My brother Stephen has ALS and can only move one hand. He uses a PC laptop computer running XP controlled with his hand to generate speech and he can use IM email etc. Its slow but it works and its just like a mouse. His condition is like Stephen Hawking for reference.

I need to find a cost effective solution to help him control his TV and Home Theater. What software and hardware combinations would work?

I know this is a PDA forum but I was not sure where to post this. Quick searches of the Internet have not yielded any obvious solutions.

Thanks,

-jamie



This message was edited by Jamie Heywood on 03/02/03 13:08.

We really need more information.

Stephen Hawking does not control his computer via speech, he has lost the ability to speak and uses Text-to-Speech software to "speak".

Since you're asking this in a PDA forum, I assume that you want to use a PDA. PDAwin's TV Remote Software can be controlled by voice but I'm not sure how reliably. The number of voice commands is also rather limited. Speech Recognition takes a lot of processing horsepower so voice control via a PDA is probably not quite there yet.

Are you sure about using voice control? He may lose the ability to speak - ALS is unpredictable.

A laptop with a mouse might be a better way to go. If he loses the use of his hand or voice, he can use a head mouse.

thanks for the ideas - I have updated my post

But you still haven't provided much to go on.

I'm not trying to give you a hard time. Several years ago I wrote some TTS software to allow those with speech disabilities to "speak", control their PC, make phone calls, control lights, TV, etc. It's no longer available but I still help out people with disabilities whenever I can.

Do you want to use voice commands to control things? If so, forget cheap. Look at HomeVoice. Most of the quadriplegics and ALS victims I've communicated with tell me it's the only reliable voice control system. I would be leery of spending what it will take for HomeVoice given that your brother might lose the ability to speak.

Otherwise, a laptop and mouse (or headmouse) with some means of sending IR to an IR543 and/or an Ocelot will probably handle everything. There is a recently released USB IR module that is powered from the USB port. I'm not sure there is any software for it but do know that some ALS victims and support groups are working on software. I can put you in touch with someone who can fill you in.

An alternative is a Firecracker on a serial port to send RF to an X-10 transceiver. The X-10 commands can then control the Ocelot. I've written software for this that an ALS victim currently uses.

I've suggested some other methods to other software and hardware suppliers but have not heard anything back from them.

Dave,

Voice is gone so it is not an option. Money is not that big an issue I would spend $500-$1000 to solve this.

He uses a PC Laptop with XP equipped with – IR/USB Serial etc. I would prefer USB to keep things simple as we are upgrading to a tablet shortly.

He uses Words Plus to both control the computer and generate speech.

I would like to know what kind of software/hardware that I can use on the computer that will control his TV, Home Theater etc.

Computer with Software -> USB IR Device -> TV Stereo VCR etc

I cannot find any software and I am unfamiliar with the devices that can be used to control external IR equipment.

What are IR543, Ocelot, Firecracker, and X-10?

Thanks for the help,

-jamie

Email me. My address is in my profile. I'll forward it to an individual (with ALS) who is familiar with most of what is current.