Super excited about Zeros and Ones - Geek Speak by Kristy Rickert

My sister, Kristy, is a computer wiz. She has been leading the charge to get Dad back on-line and out on the World Wide Web. Here is her blog about their computer adventures on Saturday...

After working with Becky and Steve and doing some additional research with the Invotek Safe Laser System, it became clear that its capabilities were primarily designed to act as a simple keyboard for spelling. Steve’s current system of pointing at letters on a poster board with a laser already accomplishes this for his purposes. 

Although some of Invotek’s end-users have used the system to access the Internet, we confirmed this was limited in scope and could be somewhat difficult due to requiring “split attention” (the user points the laser at the keyboard while trying to move the cursor on a separate monitor screen).  

So we started the search for a new solution – one that could give Steve the full ability to use his computer. Not quite sure what was available to know what we needed, the searches on Google may have seemed far-fetched. Some initial search results returned complicated machines with incredibly hefty price tags. Then, and I still don’t know how I arrived at the page, our prayers were answered and up popped a treasure-trove of software designed specifically to help people operate computers when they can’t use their hands. 

The main program, called “Camera Mouse,” was designed at Boston College and is being used successfully by people all around the world. It uses a webcam to track the movement of your head to control the mouse pointer on a Windows computer. Clicking can be done by making the mouse pointer dwell over a spot on the screen (after first turning on Clicking in Settings). 

(http://www.cameramouse.org/about.html)  

The website for Camera Mouse includes a Downloads page that has dozens of links to software programs written by other people and companies that work along with Camera Mouse to allow users to fully operate their computers. They even have games for children. And . . . wait for it . . . they are completely FREE!!!!  

I was able to download and try many of the programs before deciding on just a couple to use to assist Steve. If you have a windows computer and a webcam, please feel free to download and try them yourself. It is fascinating technology! 

http://www.cameramouse.org/downloads.html 

Here is the list of applications Steve now has available for his use: 

• Camera Mouse 2014 – Main program. The latest version, which now works with Windows 8, just came out last month (August 2014). Steve’s laptop runs Windows 8.  

• ClickAid - allows for right-clicking, dragging, double-clicking  

• Midas Touch - a free onscreen keyboard program for spelling and speaking messages (this could replace the poster board and laser pointer) 

• Click-N-Type virtual keyboard – an onscreen keyboard that allows you to use Camera Mouse to type into Notepad or Word or email or an Internet browser. Steve has add-ons that display the keyboard in bold text and uses a predictive word list. 

• Aliens (Aliens and Paint) a simple shoot-the-aliens video game program. We used this to test Steve’s range of motion.

Today, Steve felt well enough to work with the programs. Within the first 10 minutes, he was adjusting some of the settings himself and requesting others. Then Nancy and I watched him open Internet Explorer and perform a Google search for “GBS.” For the first time, Steve was able to search on this illness that has taken control of his life for the past 6 months. It was a very moving moment to watch!

My husband, Patrick, asked if this means everyone can now start communicating with Steve electronically. I told him that it might be wise to give him a few weeks since Steve has 2300+ emails in his inbox to catch up on first. :) My hope is that initially, these new tools will give Steve access to the outside, and then in due time he’ll be ready to communicate back.

As a techie, I get energized by new hardware and software – much like a kid on caffeine – and today will be one I will long remember! Thank you, Nancy, for allowing me the opportunity. Your help desk is available!