Pick of the Month – August 2010

AT/AAC Pick:

Sniffing Communication Device
Israeli scientists have created a nose-powered device that can be used to control a computer. A small tube carries the breath of a person to a tiny sensor that detects changes in pressure. A computer translates the puffs into letters, allowing the person to type.
The sniffing device lets people generate really meaningful self-initiated expression.  It cannot only detect when a person starts or stops sniffing, but also how long the sniff lasts and how strong it is. All that information makes it easier to create programs for performing complex tasks, like surfing the Web.
The device can also be used by people who have a breathing tube. As long as people can move their soft palate, the muscle that lets us switch between breathing with our nose or our mouth, the sniff device can pick up the pressure changes in the nose.
For more information, visit http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/07/26/128776406/communication-technology-for-disable-is-nothing-to-sniff-at?sc=17&f=1128.