Clear Sounds Amplified Phones

There are two things I like about this company right off the bat. First: They are a women-owned and they brag about it. Second: They put a video commercial up for their products, to offer additional visual and auditory information for consumers.

Clear Sounds: Hear How Good Life Can Be offers amplified phones, answering machines, bluetooth headsets and neckloops, earbuds, and more. In addition to communication equipment with mods for hearing impairment, there are large-button phones and backlit LCD screens for those with visual impairment too.

I want to get this for my Grandpa...

Presto Computerless Email is a great GREAT solution for a tech-shy person, like many of our parents and grandparents. This really neat service allows emails and pictures to be delivered to a printer in hard copy form. Presto points out that not everyone uses e-mail, and there's no doubt that loved ones could be missing out on family photos and stories without the use of email.


This is another "win-win" as I like to refer to. E-Mail users win by keeping in touch, non-e-mail users win by keeping in touch, and we all win because the frustration and confusion of a tech-breakdown is nearly eliminated.

Presto boasts the following features:

"-No Spam. Ever!
-Easy to use. Guaranteed.
-Easy to set up
-Personalized E-mail address
-Unlimited E-mail delivery
-Photos print perfectly
-Deliver documents
-E-letters
-Templates
-Newsstand"

Potential drawbacks that I've read about and can foresee include: the price of printer ink, difficulty repairing in the event of a breakdown, a monthly service charge no matter how much you use it.

Happy E-mailing/Reading :)

Aging in Place Technology Watch

Aging in Place Technology Watch is a great website that has information on "Industry Trends, Research & Analysis." The self-proclaimed content may sound a little dry, but once I started to dig into this website, I was hooked on much that author, Laurie Orlov, had to say.

In the January Newsletter, there's talk of the baby-boomers beginning to turn 65 and the effects of gaming on interpersonal communication and mental health (with some pros AND cons... how objective!).

Aging in Place Technology Watch January 2011 Newsletter

My favorite part of the newsletter was the observation that there is a distinct lack of continuity across every day devices. In my daily life I encounter my computer (Apple MacBook Pro), my cell phone (Motorola Droid), my iPod (Apple iPod Touch), and Netflix (via my Playstation 3). None of these devices have the same operating system, search engine, set of controls; for that matter, there's even variation between Netflix for a PC, TV, PS3, or Xbox. It's dizzying!

Happy-Neuron

More on brain health: I think you'll find that I'm very keen on a sharp reactive mind. That being said, I LOVE http://www.happy-neuron.com/! In fact, while researching for this entry, I've stopped to play Split Words twice.

This site offers free trials of all of the games, and it seems as though you can play without signing up for an account. Happy Neuron offers games that target improvement in attention, memory (word-finding), visual-spatial and executive function skills.

The Brain Fitness program has varying levels of difficulty for many games, and a Brain Fitness personal coach accompanies you on the website when you sign up for an account.

Happy brain health :)

GrandCare Systems

Wow! I stumbled upon a comprehensive system, a sort of "hub" for technological enhancement that reaches into many areas of areas of a person's life. Caregiver Technology is a company that specializes in keeping elders in their homes.

GrandCare Systems include Wellness Reporting on blood pressure, weight, and glucose- so that people who require close monitoring of certain things can measure and report from their own homes without a nurse or leaving the home.

Activities of Daily Living Alerts can call, text, or email if there has been a change in a person's daily routine.

Communication to Loved-One allows a person to receive emails and pictures directly to the touch-screen hub.

Communication between Caregivers & Family is a network that is established between caregivers and family members than can reduce the amount of routine phone calls being made and increase the quality of conversations by taking the focus off of medical issues.

Cognitive tools are available on the touch screen hub and have trivia, picture matching, a calendar, daily reminders, games, etc.

Happy independent living :)

Voice Amplification

If you live with a hearing impaired person or you are experiencing difficulty generating loudness with your voice (respiratory compromise, vocal rest orders, following a stroke, etc...) a voice amplification system may be right for you.

This one, from ZYGO Industries, Inc. features:

•   Loud, clear output from the small, 12 watt speaker
•   A headset microphone is supplied
    Optional High Performance mic's are available
•   Small size, very loud sound
    3-3/8" x 3-3/8" x 1-3/4"
•   Perfect for amplifying a communication aid's output
•   Up to 20 hours from a fully charged battery
•   Belt clip is built into the rugged ABS plastic housing
•   An adjustable waistband belt is supplied

 

 Instructions for use can be found here.

Happy voicing :)

ALS- Low Tech Communication and Interdependence

ALS is a topic that hits close to home. When I was a kid we lost my grandfather to ALS, and I know that his preserved ability to communicate via low-tech and high-tech communication systems was very important to our family.

I think this video captures the combination of using low-tech communication aids and the importance of communication to relationships. And I'm a sucker for romance...

Audible.com

Something good has come of the annoying commercials between songs on Pandora Radio... I heard about audible.com/.

Audible.com offers over 85,000 audio-recorded books. You can find anything from best-selling authors to obscure biographies and science fiction. In addition to books, content includes magazine subscriptions, radio shows, a database of recent and historical speeches, news programs and podcasts.

Audible.com offers varying pricing plans; one popular level is $15.00 per month that includes a book download. If you create an account, be sure to check out the free content that includes books and all of the afore mentioned content.

The site boasts that it works with iPod, iPad, Zune, Blackberry, Droid, and over 500 mp3 players, so there shouldn't be a hardward upgrade for this service.

Happy listening!

Communication, Technology and Aging

"To be able to design (communication technology) successfully, a major prerequisite is 'knowing the user.' The database for design-relevant characteristics of aging adults is showing signs of improvement." --From Communication, Technology and Aging

I like what I've read so far of this book. There's a preview of it available on Google Books (Communication, Technology, and Aging) that got me started. While I probably won't shell out for the entire text, I like the idea that this research is happening in such a focused way. While there's no doubt that communication, technology, and aging are all subjects of individual research, I'm glad to hear that the junction of the 3 topics is being considered as well.

Let's talk e-Books

When it comes to e-books, I'm on board for a host of reasons. Chief among them are the cognitive benefits that accompany reading for pleasure. Furthermore, pleasure reading, professional reading, and keeping up on current events can all be done from your e-Book with custom modifications to accommodate your preferences.



Here's a run down of some different options, begining with screen size/type.

E-Ink looks a lot like paper, isn't too hard on the eyes, and can be seen in direct sunlight. One downfall is that color isn't available in this type of screen and you'll need light to read because there's no back-lighting with e-Ink. e-Book readers with e-Ink include the Amazon Kindle and Sony's Readers.

The emerging standard for screen size is 6 inches (Kindle 3, BeBook Neo, Barnes & Noble Nook, Sony Reader Touch Edition). The size champ is the Kindle DX (9.7 inches), but the price goes up with the screen size. The smallest screen is the cell-phone sized Alex eReader.

Folks with visual impairment may stand to benefit from the Text-to-Speech function available from the Kindle 3, Kindle DX, and Pandigital Novel.


It's worth noting that Amazon (Kindle), Sony (E-Reader), and Barnes & Noble (Nook) are engaged in that good old capitalistic price-slashing struggle, and we all love to reap the benefits. The Kindle 3 will set you back $139, the Barnes & Noble Nook follows close behind at $149, the Pandigital Novel runs $199, and the Sony Reader Touch Edition comes in at $229 (with the added benefits of a touch screen).

For a charted breakdown of the different features of many popular models (including price), visit E-Reader Reviews

Re-inventing the QWERTY...

Here are a few user friendly and intuitive options for those with dexterity and/or mobility issues in the form of keyboard and computer screen mods. (I'm looking at a certain someone, who sits with her keyboard on her lap and her computer 4 feet away... we'll just call those, "low-tech environmental mods"). When you're ready for an upgrade...

From Microsoft Accessibility (Technology For Everyone):

"Alternative keyboards—featuring larger- or smaller-than-standard keys or keyboards, alternative key configurations, and keyboards for use with one hand. 

Electronic pointing devices—used to control the cursor on the screen without use of hands. Devices used include ultrasound, infrared beams, eye movements, nerve signals, or brain waves.

Touch screens—allow direct selection or activation of the computer by touching the screen, making it easier to select an option directly rather than through a mouse movement or keyboard. Touch screens are either built into the computer monitor or can be added onto a computer monitor.

Keyboard filters are typing aids such as word prediction utilities and add-on spelling checkers that reduce the required number of keystrokes. Keyboard filters enable users to quickly access the letters they need and to avoid inadvertently selecting keys they don't want.
 

Screen enlargers, or screen magnifiers, work like a magnifying glass for the computer by enlarging a portion of the screen which can increase legibility and make it easier to see items on the computer. Some screen enlargers allow a person to zoom in and out on a particular area of the screen.

Screen readers are used to verbalize, or "speak," everything on the screen including text, graphics, control buttons, and menus into a computerized voice that is spoken aloud. In essence, a screen reader transforms a graphic user interface (GUI) into an audio interface. Screen readers are essential for computer users who are blind."

Note the demos and tutorials available from this page: Types of Assistive Technology

Text-to-Speech

It came to my attention today that speech-to-text has a counterpart that can be just as useful for communication. Text-to-speech programs are a great option for someone with a visual impairment. This type of program would allow anything typically delivered in a text format to be accompanied by the spoken word (i.e., spoken emails and text messages).

Here's a tutorial on how to set up text-to-speech for your Motorola Droid or phones that run the Android OS.  Text-to-Speech Tutorial



The iPhone's SpeakIt app ($1.99) has some more advanced options, like highlighting the words as they are spoken, choices of voices, and reading from websites. SpeakIt Tutorial

Prevention Prevention Prevention

In the name of keeping a  healthy mind and preventing a loss in language skills with age, I cannot stress enough the importance of an in-tact memory. Your memory gives you access to all of your... what's the word I'm looking for... vocabulary and language structure. So put some time in on your memory and reap the benefits later in life.

Crossword puzzles, trivia, and reading are no-tech ways to go about it. If the allure of lights and sounds is what you're looking for (like me) you might enjoy a memory app for your iPhone or Droid. One way to go about this is to search for a free memory app in your app store.

I've found one with good reviews available for iPhones in the iTunes store. TapMemory is fast paced and "addicting" as far as memory games go.

Here's a quick tutorial on how to run the program:

Types of Hearing Aid Technology

At the behest of my mom (and I always do exactly as she tells me) I'm posting a bit of information on hearing aids. A lot of people think that using a hearing aid will involve a drastic lifestyle change. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's brief breakdown of various types of hearing aids highlights the flexibility available with current technology. Two types of modifications are specifically made to digitally programmable hearing aids: to custom fit your pattern of hearing loss, and to custom fit your lifestyle and needs.


Types of Hearing Aid Technology

Happy hearing :)

FM amplification systems

Win-Win Def'n: Of a situation or outcome that benefits two parties, or that has two distinct benefits

FM amplification systems benefit a teacher's voice and the student's speech understanding in class.

Speech to Text

I've found a variety of speech-to-text services available for PC's, Macs, and phones.

Google Voice allows speech-to-text functions for incoming voicemails (sent in a text format to your gmail account) and for outgoing dictations (by calling your Google Voice number and leaving yourself a message).

Dragon Dictation is available for the iPhone or iPod Touch from Nuance. There is no fee for the service, and any text functions can be completed with a speech command. This product seems to be reliable and quick.

ShoutOUT from Promptu systems comes on Motorola Droids and is the program I can personally vouch for. I'm a frequent speech-to-texter and I find it to be fast and user friendly. Most screens that include a text entry have a microphone image available, and tell you when to start speaking.

Mac Speech Dictate is reviewed by George Williams, "Profhacker." He said, "This desktop application for the Mac environment works surprisingly well. I’ve used it occasionally and been impressed by the accuracy of its speech recognition. However, I’ve found it awkward to speak out loud the punctuation and paragraph breaks necessary for proper formatting with such a tool. The awkwardness would probably diminish with continued use, but I haven’t gotten there, yet... My understanding is that (Dragon Naturally Speaking) works in essentially the same way as MacSpeech Dictate."

SpeechTEK 2011

The good news for speech technology is that the focus of this year's SpeechTEK 2011 Conference is on user experience and usability of products.

Attendance to the convention in August will mostly be made up of speech technology designers and executives, marketing executives, and other relevant professionals. And this year, they're all talking about user-friendly technology that can be easily adopted by the baby-boomer generation.

For more information, do watch this video:

"Would anyone like to write that on the board?"

Favorite communication enhancing technology of the moment: PaperShow. Although millions (myself included) have suffered through the agony of writing things on the chalk board in front of a class (teachers included), some gracious soul has finally decided to put an end to that agonizing experience. Can you tell just how badly I always hoped to disappear when a teacher asked for volunteers to write on the board? And all things considered, I've got relatively good handwriting and language skills- imagine the process for a person with limited mobility or a motor disorder.

I suppose I should tell you what this program is before I sing any more of its praises. PaperShow is an interactive desktop whiteboard program. What this means, among other things, is that student contributions to classroom activities can be entered into the notebook in an engaging and interactive way, with less pressure than the traditional arrangement.

I found a great website with more information on PaperShow including some ins and outs of running the program. PaperShow Review . The website also had a list of pros and cons:

Pros:
●plug and play
●easy set up
●small form factor
●presentations can be emailed or exported
●no files or software left behind on host computer
●changes made in real time
●interactive and more interesting to participants
●easy to make notes and annotations
●Bluetooth pen can be used up to 19 feet away from the key
●fun to use

Cons:
●no Mac support
●can be costly
●more steps needed to convert Power Point or Keynote presentations
●issues with printing on PaperShow paper
●no choice of where to save exported files
●didn’t seem to be created with Mac users in mind

Happy whiteboarding!

Video Calling from your phone!

        Skype for iPhone is one of the top five free iPhone apps in 2010 according to Apple, so we're going to take a closer look at video calling using Skype.

     

        Who benefits from this technology? A hearing impaired person might benefit from video calling. As many people have probably experienced, it's a lot easier to get the message if you can see the speaker.

        One bonus to Skyping is that if it’s successful, you’re more likely to do it again. Maybe long-distance relationships with friends and family have suffered as a result of a hearing impairment. That doesn’t have to stand in your way any more. And the kicker is that it’s free!

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        Another great feature of this product is that the more tech-savy people who already know the ins and outs of Skype are no longer constrained to being near a computer.

        Unfortunately, not everyone has an iPhone, and hardware can be considered a drawback at this point. As the app  gets tested and used a little more, maybe we can expect it to be available on other smart phones. That being said, when your cell phone contract runs out, go to your service provider knowing what you want and what is most custom fit to your life.

        The Skype app is compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and iPod touch 4G with iOS 4.0 or above.

        If you have the iPhone or get one soon, you can get started with the Skype app by following the directions in this step by step tutorial. Dave has included pictures of what you'll see on your phone screen each step of the way.

How to set up Skype on your iPhone

Happy Skyping!

Hello!

I'm Jolene, a Speech Language Pathology graduate student at Kent State University. I am looking forward to starting my career with adults in need of speech pathology services in January 2012. This blog may be helpful to recipients and providers of speech therapy, who are looking for more information about the role of technology in communication.

Whether you are faced with a communication altering disease or the natural aging process is preventing you from the richness of communication that you once had, there may be options for you. I'd like to focus on integrating helpful technology into the lives of people who didn't grow up using computers. Please join the discussion with questions- if you're wondering, someone else was too!

What you can expect: -"Who is a candidate?"
                                    -Easy to follow tutorials on different technologies
                                    -Links to helpful resources
                                    -Questions and Answers

Thanks for stopping by, come back soon :)