MD Users
MR. Hou

Basic Information
Name: Mr. Hou
Location: Kaohsiong County
Age Range: Youth
Disability: MD respirator dependent
Positioning: 100% bed-ridden in hospital
Client request: Full computer and internet access
Name: Mr. Hou
Location: Kaohsiong County
Age Range: Youth
Disability: MD respirator dependent
Positioning: 100% bed-ridden in hospital
Client request: Full computer and internet access
Background
This young man has MD, is dependent upon a respirator, and resides in a hospital due to the special nursing care required. Originally his main activity was just watching TV but thankfully his father had managed to fix up a very ingenious method for him using bits of wood and string to enable him to change the TV channel. However the benefits of computer control and the internet were too much of an attraction allowing him to be more pro-active. However his residual movements were limited to small range finger movements. Assessment told us that we would have to work with these small finger movements to access the computer. Any thoughts of head control and the Infrared Mouse were quickly eliminated. We had to consider also the nursing staff and not increase their workload by expecting them to spend time to adjust and position a computer input device each time he was moved. In the end it was our Single Switch Mouse and low pressure push switch which won the day. Although being rather slow in operation, its sheer simple fitting reduced required little help from carers or nursing staff to keep Mr. Hou up and running on his computer.
Devices Used
Icebreaker Team Comments
Mr. Hou is now fully computer active with his low pressure switch and Single Switch Mouse. He has his own Facebook page and email account. From this case it is important to understand how the difficulties of mounting the computer control device can play an important role in device choice. Any device which requires a long time to setup will soon be discarded and not used. Also in situations where users are living in hospitals or care homes it is important to consider where the computer is located as it may interfere with day to day operations. In this case we mounted everything on a mobile computer stand. As the computer and monitor are both mounted on this mobile stand it can be easily pushed into a corner when not in use and easily brought back for use, requiring the most minimal effort from the hospital care staff. As an added feature this young mans computer also includes a TV card allowing him to use his special mouse to control and watch normal TV channels on his computer monitor.
This young man has MD, is dependent upon a respirator, and resides in a hospital due to the special nursing care required. Originally his main activity was just watching TV but thankfully his father had managed to fix up a very ingenious method for him using bits of wood and string to enable him to change the TV channel. However the benefits of computer control and the internet were too much of an attraction allowing him to be more pro-active. However his residual movements were limited to small range finger movements. Assessment told us that we would have to work with these small finger movements to access the computer. Any thoughts of head control and the Infrared Mouse were quickly eliminated. We had to consider also the nursing staff and not increase their workload by expecting them to spend time to adjust and position a computer input device each time he was moved. In the end it was our Single Switch Mouse and low pressure push switch which won the day. Although being rather slow in operation, its sheer simple fitting reduced required little help from carers or nursing staff to keep Mr. Hou up and running on his computer.
Devices Used
- Single Switch Mouse
- Low Pressure Push Switch
- Mobile Computer Stand
- Screen Keyboard
- Large Cursor
Icebreaker Team Comments
Mr. Hou is now fully computer active with his low pressure switch and Single Switch Mouse. He has his own Facebook page and email account. From this case it is important to understand how the difficulties of mounting the computer control device can play an important role in device choice. Any device which requires a long time to setup will soon be discarded and not used. Also in situations where users are living in hospitals or care homes it is important to consider where the computer is located as it may interfere with day to day operations. In this case we mounted everything on a mobile computer stand. As the computer and monitor are both mounted on this mobile stand it can be easily pushed into a corner when not in use and easily brought back for use, requiring the most minimal effort from the hospital care staff. As an added feature this young mans computer also includes a TV card allowing him to use his special mouse to control and watch normal TV channels on his computer monitor.