Page 178 - Handbook of Electronic Assistive Technology

166 HANDBOOK OF ELECTRONIC ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

of the EC controllers and systems came from NHS commissioning sources (NHS Supply
Chain, 2014) there was no standard imposed for remote signal transmissions, so each sup-
plier developed their own proprietary RF and IR signal protocols and message coding for-
mats. Key EC controllers of this period are shown in Fig. 6-10.
Further development occurred during the 2000s by incorporating portable telephony
into some EC controllers, for example DECT telephone modules in the Possum Vivo, and
sim cards in the GEWA Control Omni (Fig. 6-11). Some of the latest range of Possum con-
trollers include a radio transmitter for the NEAT telecare range using the social care alarm
RF of 869 MHz, enabling direct control of some telecare peripherals.
These first three generations are described as ‘dedicated’ controllers for EC and were
exclusively single- or two-switch input. They largely predated the personal computer and
did not offer any integral computer-based functions. A scanning alphabet screen on some

7
FIGURE 6-10 Examples of portable EC controllers: Possum Companion, Steeper Fox and Gewa Prog III�
8

FIGURE 6-11 Examples of enhanced portable EC controllers (Possum Vivo! and Gewa Control Omni)� 9,10

7 http://possum.co.uk/.
8 http://rslsteeper.com/.
9 http://possum.co.uk/.
10 http://abilia.org.uk/.