Occupational Therapy

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD, Autism, PDD) often creates a serious communication barrier of limited communication between children and adults diagnosed with autism and their caregivers, families, peers, teachers and therapists. A personal computer is a powerful tool that builds a bridge that connects both sides, however the keyboards may play a role of an additional distraction factor that may be an obstacle.
Teachers with Project Blue Skies are giving children with autism the ability to communicate and to explore the virtual reality of Online World by using a unique keyboard with only two "keys" and a novel curriculum.

The device is called the OrbiTouch. Human-factors engineer Pete McAlindon of BlueOrb in Maitland, Fl., conceived of the concept behind the OrbiTouch more than ten years ago as a way to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and provide computer access to people with limited or no use of their fingers.Developed with the support of two National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research awards (9661259 and 9801506), the concept of representing keyboard strokes with paired movements was critical to the design.
"If you are unable to use a keyboard and mouse effectively or at all because of a physical disability, what chance do you have of using a computer?," asked McAlindon. "The orbiTouch Keyless Keyboard and Mouse is designed to keep people with physical or developmental disabilities connected to their computers."
The Project Blue Skies curriculum is based on the functions of the OrbiTouch, which allows a user to input letters, symbols and any other command by independently manipulating two computer-mouse shaped grips forward, back, diagonally and to the sides.
For people with carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as other hand and finger ailments, the motions driving the OrbiTouch are far kinder than those for a keyboard.
With Project Blue Skies, the hardware is matched to lesson plans, training aids such as games, and assessment tools. The two-grip device is ideal for people with autism because it is less distracting than a keyboard and does not require finger motion.
In addition, the various letter and number combinations are created by matching color schemes indicated on the two grips, so the training curriculum matches well to a game-like environment.
Teachers guide the students and monitor their progress, ultimately helping the kids better communicate with their families. While the primary goal of Project Blue Skies is to help people with autism develop stronger social skills, McAlindon is working with partners to start integrating standard coursework into the program.

"I have watched Pete McAlindon grow and change over the last decade," said Sara Nerlove, now program director for NSF's Partnerships for Innovation program. "He has taken the concept that he developed as dissertation research, and using his skills as a human factors engineer, turned it into a very creative device to help people with disabilities. The result of his skill and persistence is the evolution of his technology into an ingenious adaptation, one that makes his goal of providing for persons with disabilities a sustainable effort."
McAlindon continues to work with his colleagues to find applications for his approach, most recently applying the system to video game controllers, allowing hundreds of thousands of online gamers to say goodbye to their keyboards using BlueOrb's Switchblade software. The gaming approach grew exponentially last year when it was paired to the launch of one of the largest online multiplayer games in the world.

Related Books: Orbitouch, Autism,

References:

1. National Science Foundation (2009, September 1). Children With Autism Use Alternative Keyboard To Communicate With Their Families And Their World. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 22, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090831080957.htm

2. OrbiTouch Official Site - http://www.orbitouch.com

3. Buy OrbiTouch products on Amazon: orbiTouch Keyless Keyboard and Mouse