Both the screencasts and the videos were very informative about a topic that deserves to be more widely recognized. In particular, I was very interested in the input versus output section, because it takes into account the number of different disabilities students might have. Adaptive technology is a broad term that encompasses many different techniques and approaches, but we have to consider that while some students have difficulty expressing ideas and others have difficulty receiving them, that does not mean that they are incapable of the internal processes that guide those instincts.We simply need to facilitate methods of helping them express those ideas that they have but can't quite get out.
3 Devices
Cowriter
- An alternative word processing program.
- Program that predicts the next word in a sentence, pulling from that students vocabulary.
- Helps students who have great ideas but have difficulty getting those ideas on paper.
Ergonomic Hardware
- Hardware that is designed specifically for comfort and ease of use.
- If the obstacle to learning and understanding is the device or medium itself, ergonomic design helps with facilitating a simpler connection between the user and the device itself.
- This could help the vision impaired,for example, who require a keyboard with larger letters and a screen that scales in size content-wise.
Voice Recognition Software
- Software that converts your voice into text or your voice into commands prescribed by you to complete certain tasks.
- Voice recognition software either provides speech to text services or carries out simple or complex tasks based on the programming you do before hand.
- For students with physical disabilities, this allows them to participate in assignments with the rest of the class and hand in word documents semi-normally rather than through other methods. Helps the student and the teacher.
Voice Recognition Software is not as simplistic as you might think. Besides the applications mentioned above, speech to text and simple commands, there are also other resources available to those who need this service. For instance, Head Mouse Extreme is a device that essentially acts as a virtual mouse for those students who aren't able to use a real one.The HeadMouse has a wireless optical sensor which tracks a tiny disposable target that is worn by the user in a convenient location on their forehead, glasses, hat, etc. It works just like a computer mouse, with the mouse pointer being moved by the motion of the user's head. This way, the student is not only limited to composing word documents and sending emails if they don't have full use of their arms or their limbs. They can play computer games, change settings, and complete most of the actions that users with full capabilities can. Since the HeadMouse is available through USB connection and doesn't require extra drivers, it is easily accessible to a variety of users.
