Tutorial Eight: Assistive technology

Provide a definition of Assistive technology (your Cook and Hussey reading may be helpful with this).

Assistive technology is a generic term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices and the process used in selecting, locating, and using them. AT promotes greater independence for people with disabilities by enabling them to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to or changed methods of interacting with the technology needed to accomplish such tasks.

Retrieved 12 June, 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistive_technology

Describe one piece of equipment introduced in the assistive technology tutorial. Provide information on size, cost and functions.

Fibre-Optic Eye-Blink Switch.

Customised to detect purposeful eye-blinks

This switch works best when eye-blinking is the only movement the user is able to perform. The sensor is capable of discriminating between random eye-blinks and purposeful controlled eye-blinks. A head strap is included and the device can also be used with other body parts in fibre-optic mode.

Specifications

Dimensions: 1.9cm (3/4") L x 0.6cm (1/4") Diameter
Sensing range: 0.6cm (1/4")

Fibre-Optic Eye-Blink Power Control Module (PCM-2)

This sensor can only be used in conjunction with the AMDi custom designed rechargeable Power Control Module PCM-2. This Power Control Module is included with the Fibre-Optic Eye-Blink Switch

Retrieved on June 12, 2008 from http://www.spectronics.co.nz/product.asp?product=16165

The price of the Blink-switch. power control module, and headstrap is NZD $1068 plus $133.50 gst.

How does your chosen piece of equipment increased functional capacity for the user? Provide examples here from the tutorial and lecture.

This switch can be used to turn almost any piece of electrical equipment on and off, such as a stereo or a blender.

Function: The Fiber-Optic Eye-blink switch provides a switch closure when the user does a controlled purposeful eye blink, normal or rapid eye blinks are ignored (the Delay switch must be set ON). When the Delay switch is set in the OFF position, the Fiber-Optic Eye-blink switch can be used to sense any movement that passes through the fiber optic beam. The sensing range of the beam is a ¼”.

Usage: Use this sensor when an eye-blink is the only movement that can be controlled to activate a switch or when only small movements are available that requires no touch. The types of appliances that can be activated include personal computers, communication systems, environmental controls, and toys.

Retrieved on June 12, 2008 from
http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/downloads/general/amdi/Fiber%20Optic%20Eyeblink.pdf

some dudes youtube post

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC3gzG_JSTU&feature=dir

Tutorial Seven: Posting You Tube Videos and Flickr Badges to Blogs: Explaining the process

Task One: Explain the step by step process required to embed You Tube videos into your Blog . Consider using screen captures to provide a visual representation of these steps.

1. Open the YouTube website.
2. Select a video that you want to attach to your blog.
3. Copy the full URL address of the video that is to the right of the video box under the title "Imbed".
4. Open a 'New Post' on your blog.
5. Paste the URL address of the video onto your new post.
6. Publish the new post so that it appears on your blog.

I considered attaching a visual representation of this process, but decided against it :D

Task Two: Explain the step by step process required to embed a Flickr Badge into your Blog . Consider using screen captures to provide a visual representation of these steps.

1. Open the flickr website.
2. Sign into your flickr account.
3. Scroll down to "Help".
4. Click on "Tools".
5. Scroll down and click on "create badge" on the right hand side of the screen.
6. Select the style you prefer, click next.
7. Select your photos, click next.
8. Select the colour you prefer, click next.
9. Copy the code that appears on your screen.
10. Open your blog, and open a new post.
11. Select Layout.
12. Select Add Page Element.
13. Select html/java script.
14. In the Content box, paste the code you copied from Flickr.
15. Select save, and the badge should now be attached to your blog.

I also considered attaching a visual representation of this process, but again decided against it ;D

Tutorial Six: The internet and online communities

Provide the web address and the name of the community you are investigating
www.bebo.com

What is the brief or focus of this community?

Bebo is a social media network where friends share their lives and explore great entertainment.

Retrieved June 12, 2008 from http://www.bebo.com/

What services are provided? How interactive is this site? How can people contribute?

You can set up your own bebo page where you can write about yourself: your likes and dislikes, friends, music, movies, whether you are single or available - basically anything you like. You can join 'groups' of people like fan clubs or various support or interest groups (eg homosexual, Christian, marijuana growers etc etc). You download pictures, vidoes, music, etc. You can customise your page using different skins and layouts. You can make your page viewable by anyone or for friends only. You can expand your friends and meet new people by inviting new people. You can also decline invitations if you don't want that person to access your page. You can post blogs; post polls, comment on your own or other peoples blogs or polls; comment on your own or other peoples pictures and videos; leave a message on peoples message board; draw a picture on your own or someone else's whiteboard; write and receive private messages. There is a massive amount of interaction on this site!

Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment on why people choose to contribute to this community. What is it they are seeking?

I think people choose to join and contribute to this community for many different reasons. Some people join to stay in contact with friends or family that are in different geographical locations. Others join to re-establish contact with people that that may have lost touch with. Some people join just to be nosey and see what old friends, aquaintances or enemies are doing with their lives. Some people join to make new friends, possibly with people who have similar interests.
I also think some people join to toy with or harrass others in a way that is not traceable to them in real life.

Cut and paste an example of the type of topics being discussed (you may have to provide a context to your excerpt).

This is a new bebo GROUP that caught my eye. Is is a great example of the type of pages that make up this online community.

Dont judge us yummy mummys

"Dnt Mind The Haters Mummys U Are All Amazin=)"

PIC OF THE WEEK---- AMBER&BUMP
<--------- hiya every1.. i no ders loadsa groups on ere bu tot id make anutha since der seems to be loadsa haters

so plz join up

so leave me a comment
an add the graop
thankyou
lotsa love to all u gawjus an amazing mums
__________________
Hollie&Sophie

PLEASE READ!?
+To Keep Room On Here For New Pics Any Picture Up That Doesnt Have Atleast Two Comments Will Be Deleted After A Matter Of Time

+Please Done Take Offence It Is Nutin Personal Its The Way It Works

Dont judge us yummy mummys says:

"Sum Fukn Prick Hacked Ma Bnd " (2 days ago) me too!

Considering material presented during the course and make comment on the potential ethical issues that may arise in this community e.g. lack of identity and accountability.

There are many ethical issues with this online community. You can pretend to be somebody else and write hurtful and defamatory comments on other peoples bebo pages. Even if you aren't concealing your identity, some people will openly harrass and bully some members. You are able to report abuse, but it is not clear to me what the outcome or follow-up procedure would be. I have personally seen this harassment on peoples pages (including highly offensive language) and there is nothing done about it, so it seems there is no accountability.

Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment on the benefits this community holds over traditional notions of community e.g. communities reliant on geographic proximity

For me personally and for many others I'm sure, it has the benefit of being about to keep in contact with friends and family who are in different parts of the country or world. It is very interactive so it feels a lot more personal then just writing your friend a letter or email, and is cheaper then calling France on the telephone. For example my friend recently had a baby in Whangarei, and I am able to view her baby pics on bebo and make comments about each individual picture, and see what our other friends comments have been. Another example is a different friend travelling around Europe last year, and I was able to see what she was up to by checking out her pictures and blog postings, and by writing and reading her messages.

Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment what this community lacks or can not provide which traditional communities can.

Well it seems to me that there is a distinct lack of policing or monitoring of the content of some of these pages. Many users of Bebo are children under 18 years of age, and there are huge amounts of reference to drugs, alcohol, sex, criminal activity, and so on. The swearing alone is atrocious. I think in a tradional community there would be adults around to monitor what these kids are talking about and to tell them when they are stepping over the line. There are also police in real life who can stop harassment and lewd behaviour and protect people from those who seek to unfairly ruin peoples reputations.

Tutorial Four and Five: Video Production Sessions

NOTE: Please refer to James Sunderland's (mrjtpants) youtube posting to see the 'short' video clip our group made. When in youtube, do a search for "Occupational therapy, participation, dunedin".

Task Four (Blog Posting): Provide a brief summary of the services offered by U Tube. Information can be drawn from the week five tutorial hand out.

You Tube is a website where users can upload, view and share videoclips. The service allows you to watch and/or display a wide variety of different types of video clips like movie clips, tv clips, music videos, and original home movies etc. You can also 'videoblog'.

Unregistered users can watch most videos on the site, and registered users can upload an unlimited number of videos. Some videos are available only to users of age 18 or older (e.g. videos containing potentially offensive content).

Related videos appear onscreen to the right of a given video. You can post feedback to the clips and also subsribe to content specific feeds (eg Britney Spears).

Task Five (Blog Posting): Provide a brief account (1-2 paragraphs) on how the use of planning (storyboarding and scripting aided your groups short film.

We did not storyboard or script in a traditional sense, as our clip was more documentary -style. We verbally brainstormed what we wanted to do in our clip: who was to do what and where we wanted to go. We didn't feel the need to draw it out on a story board. On tape our actor discussed the disabled toilets pros and cons without a rehearsed script, just improvisation.
If you were making fictional film or role play, I can definately see the benefits of scripting and storyboarding, but not so much for documentary making. Maybe have a list of things you wanted to get across to the viewer, but a script is too rehearsed and flat. And maybe use storyboarding if it was going to be a long documentary.

Tutorial Three: Blog Creation Tasks

Task Four: Provide a brief summary of the services offered by Blogger (this will be your third posting. Information can be drawn from the attached hand out). In addition to this name one other Blog host.

Blogger allows you to:
- Publish anythingthing you like onto your blog
- Control who can read and write to your blog
- Engage other people by allowing them to comment on your blog
- Search in blogger for other people that share interests
- Individualise the layout, colours, fonts of your blog
- Post photo's
- Send photo's and text messages to your blog via your cell phone

One other blog site is myspace.