Shown here with TV Remote and Gumball Switch mounted on my Switch Poser
(click on any picture for larger image)
ECU's....heard of them? Environmental Control Units, giving persons with special needs the ability to control real-world devices, other than computers. About 5 years ago, OT's and PT's started calling them EADL's, Electronic Aids for Daily Living, because it was easier getting them funded with that name.
Several companies made (and still make) stand-alone EADL devices, some inexpensive and limited to one device/function, and others much more expensive and quite comprehensive, able to control mutliple devices/functions.
In 2005 I came out with my EADL Package, PC-based and with more capabilities than anything I was aware of, and still low priced. But it required a computer.
I wanted something stand-alone and in the middle, both in capabilities and price. I wanted one device to control many things. That is, you simply plug in my Scan-5-adapted remote/device that you wish to control, into the 9-pin port on the rear, record your 'labels' and off you go!
And of course, it had to scan!
But still not finished (I'm quite demanding ;-) It had to be portable. So Scan-5 is rechargeable and can be recharged from a computer via the included cable or with the inlcuded charger! I try not to forget *anything*!
And here it is, 1 1/2 years
after I started this project!
Scan-5 is a stand-alone EADL for a person that
can be operated by 1 or 2 switches. It scans, both
visually and auditorially (you record your voice
for each function!), through 5 functions of *all* the
devices pictured on this page. For those of you not familiar
with "scanning", there are 2 types: Auto and
Step.
Auto-Scan means the user activates their switch to start the scan. The first button on the Scan-5 lights up and speaks, and waits, for the time you set, for the user to activate their switch. If they do, that button gets 'pressed' and that function is performed. If the user doesn't activate their switch, the next button lights up and gets spoken. This continues through the 5th and last button. If no selection is made, the scan stops. The user would activate their switch to start again when ready.
Step-Scan requires 2 switches. A second switch 'steps' through the choices, that is, each switch press lights up and speaks the next button/function on the Scan-5. The original switch functions as the Select switch, that is, when the desired button/function is lit up on the Scan-5, the user activates this switch and Scan-5 'presses' this button to perform its function.
And yes, you could direct-select the buttons *on* the Scan-5, if you have someone that can ;-) I try to make my devices as widely applicable as you'd want!
TV Remote
Easily the most requested real-world device to be controlled by our switch-users is their TV. Here are some more pics of Scan-5 with my adapted TV Remote.
The picture on the left shows the control panel on the back of Scan-5. On the right you can better see the
universal TV/cable/satellite Remote I've chosen, and the Gumball Switch in the distance.
Scan-5 controls Channel Up, Channel Down, Power, Volume Up, & Volume Down.
This is a 'Step-Scan setup with my little white iPod/iPad remote Velcro'd on the side.
The small red Gumball Switch is mounted on my Switch Poser, functioning as the 'stepper'. The large red Jumbo Switch is mounted on my Mini-Arm, and Selects whichever button is currently lit up on the Scan-5.
Auto-Scan means the user activates their switch to start the scan. The first button on the Scan-5 lights up and speaks, and waits, for the time you set, for the user to activate their switch. If they do, that button gets 'pressed' and that function is performed. If the user doesn't activate their switch, the next button lights up and gets spoken. This continues through the 5th and last button. If no selection is made, the scan stops. The user would activate their switch to start again when ready.
Step-Scan requires 2 switches. A second switch 'steps' through the choices, that is, each switch press lights up and speaks the next button/function on the Scan-5. The original switch functions as the Select switch, that is, when the desired button/function is lit up on the Scan-5, the user activates this switch and Scan-5 'presses' this button to perform its function.
And yes, you could direct-select the buttons *on* the Scan-5, if you have someone that can ;-) I try to make my devices as widely applicable as you'd want!
TV Remote
Easily the most requested real-world device to be controlled by our switch-users is their TV. Here are some more pics of Scan-5 with my adapted TV Remote.
Remember to click any
picture to have it enlarged!
The picture on the left shows the control panel on the back of Scan-5. On the right you can better see the
universal TV/cable/satellite Remote I've chosen, and the Gumball Switch in the distance.
Scan-5 controls Channel Up, Channel Down, Power, Volume Up, & Volume Down.
I chose this particular
remote because it is the only one I found on which
the power and volume buttons control the TV but the
Channel buttons control your cable/satellite box
channels! Very groovy, baby (said
in my best Austin Powers voice ;-)
Next is my iPod Remote
Next is my iPod Remote
This is a 'Step-Scan setup with my little white iPod/iPad remote Velcro'd on the side.
The small red Gumball Switch is mounted on my Switch Poser, functioning as the 'stepper'. The large red Jumbo Switch is mounted on my Mini-Arm, and Selects whichever button is currently lit up on the Scan-5.
Scan-5
controls Power/Play/Pause, Next Song, Previous Song,
Volume Up, & Volume Down.
This one shows my Scan-5-Adapted Voice Recorder (for more info on my Switch-Adapted Voice Recorder, click here).
In the picture on the left you see my Jumbo Switch mounted on my Mini-Arm.
Voice Recorder
This one shows my Scan-5-Adapted Voice Recorder (for more info on my Switch-Adapted Voice Recorder, click here).
In the picture on the left you see my Jumbo Switch mounted on my Mini-Arm.
Scan-5
controls Play/Pause, Record, Next, Previous, &
Erase.
Remember to click any picture to have it enlarged!
Remember to click any picture to have it enlarged!
Portable DVD
Player
