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My brothers partner is suffering from Parkinsons and apart from the loss of motor control she is going blind. A lovely lady who I have the greatest respect for. She expressed a profound level of frustration with her current situation and has trouble understanding why tech cannot do anything for her. Medical science cannot do any more but there should be something to be done to allow her to read and communicate.
Her symptoms are such that fine motor control is impossible, mouse is useless and keyboards are too small and sensitive. Her shaking also means that she bangs a group of keys multiple times trying to type.
Being half blind she cannot read a normal font but can read sub titles on the TV so all it needs is a big font.
Her mental deterioration leaves her confused with some simple operations, I have seen her unable to work out how to pick up a phone (not a mobile an old style handset).
The RFI is trying to find out if there is a productivity suite that will allow her to communicate and read for the few years she has left.
I though a surface with voice activation may be an option, large font and icons, simplified, scripted applications for making contact, skype or something. A large font browser and reader seems reasonably straight forward.
Has anyone done any work in this area, I would like to do something but I fear I could not produce anything in a timely manner. I will be trolling google for something but thought I would start here.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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There are special browsers for blind and legally-blind people. These work with websites that are ADA and Section 508 compliant. Look into those and see how it may help. The government makes most of its websites 508 compliant. If she has a couple of websites that she visits often and they're not 508 compliant, you may want to send them an email asking if they could do so for her (and others).
Good luck to your friend! ![Rose | [Rose]](https://codeproject.freetls.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/rose.gif)
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Thanks
It is not so much using the web, it is more finding the hardware that supports her physical disabilities. She cannot use a keyboard because it cannot cater for her banging random keys and a mouse is all over the place. That's why I thought a Surface/Voice interface may be useful.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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What about larger keys on keyboards?
Here[^] and here[^].
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Excellent, that is what I was hoping for, thanks.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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My dad is gradually losing his sight and the RNIB[^] have been very helpful with various gizzmos and toys.
speramus in juniperus
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Her vision has not deteriorated so much that she can't function as she can no longer read a book, that combined with her inability to be able to use a keyboard is just frustrating.
This may give us some ideas, thanks.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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Good luck to you it sounds like the way you're going would work. When you get older, especially when you ailing it's the little things that make a difference; being able to read a book, listen to music, enjoy a day in the sun, companionship, etc..
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My Mother had Parkinsons.
As you probably know, the prescribed drugs are relatives of the LSD family - and she found that taking a higher dose prior to requiring good motor skills worked quite well - although the side effects could be scary (hallucinations for example) - but if she wanted to type or play piano, she would just dose up, do what she wanted (and have a remarkably good time of it!) and then suffer the almost completely frozen affects when it wore off by going to bed.
For the computer she used one of those trackball things[^]
(christ that was a long link) which she found usable, although not perfect.
With my mother, the mental confusion seemed to be much more a symptom of the drugs than of the disease itself (taking whopping amounts of LSD prior to popping to the shops for bread and milk is not recommended; she once abandoned her car in the middle of the street and 'ran' home because of the meteors that were streaking out of the sky; kudos to the policeman who tracked her down, knocked on the door, and after a brief chat, just suggested she tried not to drive after taking the drugs!)
There are large format keyboards[^] available which may help.
MVVM # - I did it My Way
___________________________________________
Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011
.\\axxx
(That's an 'M')
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If you discover your cat has had its arse sown up, it's my thank-you for the present it left me ON MY DOORSTEP! 
speramus in juniperus
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Hey! Think yourself lucky it was only a richard on a non-porous surface...
They hide worse things than that in your shoes, under cushions... 
The only instant messaging I do involves my middle finger.
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It's a wooden step and it is stained by that stuff. What do you people feed those monsters?
speramus in juniperus
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Sheep and Ronseal.
The only instant messaging I do involves my middle finger.
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You own sheeps?
Mates here said so.
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I wouldn't say he 'owns' them, but he certainly 'knows' some very well indeed.
speramus in juniperus
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I'd even dare say that he has a deep knowledge.
~RaGE();
I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus
Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
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You can't "own" sheep in Wales. They have the vote, so it would count as slavery.
The only instant messaging I do involves my middle finger.
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only because the welsh assembly is made up of them
You cant outrun the world, but there is no harm in getting a head start
Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.
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About half and half - we're an Equal Opportunities country...
The only instant messaging I do involves my middle finger.
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Griff has indeed been reputed to pwn one on the odd occasion.
"Science adjusts its views based on what's observed. Faith is the denial of observation, so that belief can be preserved." - Tim Minchin
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OriginalGriff wrote: They hide worse things than that in your shoes, under cushions
Not to mention whoopsies in berets.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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 from Betty.
speramus in juniperus
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Check the feaces ! it might have been a Civet cat[^] 
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Struth...
"Toxoplasma gondii could cause a change in our behaviour—even a change in our personality that could 'make us' like cats."
I have had some recent changes in behaviour. Last week I started spraying the plants around the front entrance and scratching up the railing on the deck.
Sorry about using the lounge as if it were Facebook.
I will sell the cats to science and invest in a Poodle.....and my next post will not be "I just breathed".
ARF she said...
"Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read." Frank Zappa 1980
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