Do you have a box of broken or faulty switches?

Many of the schools we visit do. Frequently you'll find them in a box hidden away under a table at the back of the storeroom.

Every so often someone will decide to throw them out and then be faced with the high cost of replacing them.

Repairing them may be an alternative.

Ever since we started working in the assistive technology area we began to receive requests from users asking if we could repair their broken or faulty equipment. Usually we could help and managed each request alongside development of the various Dream-Products.

Now, as a result of positive endorsements from Blackfriars School and ACE Centre-North we have decided to positively promote our repair service to a wider audience of special needs schools, service providers and individual assistive technology users. Although we are mainly focusing on switches we will also look at keyboards and joysticks.

Send us your switches if they:

• no longer work reliably
• stick when pressed
• have damaged leads
• playback poor sound quality

For more details visit the Switch Repair Service page on the Dream-Racer website.

Mike

We are planning to add three new switch adapted fun toys to the Dream-Toys range in July.

Trudie the Turkey will sing and dance to the "chicken song". Party time will be even more fun when as she encourages everyone to sing and do the actions.

Cooky Chris and Howton are to monster toys. Cooky sings and dances to the "Ghost Busters" theme song and Howton sings the "Monster Mash".

Richard at 483mediaPro will video them for us - complete with thunder and lightning flashes and spooky themes.

I'll post links to them as soon as they are ready.

Mike

Last Friday I had the opportunity to participate in a Network Day hosted by AbilityNet. The event was organised to celebrate the success of the Switch on Communities project and to share ideas and successes across the Community Partners.

Since the project started it has helped over 39,000 individuals with disabilities and special needs use adapted technology equipment to access a PC for work and pleasure, read and communicate with relatives and friends.

My contribution on the day involved showing some of our new developments including the wireless switches and Domino infra-red controllers as well as the switch adapted toys and Dream-Racer.

By way of a demo I set up a "disco" controlled by our new scanning-switch to control lasers, a mirror ball and music played through the laptop.

Unfortunately, no one felt like rushing to the dance floor .... too early in the day I think.

Mike

For the last few months we have been working on a series of new switch products for use within the assistive technology community.

The technology development for wireless, infra-red and scanning switch designs is complete and is now being built into a series of new products.

The first to be produced will be a four switch wireless converter unit. One of the boxes houses the transmitter and the other the receiver.

In use up to four standard "wired" switches can be connected to the transmitter box and up to four toys, such as our adapted Dream-Toys, or other devices plugged into the receiver.

These switches have a working range of around 20 metres which makes them suitable for home, school or outdoor use.

Availability: August 2009.

Mike

Go to any special needs school and you'll find BIGmack switches, like this, in most classrooms.

BIGmacks let the user record 20 seconds worth of speech or sounds (more for the newer models) that is played back when the switch is pressed. They can be connected to external speakers, toys and other applications and can also be operated by a second switch connected through one of the onboard sockets.

This one had been well used by the students at Blackfriars School, Newcastle-under-Lyme and was beginning to show its age. It still worked as a switch, it was loud enough but the recorded message sounded muffled and was difficult to hear clearly.

Altogether we collected six that sounded rough and in need of attention.

Essentially it came down to this: could they be refurbished to avoid the cost of replacements?

As it turned out all they needed was a replacement speaker fitting at the cost of £3 and they are now back in use - hopefully good for several more years hard labour.

Get in touch if you would like us to take a look at your school's BIGmacks - we may be able to refurbish yours as well. This is the link to our contact details on the Dream-Racer web site.

Mike

Naidex is the biggest new product showcase in the UK with thousands of products on show to aid independent living. This year the show opens at the NEC, Birmingham, for three days from April 28th.

Many of the Dream-Products will be on show at the QED and Liberator stands in the KideQuip section. You'll find QED on stand C8 and Liberator on D18.

I'm sure it will be as busy as always.

Mike

Have you ever heard anyone sneeze three times during a podcast? I certainly hadn't before I listened to the second - February - podcast from AbilityNet.

Personally, I like the quirkiness of them and I mean that in a very nice way. Just have a listen and you'll see what I mean.

On a more serious note they are crammed with very informative interviews about emerging technology, tips that will help users get more from their software and more.

This is the link to AbilityNet and you'll find their podcasts here.

Mike

A few days ago I received an email asking whether we could produce a Dream-Gamer PlayStation PS2 controller with a large joystick.

We make three different Dream-Gamer control systems: cap controller which uses head movement, switch access designed with switch users in mind and a low profile mini-joystick. Adding the Big-Ball joystick would be something new and potentially beneficial to gamers preferring to grab hold of a larger device.

Take a look at the video if you would like to see Callum using the mini-joystick and read the comments from mums Jane and Karen.

We decided to make the Big-Ball joystick around the size of a Traxsys joystick - well known in the assistive technology community.

Big-Ball connects to the left hand side of the Dream-Gamer PS2 controller and works just like a regular joystick to control direction in the game.

We can also adjust its sensitivity to enable different users to tune it to their own abilities.

I'm hoping I can take it along to Blackfriars School and ask the students there to give it a thorough work-out.

Mike

Following on from my last post I thought it would be good to include the links to the video showing the official opening of the My-Indy showroom by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson.

Part 2: officially open

Take a look at the My-Indy website. Visit the store by setting your sat nav to: WR11 1GS.

Imagine entering a large new showroom with all the equipment and products you'll ever need readily available for you to try and test. Add a number of friendly, efficient and fully trained staff to demonstrate and help you. Plus a fully qualified Occupational Therapist on site, full time to advise and show you how equipment should be used and which would be best…and you begin to get a feel for the Indy Experience!

I copied the opening paragraph from the Indy's website and yesterday we had the opportunity to support Elizabeth and Lee Usher at their first open day.

The showroom was officially opened by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson in October 2008. Now, just a few months later, you'll find My-Indy offers a whole new approach to mobility shopping, including an outdoor test track for anyone wanting to test-drive a new scooter or wheelchair and, as of now, the range of switch adapted Dream-Toys produced for young children.

My-Indy is located in Evesham and is the first of a series of new stores planned by Elizabeth, Lee and father, David Badham.

Set your satnav to: WR11 1GS ... it's worth a visit.

Mike

Late last year we were contacted by Karen asking whether we could make a Dream-Gamer that would be suitable for her son Scott. After some discussion we produced a switch adapted controller that we thought would work.

These are Karen's comments:

It was approaching Xmas, and yet again I was finding it difficult to think of gifts for my son Scott who is 10 and has Cerebral Palsy. I wanted a TV interactive game - something that he could have fun with and use as independently as possible. Most of the games on the market had simple controls aimed at much younger children. His friends his age have PlayStations.  I thought about it a lot, how wonderful it would be for Scott to be able to operate a PlayStation just like his friends, but never considered he would be able to, as the controls require good hand functionality and control.  That's when I was thrilled to come across the Dream-Gamer Web Site and was inspired by the story of another young boy like Scott, who had similar disabilities, but through a brilliant piece of equipment had been given access to independently play on a PlayStation.

I contacted Mike, explained Scott's disabilities and that Scott could use switches but would have difficulty with the existing adapted controller, due to the joy stick.  After lots of consultations with me to ensure that he had all the facts, Mike suggested that they would work on putting together a new adapted controller which would operate the PlayStation purely through switches.  Mike has the patience of a 'Saint' and was very kind and trusting to send me the equipment to trial.

Scott was thrilled on Xmas morning to receive a PlayStation especially adapted by "Father Xmas". He has five different colour switches on a switchboard that control different functions e.g. ‘forward’, ‘back’, ‘left’, ‘right’ and ‘enter/select’.  There is capacity for another one to operate ‘start’.

We started with a simple Bob the Builder game to break him into it, not wanting him to get frustrated if he could not operate the games successfully straight away.  He still enjoys this game and he now has others, including a Lightning McQueen racing game, where he loves to crash the car.  He is finding it difficult to understand the concept of some of the games but I am sure that will come with time and experience.  The main thing is that Scott is having fun, he is operating the PlayStation independently and he is doing what his all his friends do. He is getting a right little show off when his friends call around to play with him.

This equipment has given Scott access to play in a way that I never thought he could.  We are all very grateful to Mark and Mike for working with us to make this possible.

Scott, Karen & Kevin Turner

Feel free to contact us if you would like to know more about Dream-Gamer switch adapted PlayStation controllers.

Mike

I can't explain how or why but I'd forgotten to list the two Domino IR remotes on the Dream-Racer web site. (a little voice is whispering in my ear two words "senior" and "moment" but that can't be right.)

As a recap, Domino is a large button, switch adapted, programmable infra-red remote that can control a wide range of TVs, DVD players, toys and environmental control systems. In fact, practically anything that uses infra-red to switch it.

The control codes for four separate devices can be stored in Domino-IR at any one time. For instance, a TV, DVD, ceiling fan and room light system could be assigned to the four yellow buttons. And, for each yellow button/appliance up to six commands stored on the white buttons. Making, in total, 24 control commands on the Domino-IR remote.

Domino-EPG is set-up to work with the on-screen "electronic programme guide" (EPG) menu system used on modern TVs and satellite receivers to select the programme you want to watch.

We normally pre-set Domino-EPG to work with a SKY satellite receiver but it can easily be re-programmed by the user if they need it for their Freeview receiver.

The yellow buttons on Domino-EPG move the on-screen cursor up, down, left or right to highlight the programme. Pressing the blue button selects the programme in the same way a non-adapted remote works.

The white buttons are used to control the satellite receiver - such as switching it on or off.

As standard, we make both Domino-IR and Domino-EPG switch adapted so that each Domino button can be accessed using a standard switch; like the two shown in the top picture.

Mike

Richard arrived earlier today with the three new videos he's produced and it's given me the chance to upload them to the Dream-Racer web site.

We've now got videos of the two new toys Cassy and Sammie - I blogged about earlier - as well a new video of one of the first toys we switch adapted: Nurserytime Bear.

I've loaded all three onto the Dream-Toys page of the Dream-Racer web site - that's where we show all of the switch adapted musical toys.

This is what you need to do if you would like to see the new videos or any of the earlier ones:

1: click on the Dream-Toys link - this will take you to the Dream-Toys page that shows all of the switch adapted musical toys we produce.

2: click on the picture of the toy, or the red "click to play video link" or the "more" button. This will open a pop-up window that contains the video player. It looks like this but it's bigger. 

3: click "play" in the centre of the black video player and the video should stream to you PC. Each video lasts for about one minute.

We also have video content featured on the "home page" that gives a quick overview of some of the other products we produce for children and young adults with disabilities.

I hope you enjoy them.

Mike

We have added two new switch adapted toys to the Dream-Toys family - meet Cassy and Sammie.

Both are plush musical toys that can be turned on using the internal switch mounted in their paws or by connecting any standard (3.5mm) external switch.

Cassy sings "Come on get happy" while her mouth moves with the music and feet rock back and forth.

Sammie is very laid-back. He sings "Don't worry be happy" while his mouth moves with the music and he taps his toes up and down in time with the beat.

We'll have the videos ready very shortly and will stream them on the Dream-Racer web site along with the other videos of our switch adapted toys.

Mike

Doors open on January 14th at the Special Needs Fringe event in London for three days closing on Friday, January 16th.

I took this description of the evenet from the Inclusive Technology web site: "Special Needs Fringe focuses on computers and special needs, a field increasingly called "Assistive Technology". There is a resources exhibition with product suppliers and advisory services, new hardware and software to try out and a programme of free seminars to help you get the most out of your day."

This year will be the third time we have visited Fringe. We will also be stepping across the road to BETT, the massive "technology in education" exhibition.

We are also planning to take a new wireless switch system with us to connect into the Soundbeam system Tim Swingler will be showing on their stand in the Special Needs section at BETT.

I'll write more about what we saw and did next week.

Mike

Filming content for the INDEX project we completed recently has given us a new opportunity to show the switch adapted toys and gaming equipment in action.

All of the content has been edited onto a DVD that we hope will help parents, carers and teachers appreciate whether our products will be suitable for their children and students.

Here's an example ... just click on the play to see the video clip we now use on the home page of the Dream-Racer web site.

This is the link to the BBC Radio 4 podcast that was broadcast on the "You and Yours" programme on Wednesday, December 17th.

Click on the image to download the podcast or on this link.

Geoff Adams-Spink, Age & Disability correspondent at the BBC has been following our co-operation with AbilityNet and has written an article for the BBC web site describing the various switch adapted toys and gaming equipment we produce and available through AbilityNet.

You can find his article on the "technology" page of the BBC web site and a radio report on switch adapted toys for the "You and Yours" Radio 4 programme.

In collecting the background information for the two reports Geoff met with with David Banes from AbilityNet, Barrie Ellis from OneSwitch.org and visited Willow Dene special school in south-east London.

Have a read and listen.

Mike

Take a look at some of the filming we completed recently. This is the link to the article featured on the Guardian Online website.

The video is an extract from the DVD we have just finished that was designed as an aid to help parents, carers, and teachers make more informed assessments of the suitability of our adapted and assistive technology for their children and students.

All of the equipment demonstrated can be found on the Dream-Racer web site.

Get in touch if you would like a copy of the "Children in Control - switch adapted play" DVD.

Mike

Have you ever asked your kids to draw a picture of what you do at work?

These are the pictures Mark's girls drew this afternoon.

Mike.