A Special Messaging Technology for Two Persons With Acquired Brain Injury and Multiple Disabilities
By Lancioni, Giulio E.; Singh, Nirbhay N.; O'Reilly, Mark F.; Sigafoos, Jeff; Signorino, Mario; Oliva, Doretta; Alberti, Gloria; Carrella, Luigina; de Tommaso, Marina; Brain Injury, Vol. 24, No. 10, pp. 1236-1243Publication Date: September 2010
Study was aimed at developing and assessing a new technology enabling two adults with acquired brain injury to exchange messages with distant partners. Participants were a 39 year old woman and a man 50 years of age with blindness and impaired vision, respectively, and extensive motor disabilities, dysarthria, and intellectual and behavior problems following acquired brain injury. The study was conducted according to a multiple probe design across participants, both of whom started with baseline in which the technology was not available and continued with intervention in which the technology was used. The technology to send out and receive messages consisted of (1) a netbook computer,(2) a global system for mobile communication (GSM) modem, (3) two microswitches enabling participants to activate the computer, (4) an interface connecting the microswitches to the computer, (5) prerecorded lists of persons and messages, and (6) a specifically developed software program for sending text messages and listening to incoming auditory ones. Participants’ mean frequencies of messages sent out and received per 30 minute session were about three and two, respectively, during baseline and seven and four, respectively, during the intervention. All baseline messages were sent and received with guidance. Nearly all intervention messages were sent and received independently by participants. Study limitations and implications for further development of this messaging technology are discussed.
Published by: Taylor & Francis, Limited (Website:http://taylorandfrancis.org)
International Brain Injury Association (Web Site: http://www.internationalbrain.org )
