This application has also been applied for with Canada, the European Patent Office (EPO), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and granted in Canada. Filed on October 17th, 2003 and granted on November 1st, 2005, it has a priority date of October 17th, 2002. This invention is in the field of controlling a device or apparatus, but has specific applications to disabled persons.
In the background section, the patent provides details on the background to two areas specific to this patent. The first area are devices used to control other devices or process for use with a disabled person. The patent brings reference to tongue operated apparatuses, a mouthpiece using airflow from sucking and blowing, and a voice controlled apparatus. The second area of background is use of signals to control functional electrical stimulation (FES) of paralyzed muscles. These references include a shoulder position sensor to control wrist extension, contact switches in the shoe to control leg muscles, another shoulder sensor control hand opening and pinch-grip, a wrist position sensor to control leg muscles, and using electrical sensors in the form of a glove to control grip strength among other apparatuses.
The invention has three main components: the first is a mechanical detector for detecting vibrations to head (20; Fig B); the second is a detector for detecting vibrations from sudden contact of the upper and lower teeth (24, 26; Figure B); the third is transforming this vibration into a usable signal to control a device or process (38; Figure B). Using the two detectors above, it can be sensed when there is a sudden connection of the teeth. The first problem they identify is with false positive in the connection of teeth. ...
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...component generating an electric signal from mechanical vibrations; and either a component for attaching the device to the head or a component under the skin located on the bony mastoid process behind the ear or on the jaw joint. The narrow claims specify that the vibration sensors can either be accelerometers or microphones; that the device can stimulate muscles, nerves, active orthosis, or prostheses; that the device can attach to the side of the head, the bony mastoid, or the jaw joint; that the attachment materials can one or more of an adhesive, an adhesive tape, an elastic headband, a spring loaded headpiece, and a pair of glasses with springy arms; there an be an electrical controller for filter and discrimination between vibrations; and methods for transmitting the signal including wired, wireless, or fiber optics and can contains a receiver and transmitter.
In this paper I will discuss two different case studies. The first case study involves a 35-month old girl named Kim who struggles with meal time, potty training, and play time with others. I will discuss four assistive technology devices, that would work for Kim. These devices will assist Kim with balance, mobility and undressing. The second case study involves a school age child name Billy, who struggles with benchmark objectives. Billy is in the fourth grade and use Assistive technology devices reading and math. I will discuss different AT devices that can be used to assist Billy with reading and math.
The first is electrotactile simulation(3). It uses localized electric currents to stimulate targeted nerves using surface electrodes. This method uses no mechanical parts making it light-weight, energy conserving and less noisy in comparison to other non-invasive tactile stimulation methods. The main disadvantage of electrotactile simulation is reported burning sensations from test subjects. The second type of non-invasive tactile stimulation is vibrotactile stimulation (2), which uses mechanical vibrations on the surface of the skin to convey tactile information using varied vibrations frequency, amplitude and duration. It is best-suited for myoelectric protsthetics as it does not interfere with electric signals. Conversely, it may not be suited for older users as their sensitivity to vibrations might be diminished. The final method for non-invasive tactile stimulation is mechanotactile stimulation, which provides the user with pressure or position feedback. It provides the most natural force sensation out of all of the types of non-invasive tactile stimulation but this method also involves the largest and most energy consuming equipment, making it highly impractical to
The hand is also becoming more advanced with a system discussed in the January 1998 issue of Tech Directions. This system, know as Sabolich's Sense of Feel System, uses a cuff attached to the remaining portion of the limb. Over time a user is able to recognize exactly how much pressure they are using. This system differs form earlier ones in which judgement was based simply on sight, which is not very accurate.
... are sent through the electrodes to measure how well the nerves can send a signal to the muscle and to determine whether signals get worse when the muscle is tired.
“The purpose of the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI) is to provide a comprehensive and thorough assistive technology assessment process” (Barbara, n.d., para. 14). WATI consists of an Assistive Technology Consideration Guide that is made like a table. Horizontally the table entails tasks that the student might be expected to complete in the classroom. Vertically the table asks if the student completes the tasks with special accommodations or AT devices. It also asks what new assistive technology the student will try (Marino, 2006). The ultimate goal of the WATI is to consider different types of AT, and to ensure that the student receives the best services and accommodations. Which will allow the student to learn the curriculum to his/ her full potential and meet the IEP and IFSP objectives (Barbara,
The Bell Smith Personality Assessment was accurate in reflecting my personality. I have taken several personality tests because I know developing strong interpersonal skills enhances personal growth and development. Each test has delivered similar results demonstrating my willingness to work with others, need for organization, focus on emotional content, and search for additional information. According to the Bell Smith assessment, I fall into the categories of member, planner, juggler, empathizer, and researcher. I would challenge the assessment with defining me a planner because I incorporate the juggler traits into my daily activities. Overall, the assessment was not surprising and I would like to continue taking different personality tests to see diverges from previous results.
...ment and to focus more on the different non-invasive interfaces which will help us deal with the versatility issues of the device. Finally, I recommend that the group looks further into the different interfaces and materials that prosthetics can be used combined with in order to erase the control issue that come with prosthetics.
It is a mouth guard that has sensors in it that are similar to the ones in cell phones. “when someone is struck in the head, it can tell you how their head moved at 1,000 samples per second” (Camarillo, TedTalk). While our brains are the softest substances in our body, our teeth are the hardest. Therefore, it can give the mouth guard a more precise reading of how our brain moves.
This external computer is a signal decoder which decodes the signals from the motor cortex in a real time scenario. The second implant is a pulse generator simulator and has wireless triggering capabilities. The pulse generator is implanted at affected
Individuals who are deaf or are hearing impaired are faced with many problems in today’s world. There are so many tasks and activities that are done today that deaf or hearing impaired people may have difficulty doing because of there handicap. There handicap used to stop them or inhibit them from doing something that they are interested in or there friends and neighbors would do. However in today there are new and different technologies, that help the deaf and hearing impaired in the activities in which they want to participate in which is hard for them to take part in because of there handicap. Technology is used to help with everyday tasks in the lives of deaf and hearing impaired individuals. With out this new technology which is being invented everyday, deaf and hearing impaired people may be considered to have a handicap which prevents them from certain activities, but this is not the case anymore, now these people just have different obstacles which through the use of technology they are learning to over come. They can do anything that regular normal range of hearing individuals can do, due to the new technology being invented everyday.
The purpose of this prosthetic limb is to help people who have lost a hand or arm in any type of accident like Les Baugh. He one of the patients currently outgoing testing with the prosthetic limb. He lost both of his arms at a electrical accident a young age and the prosthetic he using are attached to the end of his shoulders, since the accident cut his arms right to that section. He underwent surgery in order to remap the nerves
Several assistive listening devices can improve the communication ability of deaf children. According to IDEA, every child with a disability is entitled to have access to assistive technology (California Department of Education, 2004). The California Department of Education (2004) outlines IDEA’s definition of an assistive technology device. It explains that this device consists of “any item, piece of equipment or product system…that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a child with a disability” (California Department of Education, 2004, p. 1).
Assistive technology is often used by individuals with a learning disability. A learning disability “describes a neurobiological disorder in which a person’s brain works or is structured differently” (Lee1). A person’s abilities can be severely affected from a learning disability. They may listen differently, talk differently, write, spell, organize, and work with school subjects in a different way. Learning disabilities also affect people’s individual and personal lives to a great extent. According to the National Institutes of Health, one in seven children has a learning disability. The disability manifests itself when the child shows difficulty in reading, writing, spelling, and conversing with others. The added time they need to process information may make them seem less intelligent then others around them, but this is not the case. Individuals with learning disabilities are just as smart as anyone else; they just need to learn in a different way. The earlier a learning disability is noticed and detected, the earlier a child may be able to learn how to deal with or compensate for it (Lee 1). This is where assistive technology comes into play.
... CLD info sheets: assistive technology. Council for Learning Disabilities. Retrieved on April 24, 2005, from http://www.cldinternational.org/c/@CS_yKIo7l8ozY/Pages/assistive.html
The mouse motion can be slowed down for better control. The toolbar can be created to suit the children's needs. However if this is not suitable there are many peripherals and devices, which can support children with SEN, but not all are appropriate for everyone. For those children with a physical disability a variety of switches, optical pointers, voice controlled devices and word prediction software has been designed to overcome the problems these children have using traditional input devices such as the mouse and keyboard.