Accessibility Options for Quadriplegics and Their Future

The article discusses various methods that help quadriplegics develop ways to control computers effectively. These methods include devices such as switches, joysticks, and trackballs that allow them to move cursors on screens like a mouse; eye-controlled mouse movement that enables control through eye movements; virtual keyboards that enable typing with the help of a mouse; voice recognition systems that recognize user voices for input;

QUADRIPLEGICS
INTRODUCTION
Quadriplegics are the people who are partially or completely paralysed. In this paralysis
their both arms and legs are paralysed. This paralytic attack occurs due to an injury in
spinal cord or any disease in the region of the neck.
It has been seen that many researchers had worked on the grounds of accessibility options
for quadriplegics so that they can easily access the computing devices. The main key
behind this is that a PC is generally adaptable to different inputs and outputs.
It is also called as tetraplegia which is a spinal cord injury caused above the upper part of
body or within the sections of cervical of C1-C8. This type of injury results in some
degree of paralysis sometimes in all four limbs—the legs and arms. The degree of
paralysis varies depending on the nature of the injury, the extent to which you've
undergone rehabilitative therapy, and oftentimes on factors that are not yet well-
understood—maybe even a bit of luck (Zawn Villines, 2015).
Millions of people in the world that are diagnosed with different forms of paralysis like
paraplegia and quadriplegia. Alternative solutions are utilised for completing everyday
tasks by such people suffering from quadriplegia that the rest of us take for granted.
Luckily, the cutting edge of assistive devices and technologies improve the ease with
which many of these individuals navigate a world designed for those with full use of their
arms and legs (Dr. Lynne, et al., 2014).
Almost 10 percent of world’s population is living with some form of disability which can
be physical, sensory and cognitive that makes daily activities too difficult. Quadriplegics
are the people having disability either in form of arms or legs which have to depend on
some technologies to work on computer if they wanted to do so. Quadriplegics cam
participate in many fields with the help of devices available for them so that they can earn
on their own and live their life peacefully without the aid of anyone else.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Quadriplegics are currently participating in the field of computing with limited
accessibility options with a rapid development and evaluation of a head controlled HCI
(Human Computer Interface) that has the functions just like a traditional keyboard or
mouse (Clinics, 2009).
The projects of HCI are meant for people who have the disability either physical,
cognitive, sensory or communicative. This technology of HCI assists the quadriplegics in
the accessing of computing devices.
People with quadriplegia cannot move their body below the neck due to paralysis of an
individual’s limbs and torso. Therefore, it becomes necessary to draw the attention of the
team to get a solution through innovative design and background research, so that a user
is allowed to operate a computer without the use of the user’s hands.
A hands-free device suitable for the user is founded according to the user’s limits and
capabilities before beginning this project. While the most important task is the designing
of an assistive computer input device so as to make the life of an quadriplegics easy while
interacting with computer systems. It must be ensured that the user does not forfeit all
physical activity involving their shoulders, neck, and head; as required by the sponsor of
this project.
The final goal of any team project must be to design a device that can effectively play
video games, but allowing the client to use a computer without relying entirely on
dictation software, enabling her to utilize the freedom of on-screen, non-linear
movements to organize computer files and have the opportunity to utilize drawing

programs, such as paint, while maintaining some form of physical activity for our user
(Dr. Lynne, et al., 2014).
CONCLUSION
Some of the accessibility options with the help of which quadriplegics can easily
participate in the field of computing are as follows:
1) AbleNet’s Impulse System-: In this type of system there is a small device that is fitted
to the user’s skin which has replaced the old traditional keyboard and mouse. This small
device uses the technology of electromyography through which small electrical impulses
can be sent from the brain to the muscle by sensing, amplifying and transmitting them
[2].
2) Eyegaze Edge-: In this technology eye motion is translated with the help of a small
external processing unit into a screen action thereby using a high speed infrared camera
mounted under system’s monitor (By Brain, 2010).
The most common input which the people with quadriplegics have that further helps
them to develop methods to help quadriplegics in computing are as follows:
1) Switches, joysticks and trackballs which are activated with motion of a body part.
Such devices helps quadriplegics in controlling the video games more effectively on
computers. They allow to move the cursor around the screen just like a mouse whenever
it is required. 2) Eye Controlled Mouse Movement is a technology where a clever device
known as GT3D that is invented by British scientists is used which has the ability to
control the computers with the movement of eyes. Using this device quadriplegic can
control their mouse movements simply by moving their eyes.
3) Sometimes virtual keyboards is emulated by certain programs on computer monitors.
This helps the quadriplegics by overlaying the screen and enables the quadriplegics to
type by using mouse to click keyboard’s characters.
4) Voice Recognition Systems are also available as input devices for quadriplegics to
input their texts on computer screen. This works by recognising the voice of the user.
5) SNP devices known as “sip and puff” which is a technology specially meant for
quadriplegics which enables them to control onscreen movements simply by breathing. In
this a special wand is present which has to be put on head or chin. This allows to send
signals to the keyboard by use of air pressure by sipping that is inhaling process or
puffing that is exhausting on the wand (4 Way, 2014).
6) Mouth stylus (mouth stick) which is a good input device for quadriplegics who have
good head control and whose upper body has impairment. This acts like a finger with
which one can easily select options on the screen and navigate the device.
7) There is another input device used nowadays known as Tecla Shield that has the
greater portability for the quadriplegics. This has been designed to adapt quickly to
different inputs and is used with 1-6 input switches. The utilisation of joystick with this is
very fast.
The accessibility options that have been currently invented for the quadriplegics are as
follows:
1) Adaptive Stylus
2) Tecla Shield
3) Mouth Stylus
4) Pogo stylus
The detailed working of all the accessibility options are as follows:

1) Adaptive Stylus
This has been designed as a Sixth digit stylus or pointer which allows access to an iPad,
standard keyboards, microwaves. These stylus are meant for those people with poor hand
or finger control. This is portable, wearable and very functional. This works just like a
finger and one can easily control all the movements on screen by preforming some tasks
like typing, answering phone calls and working on computers. It is easy to wear and it
does not stick while working on a computer as the size is not too long (Filed Under, 29
April, 2014).
2) Tecla shield
This device or accessibility option helps the quadriplegics as they can use it from
anywhere on their smart device or computers as they move along with them. The working
of Tecla shield includes the interaction with their iOS and Android devices, computers
and smart home systems that are hands free. The working of Tecla shield involves the use
of assistive switches which have buttons and sip-puff controllers. Sometimes they all
make the use of joysticks and head arrays.
3) Mouth Stylus or Mouth stick
This type of accessibility option is very light weight for using with tablet or smartphone.
This is a type of mouth stick which can be easily put in the mouth and one can easily
access the functions of the computers by moving the stick in the mouth. By moving the
mouth it can detect the area where one has to type the character on computer on screen
and one can easily make changes on the computer screen.
4) Pogo stylus
This accessibility option comes in handy form whose body appears to be made up of
some type of aluminium which has the ability to detect electrical impulses that is
produced by skin. So whenever there is a contact of quadriplegics skin with smallest
portion of stylus it will work fine with an iPod Touch similar to the way as the tip of a
finger does
The accessibility options mentioned above are all good for quadriplegics as well as for
people who suffer from any type of disability.
The future of accessibility for quadriplegics can provide them several advantages while
working with mobile technologies like:
1) Run a Business
Quadriplegics can run their own business as through the use of accessibility options
available for them in field of computing they can easily control their smartphones with
which they can start a business online and work hard to earn money and profit.
2) Play Games
Using the accessibility options like mouth stylus and single switch or joystick they are
able to play games online on computers or their smartphones.
3) Be more spontaneous
Quadriplegics with limited mobility are benefited with such accessibility options
available for them as they can be involved in coordination, and can call for a pick up at
the end of night. They found themselves free to take their own decisions for
accommodating last minute events.
4) Stay safe
Quadriplegics with the help of certain head arrays, sip and puff controllers or switches
can move around on their wheelchairs on their own. This further gives a feeling of
independence among them which is good to raise their self-confidence (Filed Under, 26
August 2014)
5) Control home

Using the accessibility options, they can also control their home by utilising their iPads as
a remote control for their house. With this temperature of the house is controlled with
devices like NEST thermostat.
6) They can communicate from anywhere independently.
Hence the future of accessibility for quadriplegics is safe and easy to use. Quadriplegics
becomes more independent and self-motivating in doing their work in field of computing
and many other in which they are interested.
REFERENCES
Clinics Sao Paulo, Development and evaluation of a Head Controlled Human Computer
Interface with Mouse Like functions for Physically Disabled Users, 2009 October.
Zawn Villines, Tetraplegia Vs. Quadriplegia Vs. Paraplegia: What is the difference, Sep
9, 2015.
By Brian Nadel, 14 great computing aids for the disabled 20 Mar 10.
Dr. Lynne Slivovsky, Tobias Elder, Michelle Martinez, and David Sylvester, Alternate
Computer Input Device for Individuals with Quadriplegia, June 2014.
Filed Under, 4 Ways Quadriplegics can use an iPad or iPhone, 29 April, 2014.
Filed Under, 9 Surprising Things Quadriplegics can do with an iPhone or iPad, 26
August, 2014.