Making Reading Easier

On February 15, 2010, Computerworld published the article “14 tech tools that enhance computing for the disabled” by Brian Nadal. Mr. Nadal highlights 14 tools that help those with various impairments navigate computers. Examples include a no hands mouse that is controlled by feet pedals and Eyegaze Edge, which allows those without use of their arms to control a computer with just their eyes. I would like to focus on one example, WizCom Technologies’ InfoScan TS Elite scanning pen. This pen scans and stores up to 500 pages of printed material. It can read the pages back to you or can be transferred to a computer. It costs approximately $150.00.

This pen sounds great! I love that it has migrated from the computer (but remains close enough to stay compatible through a USB connection). Poor eyesight due to old age or diseases and strokes make it hard to read everything, not just what is on the computer screen. Reading the newspaper or a magazine article that a friend passed on along is a huge challenge. This pen would enable elders to “read” such things as the menus in restaurants, the handouts at meetings or events, papers or charts in doctors’ offices, and the songbooks in religious services more easily. The small size and large capacity make it perfect to take outside the home and might provide elders with confidence should they be given something to read at any of their various destinations. It might be challenging because the voice may disturb others but at least it presents an opportunity (and it is better to leave the room and have it read to you than have to ask others or risk missing an opportunity to ask questions because you did not have the information at hand.) The article does not mention whether insurance covers its cost but it might be well worth looking into and certainly provides hope for a “bright” future for those with vision deficiencies.

Speaking of "bright," another great tool for those who can read (and thus do not need the page read to them) but might benefit from some extra reading light is the LightWedge Book Light. The LightWedge is a pane of plexiglass with 2 LED lights that sits on top a book's page and lights up the whole page. Jim Miller extolled it in his 2004 article "Gadgets help seniors enjoy reading, hobbies." This is a great, easy way for seniors to read more easily. Its $25 price tag is certainly a bonus, as the ability to enjoy a hobby is priceless.


Nadal's article:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9149058/14_tech_tools_that_enhance_computing_for_the_disabled?taxonomyId=12&pageNumber=9

Miller's article: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/6380218/

Robots in Nursing Homes

On June 21, 2010, the Wall Street Journal ran an article entitled “It's Not a Stuffed Animal, It's a $6,000 Medical Device: Paro the Robo-Seal Aims to Comfort Elderly, but Is It Ethical?” by Anne Tergesen and Mihi Inada. The article is about a robot, called Paro, which resembles a baby harp seal and is meant to help elderly adults, especially those with dementia. According to the inventor Takanori Shibata, Paro can “recognize voices, track motion and ‘remember’ behaviors that elicit positive responses from patients.” Made and distributed in Japan, it was cleared by U.S. regulators as a medical device.

I thought the view of Dr. Thomas, who founded the Green House Project which encourages nursing homes to be more like regular homes, was interesting. He is supportive of technology that performs “mundane tasks” but wants to leave the “relationship piece” of care giving to the humans. I do not know if the divisions between “mundane” tasks and meaningful tasks are as clear cut as Dr. Thomas suggests. For example, making the bed might be a good excuse for a nurse to develop a relationship with the patient and perhaps lead to a meaningful interaction. Sometimes caregivers might be better at performing the “mundane” tasks than robots and caregivers can make the elders feel more at home. On the other hand, the elder may be more comfortable sharing his or her fears with an inanimate object instead of a person. Robots might be more soothing for the elders than a nurse could be. Either way, having other options of care is a positive step.

In fact, according to a Wall Street Journal article by Sharon LaFraniere entitled "China Might Force Visits to Mom and Dad," there is a huge concern in China over the state of their elders. With the increase of urbanization and the demographic shift in which elders greatly outnumber young adults, elders are in increasing danger of feeling neglected. Under this proposal, elders can sue their children for failing to visit them regularly. This illustrates the importance of social relationships for the elderly. Suicide rates have increased and depression is a huge problem. Robots and mandated family visits are ways to keep elders feeling connected.

Quite simply, care giving is hard. Using technology to ease the burden on caregivers, particularly those caring for multiple patients in nursing homes and those with cognitive or physical impairments, is praiseworthy. Some patients will not respond but others might. As long as patients are not being harmed, I think there is nothing ethically wrong with allowing those in need of a friend to become attached to a cute robot that can ultimately help them communicate better with humans and feel better about themselves.
These developments force us to question and more precisely define just want we think caretaking is and how we can go about living out our definition.

The Robot article:
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748704463504575301051844937276-lMyQjAxMTAxMDIwNjEyNDYyWj.html
The proposed amendment article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/world/asia/30beijing.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=china%20might%20force%20visits%20to%20mom%20and%20dad&st=cse

Welcome and an introduction

Welcome to Assistive Devices/Technology for Disabled Elders!

A bit about me: My name is Molly Underwood and I am a Junior at the University of Southern California. (Fight On!) I am a History major with a concentration in Early Modern Europe (I particularly enjoy England in the 1500s, so Renaissance and Reformation stuff). I love to read and watch movies.

Why I am blogging: I am taking Gerontology 380: Diversity in Aging and I have chosen to create a blog for my final project.

Why you should read this blog: Because it will be fun! Yes, I am blogging for a school project and yes I will receive a grade but I chose this topic because I am interested in it and that means I will work hard to you, loyal readers, interested as well. Everyone who is lucky will grow old and many of us or our loved ones will experience health problems and challenges and may need a hand. This blog will explore some available options our there for those in need of assistance. Happy reading!