West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre

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West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre

• Birmingham Specialist Community Health NHS Trust.
• Oak Tree Lane, Selly Oak.

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Unwired to the Web -The Global Communication
Aid. or Talking With My Foot
A project to enable independent use of a PC, and
full access to the Internet, for an EPIOC user
with 5 switch Communication Aid access, fully
integrated with direct real-time control of the
mouse, and the chair, without physical
connections to the computer.
Simon Fielden, PMSs Manager, WMRC. Philomena
OToole, WMRC Client.
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Talking With My Foot

• Background
• Technical Approach
• Funding and Resourcing Issues
• Conclusions

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Talking With My Foot
Background - 1Miss Philomena OToole.Skilled
EPIOC Driver. Gold LIBERATOR Ambassador.Blossomi
ng Computer Consultant.
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Talking With My Foot
Background - 2First Communication
Aid 1993First powered chair 1994Integrated
Mob. Lib. 1996First computer
use 1997Portland Training College 1999
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Talking With My Foot

• Technical Approach
• Latching Sequencer Switch Interface
• Mouse Emulator
• Remote Switch Link
• Remote Data Transport
• Remote Internet Connection
• Text to Speech generation
• System Overview.

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Talking With My Foot

• Technical Approach
• Latching Sequencer Switch Interface

The client has a Badger EPIOC with a 50A PG
remote box. This is controlled by a WMRC TES001
Switch interface in conjunction with a WMRC
Latching Sequencer. The TES interface provides
the analogue control signals and the Sequencer
routes the clients switches to the appropriate
port and switches the PG control box ON and OFF
as appropriate to maintain safe use of the chair.
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WMRC TES001 Interface

• Connects to a Std NHS PG PG8 remote
  programmable control box
• Accepts up to 4 Switch Inputs
• Produces up to 8 directions of travel
• Provides for independent control of Speed and
  Response
• Can be configured for Remote ON/OFF
• 12v DC output option to power other related
  equipment on the wheelchair

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WMRC TES001 Interface
Spin Turn
Arc Turn
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WMRC Latching Sequencer

• Simple, No complex setting up required.
• Reliable, Robust and water resistant.
• Inexpensive, Minimum cost to manufacture.
• Upto six user switches, Four directions plus
  Select Sequence
• Immune to the effects of ESD and RFI.
• Transfer user switches to one of three external
  ports.
• Intrinsically fail-safe, Switches drop back to a
  pre-determined port in the event of a wheelchair
  systems/power failure.

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WMRC Latching Sequencer
Default Output(Communications ?)
Upto 5 user switches
Second Stage Output(Mobility ?)
Third Stage Output(Computer ?)
SequenceInput Switch
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Talking With My Foot

• Technical Approach
• Mouse Emulator

Up to 6 switch inputs Individual or 9-way D
type input Latching select function Dual speed
mouse movement Programmable mouse speeds Line
powered from PC, Serial / PS2 / USB port options
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Talking With My Foot

• Technical Approach
• Remote Switch Link

5 switch input, U, D, L, R, select Switch i/p
activates transmitter Range upto 4 meters
(433MHz) 9v -12v DC via input cable. Exceeds
IP54 protection rating Fully EMC screened
construction Inputs are ESD, reverse and over
voltage protected,
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Talking With My Foot

• Technical Approach
• Remote Switch Link

5 switch output, U, D, L, R, select Isolated
relay outputs via 9 way D type
connector Internal 9v Battery Range upto 4 meters
(433MHz) Meets IP54 protection rating
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Talking With My Foot

• Technical Approach
• Remote Data Transport

Line powered from RS232 port Uses IrDA
Standard Half Duplex Communication Port Speeds
upto 9600 1m range, ?15?cone angle Plugs
straight into a PATHFINDER communication aid.
EL - LINK - IR module
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Talking With My Foot

• Technical Approach
• Remote Internet Connection

Uses mobile phone as a virtual modem Connects via
RS232 or PCMCIA port Compatible with many NOKIA
phones GSM Radio Link Protocol Fax / Data rates,
2400 - 9600 Compatible with WINDOWS 95, 98, NT,
CE, 2000, Me, Palm etc.
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Talking With My Foot

• Technical Approach
• Text to Speech generation.

MONOLOGUE for Windows Simple 8 bit
program Generates speech output from any text
data placed on the windows clipboard Speech
output initiated by a Right Click of the
programs minimised icon Only male voices available
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Talking With My Foot

• Technical Approach - System Overview.

WheelchairFoot Switches
IrDA Link
Mobile Phone
Switch DataInput
OutPathfinderCommunicationAid
Sequence Switch
IrDA Link
Computer Serial Port(phone) Serial Port(RS232
text) PS2 Port(mouse)
Latching Sequencer
Commercial Wheelchair Drive Electronics(PG8 BEAU
Remote)
Switches / ControllerTES001 Interface
RF Switch LinkReceiver
RF Switch LinkTransmitter
Mouse Mover
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Talking With My Foot

• Conclusion
• Service Perspective

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Talking With My Foot

• Conclusion
• Client Perspective

Thank you
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A Project by the West Midlands Rehabilitation
Centre
Unwired to the Web - The Global Communication
Aid.

• Birmingham Specialist Community Health NHS Trust.
• Oak Tree Lane, Selly Oak.