By John M. Williams
How would you like to have a single device that turned on your lights, changed the channel, regulated your home temperature, opened automatic doors, answered your phone, checked your e-mail, and helped you balance your checkbook? How would you like it if the device could be operated by voice, eye movement, or a simple touch of a screen?
Anyone with access to such centralized environmental control would find it intriguing, but people with limited mobility or dexterity would probably find it especially useful. And that is why makers of environmental control systems market their products to people with disabilities.
I had the opportunity to sample one such system, the LifePortal 4000, at the World Congress on Disability exposition in Philadelphia last November. LifePortal 4000, made by Smarthome1 (www.smarthome1.com), enables people with disabilities to control their environment, whether it be a private residence or an assisted living situation, using mobile communications and personal computing. This product combines the features of an active digitizer with the flexibility of a passive touch screen.
With the touch of a finger, users can connect to the world without any prior computer knowledge or experience with a computer. Voice activation plays a role in providing this independence.
For individuals unable to use a regular keyboard, users can e-mail with attachments using a single finger, eye movement, or any single switch. For individuals with visual impairments, male or female voices will read mail and Web pages.
The LifePortal 4000 mobile, wireless personal “tablet” communicator gives users the power, flexibility, and function ability to integrate technologies. The mid-sized, lightweight, rugged, and ergonomic communication unit has both finger touch and digitizer pen touch screens. With multiple integrated wireless technologies, the LifePortal 4000 has four radios: Bluetooth, broadband Internet, local area network (LAN), and global positioning systems (GPS). LifePortal 4000 can be adapted for any wireless capability for usage indoors, outdoors, or in a moving vehicle.
“Smarthome1 took the best aspects of mobile computing technology and revolutionized it for ultra-high performance mobile applications,” says Wesley A. White, SmartHome1 Div. of Web Pilot Inc. “Our software technologies have been conceived and developed by world recognized software developers to fulfill the real needs of all people with physical disabilities, of any age, degree, and type of disability.”
White emphasizes that his company provides full accessibility to existing technologies in telephony, environmental control, verbal and written communication, Internet, fax, e-mail, SMS, DVD, audio & video, virtual reality, business solutions, web access, games, and so forth.
The company’s products are Microsoft® Windows XP certified and have also been certified by Cisco Systems, Siemens, IBM and Sony.
“All home controls are done wirelessly with the latest plug-in technology using Z-wave, UPB, IR and other integrated wireless devices that eliminate the need for expensive costs for rewiring the home,” White says.
What is the impression of consumers with disabilities who are familiar with Smarthome1’s products? Right-arm amputee Nora Conway, who saw the firm’s software demonstrated at the recent World Congress on Disability, says, “There is no doubt in my mind that Smarthome1’s products are designed to help people in different environments achieve independence.” She says there is merit to this technology’s goals.
Speaking of merits, 67-year-old Manny Horowitz, who has a physical disability and is a former occupational therapist, says, “Smarthome1’s technology has value to people with disabilities in all stages of their lives.” He sees the technology being used in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, VA hospitals, senior citizen centers, and for recreational purposes.
The major hurdle challenging increased usage of this technology is price. Conway and Horowitz believe the $15,000 to $25,000 price must come down dramatically before many people with disabilities can benefit.
“The price is prohibitive to people I know,” says Horowitz.
White says his company knows the price must be reduced and is working to accomplish the goal. The price includes the hardware, software, evaluating the individual’s need and then matching the need with the technology, training, installing, and six months of phone support.
It would also help if the government could devise a means to enable the people whose lives can be improved and possibly even saved by technologies like this to afford them. But that is the subject of another column.
John M. Williams has been reporting on assistive technology for more than 25 years. He can be contacted at jmmaw@aol.com.
