Page 179 - Handbook of Electronic Assistive Technology

Chapter 6 • Environmental Control 167

controllers (PSU6 and Companion) allowed for composition of notes and could act as a
remote keyboard. A switch emulator interface allowed the user input means to be trans-
ferred to a computer or communication aid with single switch scanning software. Priority
access to the EC functions was retained through a time-out setting or the user holding
7
down the input switch to return. However, apart from the Possum Primo, the method was
not continued with later models and was superseded by technological developments.
The Gewa Control Prog and Proteur Keo both offered computer mouse and keyboard
emulations through remote signals to a receiver plugged into the USB port of the computer.
Orthogonal and diagonal directions of mouse movement can then be selected as items on the
EC controller menu to initiate movement of the computer cursor. With the Gewa interface,
it is also possible to map each keyboard character to a selection on the EC controller menu.

Fourth Generation – Computer-Based EC Controllers: 2010 Onward
The next development of EC controllers followed the technological trend with the avail-
ability of relatively low-cost tablet computers with reasonable processing power. It became
a logical step to utilise these generic platforms for the EC controller and switch scanning
software, which became available for each of the operating systems: Apple iOS, Android
and Windows (Fig. 6-12). In each case a standard tablet is utilised for operating the spe-
cialist scanning software for EC and other functions. Connection to the tablet is achieved
remotely via standard radio protocols from a specialist EC module, such as Bluetooth

FIGURE 6-12 Examples of computer-based EC controller units� Top: GridPad on Windows, EvoAssist on IoS� Bottom:
Qwayo on Android, Housemate on IoS and Android� (Source with kind permission of Smartbox, Steepergroup,
Possum, Unique Perspectives�) EC, Environmental control�