Bedside Computer Access for an Individual With Severe and Multiple Disabilities: A Case Study
By Blain, Stephanie; McKeever, Patricia; Chau, Tom; Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, Vol. 5, No. 5, pp. 359-369Publication Date: September 2010
Case study documents the process of designing a custom tailored bedside computer access solution for a 20-year-old individual with quadriplegia following spinal cord injury and reports the effects of computer access on her participation in life activities. A binary switch that could be operated via the client’s tongue movements was selected and mounted on a microphone stand placed behind the client’s bed on the end of a flexible arm. The switch was adapted to allow the client to depress it to activate the call bell in her long term care facility and lift it to generate a left-mouse click to operate an interfaced computer operating on the software platform QualiWORLD with the QualiWORD word processing, QualiMAIL e-mail, and QualiSURF Internet applications. Two months following introduction of the access solution, its impact was measured using a two-dimensional Fitts Law test and questionnaire from the ISO 9241-9 standards document, typing tests, a usage log, and a semi-structured interview. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure was also administered pre and post access. After 2 months, the individual was spending an average of 8.4 hours per day on the computer, engaging in electronic communication, recreational, and educational activities. She learned single switch typing with a throughput of 1.03 bits per second and targeting accuracy of 87.5 percent. The questionnaire revealed that the client was thoroughly satisfied with the interface. These results were interpreted as positive gains in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health domains of communication and social interaction.
Assistive Products Discussed: QUALIWORLD BASIC
QUALIWORD
QUALISURF
QUALIMAIL
Published by: Taylor & Francis, Limited (Website:http://taylorandfrancis.org)
International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (Web Site: http://www.isprm.org )
