Interfacing computers for the physically handicapped: a review of international approaches

The computer has shown great promise for expanding educational and occupational opportunities for severely handicapped individuals. The greatest obstacle facing these individuals today is that they are unable to access computers through traditional keyboards or other types of terminals. This paper describes the three basic techniques which have been successfully used to allow the severely handicapped to communicate with other people and with their environment. A review of over 25 various approaches which have been developed around the world is presented, including a comprehensive bibliography of available information.

[1]  R Jenkin Possum: a new communication aid. , 1967, Special education.

[2]  Gregg C. Vanderheiden,et al.  An alternate interface to computers for the physically handicapped: the auto-monitoring communication board , 1974, AFIPS '74.

[3]  Morteza A. Rahimi,et al.  A computer terminal with synthetic speech output , 1974 .

[4]  A. Ziskind,et al.  Remote control typewriter for paraplegics. , 1959, Journal of the American Medical Association.

[5]  A F Newell,et al.  VOTEM: the voice operated typewriter employing Morse code. , 1969, Journal of scientific instruments.

[6]  M. Jones,et al.  Electrical communication devices. , 1961, The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association.

[7]  John B. Eulenberg,et al.  A computing environment for the blind , 1974, AFIPS '74.

[8]  C. Hyde An electronic aid for the severely physically disabled. The Possum Selector Unit Type I. , 1969, The Practitioner.

[9]  Keith Copeland Aids for the severely handicapped , 1974 .