Foundation II: Diversity, Learning and Technology
Project: Assistive/Instructional Technology
What is Mercury II?
Mercury is a fully-integrated Microsoft windows XP-based Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Device.
ATI's enhanced Mercury II is a fully-integrated Windows XP-based computer and AAC Device. It can be use with a touch screen, keyboard and mouse, onscreen keyboard, switch, wheelchair joystick, head mouse or alternative pointer. It is ideal for those who want an integrated computer and AAC device with a big screen and lots of power like:
- communicate face to face with friends and family
- send e-mail and surf the Internet
- upload photos and play games
- watch movies on DVDs and listen to audio CDs
- control your television and VCR
providing more freedom and access to what they want to do.
Highlights
- Lots of power-933 MHz
- Plenty of storage space- 40GB
- Over 70 hrs. of digitized speech storage
- Longer battery life-last up to 6-8 hrs. depending on use
- Ability to play movies using the CDRW/DVD-ROM combo drive
- Get online with the built-in modem for online access
- Easy to carry, at just 5.5 pounds with a dimension of 12"(w) x 9.15"(h) x 1.75"(d)
- Moisture resistant, sealed touch screen
- Durable, aluminum case and shock-mounted hard drive
Cost:
- Mercury II Kit without communication software range from $7,400 ~ $8,200, depending on what Option is chosen
- Silver Bundles with more features most appropriate for AAC device users range from $8,150~$8,500.
- Professional Bundles for Professional Evaluations may save 10% from the actual amount.
- They have a Rental or Professional Preview Program for potential buyers up to 3 months.
- It has a warranty of 30-day money-back guarantee and one-year all-inclusive warranty from the day of shipment.
Who needs this technology?
This communication device is one of the hardware and software solution developed by Assistive Technology, Inc (ATI) for people with physical, cognitive, and speech disabilities. As for the age limit, it has no specification.
What does research say about its effectiveness?
As I come to learn about this device, I have not found a single research outputs regarding its effectiveness. But then, I may perceived that with all the highlighted features, most likely this device will truly provides a luxury of freedom and independence for a person with complex communication problem such as Sam. What more can a person in this case would need more if he has the ability to do what he wants using this device and be able to communicate effectively to the people around him. The Assistive Technology,Inc. (ATI) post conferences and trade shows that provides a way of assisting the people on their AAC devices nation wide. Anyone can register and participate on a scheduled event. I have also come to know Social Network Communication Inventory team that helped improve the quality of communication of individuals with complex communication as well as its interaction to the society.
Below is a news taken from the Boston Channel NewsCenter 5, where a teen was able to recieved a new computer from ATI.
BOSTON - A Teen Gets A New Computer
Would you recommend its use?
Personally, with the cost of this device, there is a big need for a funding, unless the family can fully fund the said device for the family member in need. This device can be of great help especially on a digital world that we have now, its availability and way of fast communication may take the feeling of being left out for those who have disabilities in communication. On the other hand, it would really be hard for an average income family to avail such device without funding from group/institution that supports the case.
Resources:
http://www.assistivetech.com/prod-index.htm
http://www.assistivetech.com/p-mercury.htm
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/13656769/detail.html#
3 comments:
Jeanne Quinn
Complete Spanish Learning Suite
I am a Spanish teacher and therefore I wanted to find a tool that would help me teach Spanish to students that have different types of minor disabilities. I have a CTT class without an added teacher or push-in and I needed a program that would hold the interest of my students who are easily bored and disruptive.
After looking at several programs, I am impressed with the Complete Spanish Learning Suite by Transparent Language ISBN 1-59251-033-7.
This audio CD has five separate programs and uses a variety of teaching tools that can teach, help and appeal those students that have minor challenges such as print disabilities and need audio assistance, fine and gross motor skill limitations and need a key board, or visual impairments and need to sit closely to screen or listen to text.
For visual learners and for those who have difficulty deciphering print there is LinguaMatch that offers many different types of interactive computer simulated environments such as airports, cities, restaurants, and cafes. These environments are populated with people and items that would typically be found in such places such as police officer, waiters, cars etc. To use this program you only need to pass the cursor over an item and you hear a voice name the item. Also you can also move from activity to activity as you learn and acquire new vocabulary words and phrases. This is a useful tool for those students who are visual learners.
Before You Know is a flashcard program that has many lists of vocabulary words. It also allows students to create their own vocabulary list that can be imported and exported. Learners can repeat the flashcard as much as they need to until they feel they have acquired the Spanish. This is a great program for those students who feel that the
teacher is moving too fast, and cannot decipher the information.
Learn Spanish Now! is a program that offers a video that uses real actors involved in real life situations participation in everyday conversations. The video has very high quality visuals and sound. It has many accessible learning activities and it is very visually appealing. These fun conversations with visuals and sound are an effective assistive technology because they help reinforce the language by adding interactive activities that appeal to different types of learners.
LinguaMatch is an interactive dictionary that has over 65,000 Spanish words. This tool can be used by students who need either visuals or audio to enhance their learning.
Everywhere Audio is an audio course can be used by students that are visual impaired and who have fine and gross motor limitations, and learn by hearing.
I found this program very interesting as an assistive technology because it uses so many different types of teaching tools that can help me teach many different types of students. In a regular classroom, I do not get to use so many different tools at once. I may show a video, or listen to a song, or have students act out a dialogue, but never in such an interactive format as this program offers.
the price is $99.00
It is interesting to see that some of these very appealing technologies are not supported by research specifically for the product. I would think that a touch screen device of this type would be very beneficial to a severely disabled child, who otherwise would have much greater difficulty communicating at all. There must be some way to quantify such dramatic benefits, and then use the data to support grant requests, thereby reducing the price of a unit so that it becomes more widely available.
If you are as handicaped as the boy in the picture and you can communicate and somewhat function with everyone i think this is a neccessity. I believe you are right about the funding you hope they can afford it
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