Communication technologies
The technological pole for the development of technologies for autonomous and independent living designs and tests tools to foster communication.
Communicating is expressing one's moods, one's desires, and one's will. It is an essential tool for relating to others. Technological innovation today makes it possible to overcome many of the obstacles represented by motor limitations and to reconnect with others and with the world.
The solutions are "CUSTOMIZED," tailored based on the needs and skills that are present or that can be activated.
Technologies, especially digital ones, evolve at great speed and can offer extraordinary and unexpected opportunities. Their combination can sometimes help solve problems other than those for which they were designed.
Here are some of the identified solutions, only by way of example:
NIA (Neural Impulse Actuator)
Hands-free computer control with pulses detected by brain activity.
Thanks to a
band on which sensors are placed that detect the movement of the facial and eye muscles and brain activity, it is
possible to control the computer without any movement of the limbs. For example, "clicking" the mouse with a small movement of the eyebrow or jaw. The supplied
software offers the user the possibility to manage the computer with a mouse xy. SIM-PATIA is the distributor of this aid patented by the American company "Brainfingers."
Eviacam
Control your computer hands-free with a simple webcam and free software. The movement of the pointer on the screen takes place with the movement of any part of the body filmed by the video camera (for example, by moving the head). The click is automatically generated after a few seconds of remaining still. To type, simply use an on-screen keyboard.
Trackball
"Upside-down" mouse that controls the pointer on the screen. The trackball appears as an "upside-down mouse," larger or smaller than the standard size. Used by adults or children, it has a common USB connection and exists in various shapes, colors, and sizes, even with a wireless connection. It is useful for people who have difficulty moving joints in the wrists or hands.
SIP & PUFF
A breathing aid that works both in exhalation and in inhalation.
By aspirating or blowing into a special cannula, it is possible to manage an electronic device (PC, tablet, remote control, etc.) with simple commands. Useful for both typing and moving the pointer around the screen. It is used in the wheelchair, in bed, or in an armchair.
VOICE COMMUNICATORS
Make your PC talk for you with simple commands!
Any PC or tablet can be used as a
voice communicator by people with difficulty or a lack of speech. The computer uses text-to-speech to speak aloud what the person
chooses or writes on the screen. Images, texts, sounds, and
anything else that facilitates the communication of thoughts or needs can be customized. Useful for
people with motor, cognitive, or both impairments.
EYE POINTER
Control the computer with your eyes!
Device for controlling the computer by eye movement.
Just fix your gaze on the screen to write, select a command, or surf the Internet. It can also be used with only one eye or while wearing glasses. Available in multiple versions based on use with fixed or mobile devices.
SPECIAL KEYBOARDS
Keyboards of various shapes and sizes, also wireless, with colored buttons, large or small compared to the standard, for people with vision and movement impairments. They can be equipped with a special shield, which allows better use in cases of hand tremors.
TOUCH SCREEN
A large touch screen for low-vision people and group activities.
The use of a touch screen, 42 inches in size or larger, is functional for both visually impaired individuals and group activities. For example, it is possible to make virtual trips around the world with photos and videos of real landscapes, museum visits, etc. The users can also amuse themselves with graphic art activities, re-educational software, and home automation control. The operating system used is Windows 10.
BONE CONDUCTION HEADPHONES
Headphones that transmit and amplify sounds through the micro-vibration of the facial bones.
Sounds are
propagated, as well as in the air, through the vibration of the bones (especially those of the face). Bone conduction headphones improve the auditory perception of
sounds and music, leaving the possibility of listening with the ear as well. Normally
used by people who play sports (jogging, swimming), they are also used by people with more or less severe hearing loss or eardrum damage. It is not a useful aid for deaf people or people with neurological damage to the auditory system.
Support Line
Articulated arm system to position tablets or smartphones in the most useful way. They are combinable and modular, of different sizes and diameters, simple to apply, disassemble and fold. Useful in bed, in the wheelchair, at the table, and wherever it is needed. SIM-PATIA is the distributor of the Support Line system throughout the Italian territory.