Lecture 5 - Communication modes and access methods

Question 1

Define no tech, low/lite tech and high tech w examples

Answer 1

• No tech=no aids
• Low/lite tech= picture boards, very simple device, couple of messages, switch, alphabet board
• High tech= fancy multi-level display, SGD, speech output…

Question 2

True or false - ALS is low tech

Answer 2

FALSE it is NO tech

Question 3

What degree of tech is text to speech?

Answer 3

High

Question 4

What are some reasons you: May choose low tech over high tech ?

Answer 4

• Someone who is no tech savvy or dislikes technology
• Visual acuity not as strong (however have large display high tech versions)
• Motor abilities
• Need low-tech back-up in case tech isn’t working
• Financial barriers
• Environments that are not tech friendly (e.g. swimming pool, ICU, bathroom, outdoors – sunlight/rain/snow)

Question 5

Many clients don’t use ___-tech with family because their family

Answer 5

Don’t use high - family already knows the client’s no or low-tech modes so well & can communicate without it

Question 6

What are the five circles of the social network. does inner or outer circle require more tech?

Answer 6

1) fam/life partner
2) friends
3) acquaintances
4) paid professionals
5) Unfamiliar partners

> the further out the more tech required

Question 7

List and explain the low tech devices discussed in class

Answer 7

> Single messaging devices (record one msg),
multi msg single switch devices (Program a series of messages to follow a convo
“Hi how are you, im fine, lets talk about the news “)
Simple SGDs (static display)
Voice amplifiers (fundable, also AAC, doesn’t help clarity)
Electrolarynx - cheap online

Question 8

HOw much funding do AAC users receive? renting? Trials?

Answer 8

• 1 device is funded every 5 years for an AAC user in Ontario
• No funding is provided for apps
• Cannot prescribe multiple devices
• Trial period for high tech devices
• If renting then can change equipment any # of times
• Single message device (e.g. switch) is very expensive for just 1 message

Question 9

LIghtwriter SL40 and allora are what type of high tech?

Answer 9

Text to speech (high)

Question 10

What type of devices use high tech dynamic displays?

Answer 10

e.g. tablets – windows, Android, Apple

Question 11

Give some examples of writing aids and who would use them

Answer 11

Screen readers, wor prediction, writing w symbols, adaptive equipment
> for people who are Computer literate but
cant hand write

Question 12

What type of tech would we use for the 4 cases discussed?

Answer 12

• James (3.5) = depends on behaviour (e.g. physically aggressive or angry person is not good with high tech devices), low tech (symbols, core)
• Jane=high, low & no tech
• Mary=depends on preference – high or low (if high also give low)
• Fred=high, low, and no-tech

Question 13

What are the 3 access methods?

Answer 13

Direct, quasi-direct and indirect

Question 14

What is direct selection?

Answer 14

“pointing” to the disered item (sometimes v slow)

Question 15

What are some Physical adaptations for direct accesss

Answer 15

• Key guard (holes on screen to help client push the right button)
• Head pointer
• Hold adapted stylus to point

Question 16

How can we Adjust screens & sensitivity of devices to improve direct selection?

Answer 16

• If client is shaky, adjust device to require client to hold down button a longer or a selection
• Can make screen less sensitive
• If client needs to rest on the screen, change settings so that last place client touches & lifts off will be selected (touch exit)

Question 17

What is quasi direct selection and give examples

Answer 17

Mouse, trackball, wheelchair drive to control mouse on the screen, head mouse

• “Dwell” – place the mouse stays will be selected
• Keep person away from scanning if possible!
• Joystick
• Eye gaze (e.g. dynavox)
• Morse code (dots & dashes) – 2 switches (can accept into text on screen)

Question 18

What is indirect selection?

Answer 18

• Scanning – switch to go through pattern of buttons for selection (usually 1-2 switches)
• Group scan: by row or column, 1 switch, automatic (device scans for you)
• Step: press switch to advance
• Most clients have 2-3 seconds per choice

Question 19

True or false Low tech is easier to manage with scanning

Answer 19

TRUE - for high tech if you make a mistake while scanning there is a high price to pay

Question 20

True or false there is more social interaction with high tech

Answer 20

False - more with low - need a partners assistance

Question 21

What types of symbols are most difficult to scan?

Answer 21

Bliss (abstract) or virtual (hidden buttons – will need to make them visible)

Question 22

What type of selection is scanning? What the different types of scanning ?

Answer 22

Indirect

- types = patterns, linear, group - one, 2 or multiple switch, automatic or step

Question 23

What is auditory scanning? Low vs. high?

Answer 23

Low tech = Listener assisted - partner provides options, client says yes to select

High: device assisted, automatically moves columns then hit switch to select

Question 24

Why is direct often the preferred choice?

Answer 24

because it’s cause & effect (if you move away from this then it leads to cognitive load)

Question 25

Why does scanning have high cognitive demand

Answer 25

need to remember the item you want to select & wait until it’s highlighted – sustained attention & multi-tasking

Question 26

True or false - if you have a functioning high tech system there’s no need for a low tech system

Answer 26

False you should always have both

Question 27

List and explain the 5 potential adaptations for scanning with a switch

Answer 27

Pattern: grouping > can be custom made, not always spelling

Another is 1 at a time > linear scanning -This is the slowest of the slow, But if person cant handle groupings they need this

Speed/rate : Can slow down to 5 secs at a time

Switches :Really are in the OT world here, but there are tons of switches. You can scan with core, preset messages, You can have multiple switches, You can have scan move in different directions

> You can have 2 different switches - one You press it to move through the rows, Other switch you hit to select

Feedback : High tech devices can give auditory feedback by saying the row numbers and such

Question 28

True or false it’s better to go straight to indirect (scanning) if direct method isn’t working.

Answer 28

False - Try to go to quazi direct first, mouse ooptions, eye gaze, voice

Question 29

What is the low tech equivalent of eye gaze

Answer 29

manual eye gaze and yes/no

Question 30

What is the low tech equivalent of head mouse

Answer 30

laser/light pointer (if motor control) otherwise eye gaze, or lister assisted scanning and yes/no

Question 31

What is the low tech equivalent of device scanning

Answer 31

lister assisted scanning and yes/no

Question 32

What is the low tech equivalent of joystick/mouse

Answer 32

laser/light pointer (if motor control) otherwise eye gaze, or lister assisted scanning and yes/no

Question 33

True or false - you ALWAYS need to provide a low tech yes/no

Answer 33

TRUEEEE AF

Question 34

AAC systems are multimodal and should meet communication needs in all _____ with all _____

Answer 34

environments with all listeners

Question 35

List the different types of swithes discussed in class

Answer 35

jelly bean, membrane, soft switch, lever switch, movement switch, sip and puff, eye blink, leaf switches and multi-switches