on iTunes for $189.99 and the iPad hardware at $499.99) for just under $700 one can get an Assistive Device that has other features built in. Not to mention that in a family setting, the device can double as an entertainment device as well. In addition to this, let us not forget that if you own a copy on your iPad, you also own a copy on your iPhone/iPod Touch. Thus the software can be taken everywhere and transported to other handheld devices.
This would also be a great tool in a Doctor's office for patients who cannot communicate well. It could serve as an entry point, even for patients who speak a different language. But more importantly, it serves as a wonderful conduit for people with disabilities, particularly children who are struggling to communicate. Another fantastic deployment of the iPad, whose mere existence was questioned back in february.
*Some images used are taken from Assistiveware.com with permision.
LDD.
AssistiveWare has created a series of software platforms for use on all iOS devices called Proloquo2go. If you are not versed in what this company does, then let me explain the advantages that this company has just produced for a vast majority of people.
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| Previous example of an early stand alone assistive device. |
Stroke victims, patients who have communicative disorders, spinal cord injuries, congenital disorders and many of whom are wheelchair bound have difficulty in communicating with the public. Basic needs that we - the ambulatory and vocal - take for granted are difficult for these patients - especially children with developmental and physical disorders. Take the concept of saying "Yes" for example. For us, it is easy to open our mouths, nod our heads, raise a hand with a thumb gesture etc. But for the paralyzed and those who cannot speak or comprehend fully this is not possible. This is especially true in children with developmental disorders. This is where assistive devices come into play. The main drawback to many of these devices is the cost, which can be quite prohibitive. (The cost link will take you to the planning stages, while the Prohibitive link will take you to an actual cost center chart for such devices in a nursing home environment).
Enter Assistiveware. This company uses iOs devices to produce software that is intuitive to people in need. As the pictures from their website show, the software is quite similar to other stand-alone devices costing thousands of dollars.
For patients with disabilities, the device + software has been reduced by as much as 1/3rd. For example if we look at the Software (which is not cheap, but available on iTunes for $189.99 and the iPad hardware at $499.99) for just under $700 one can get an Assistive Device that has other features built in. Not to mention that in a family setting, the device can double as an entertainment device as well. In addition to this, let us not forget that if you own a copy on your iPad, you also own a copy on your iPhone/iPod Touch. Thus the software can be taken everywhere and transported to other handheld devices.
This would also be a great tool in a Doctor's office for patients who cannot communicate well. It could serve as an entry point, even for patients who speak a different language. But more importantly, it serves as a wonderful conduit for people with disabilities, particularly children who are struggling to communicate. Another fantastic deployment of the iPad, whose mere existence was questioned back in february.
*Some images used are taken from Assistiveware.com with permision.
LDD.
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