Communicating with Handicapped Loved Ones?

Trx asks: "Many of us regularly exchange digital images from our loved ones, but the disabled are often left on the dark side of this digital divide. My dad is quadriplegic, and I've been looking into ways I might outfit his room with an automated download of images to his television. Have any Slashdot users attempt something of this sort? He lives in an assisted living facility, with personal telephone/cable lines. He has special response buttons for control of television channels and phone. Due to high staff-turnover, training-in staff to help him download emails or images hasn't worked out. I am stationed overseas, and can only get back once every 6 months if I'm lucky, so low-maintenance is key. WebTV would be an option if it didn't require mouse or keyboard. We've also considered investing in a laptop DVD player, and mailing disks. Any suggestions?"

Comments

Re:Digital Picture Frame

[christopherfinke]

Here's a Slashdot story that covered building your own digital picture frame, if you do decide to go that route.

Mac Voice Recognition?

[Lemmeoutada Collecti]

I don't know if it's feasable in his situation, but the Mac line has a decent voice recognition, and with training can be set up to respond fairly accurately to simple commands. It also allow scripting to add more commands, and works with the e-mail and web browser for most basic functions. Perhaps you should look into that?

Hauppauge MediaMVP

[DavidYaw]

MediaMVP is a device that hooks up to your computer via ethernet, and hooks to the TV via SVideo. It can play MP3s, show still photos, and play MPEG1 and MPEG2 movies.

Since he can control a TV using a remote control type device, then he should be able to control this using a remote control.

Re:Digital Picture Frame

[jazzwind]

You might take a look at this: http://www.ceiva.com/home/hp/index.jsp

VNC

[winstonantisex]

If you configure a computer to automatically start a vnc server after booting, you can control the mouse and keyboard remotely. This opens up many possibilities. I have done this for my parents and been amazed at how much it seems like I am physically present when using vnc in connection with a telephone conversation.

See, for example, http://www.tightvnc.com/: "TightVNC is a free remote control software package derived from the popular VNC software. With TightVNC, you can see the desktop of a remote machine and control it with your local mouse and keyboard, just like you would do it sitting in the front of that computer."

Re:VNC

[Tux2000]

... but make sure you don't run VNC on an unsecured machine connected to the internet. At least close all other ports and tunnel VNC over ssh (see google for how this is done). You don't want a bunch of script kiddies to take over the PC, do you?

Tux2000

The thicker the wallet the more opportunities

[jujuchef]

First off, all of what I say requires training/money because frankly, the effort has to be there on the half of the disabled regardless. If he doesn't care to learn how to use a computer, ignore this post. Is he able to get any sort of financial assistance in the way of grants etc? You might want to check out this overprice monitor.
I got to testdrive one of their monitors at a London convention that follows your pupils regardless of head movement and it's nothing short of amazing (including the £12000 price tag).
You have to be able to press a switch/button to prevent eye pauses from initiating a mouseclick.
Otherwise, look into a clickity-clack keyboard. I'm over in the UK (and work at a special needs school) and we use Inclusive Technology quite a bit.
There are other options around as well, maybe a Stephen-Hawking style pc from Sensory Software. Expect that to come with a £6000 pricetag though.
The amount of money that gets charged for special needs is horrendous... $150 for a keyboard that lets u plug in a switch for an enter key...