Looking for All-Purpose PDA/Tablet/Cell Phone

[BigBearJoe]

I may be asking for something that doesn't exist, but I'm finally looking to move into the world of current state-of-the-art personal electronics that I can mount and use from my wheelchair. I'd like something that I can use to access the Internet, my e-mail, and even served as a cell phone while I am out and about in the world. And to add to the problem, I'd like to be able to operate this device with voice recognition. I'm currently pretty proficient with NaturallySpeaking version 8. I'm a C4 quad with pretty good arm function. I look more like a C-5 and have just enough wrist extension and finger function in my left hand to do a little bit of keyboarding and/or stylus work. Like I said, maybe this doesn't exist.

If this topic has already been discussed in another thread, then please direct me to that. Otherwise, what are your thoughts on the best wheelchair/portable personal electronics available these days.

Thanks a ton for any and all input.

[PN]

Hi, Joe. I think the cell phone is the computer of the future, and I believe 900 million were sold last year. Maybe that's why Apple is going to do an iPhone. I do not think that DNS works on any cell phones at this time. Take a look at the theBoom (http://theboom.com/) which has very good noise cancellation. You can also do a search for cell phones (http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?t=63373&highlight=cell+phones) and you will find lots of posts. Also, wait for the CareCure Brain Trust to chime in.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000BI4KKM.01._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[BigBearJoe]

I certainly look forward to the Care Cure brain trust chiming in!

If not recommendations from fellow SCI's, can anyone direct me to a assistive technology group that is working in the area of personal electronics?

For instance, here in Seattle, one of the often recommended voice recognition support companies is Generation Technologies. I haven't actually ever contacted them but obviously that would be a good next step. Also, there is a Dragon NaturallySpeaking third party support site called "KnowBrainer", that seems to Be very well versed in the Use of DSN and the related hardware.

Has anybody benefited from the use of either of these two? Or can you recommend anyone similar that is specializing in the field of adapting modern-day electronics to use for the disabled?

[BigBearJoe]

This thread is acting strangely for me. Last night it didn't appear to be accepting my reply post, but then when I went back to look at the thread, my reply showed up three times. But also, the reply count has not increased. Anyway, I'm hoping someone will turn on a lightbulb for me and send me off in the right direction.

Thanks to all!

[PN]

Hi Joe!

CareCure has been experiencing some server problems and you can find out more in the Announcements & Feedback (http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=55) Forum. For assistive technology you may want to call your local Independent Living Center, in the Seattle area. I am not too familiar with Generation Technologies but they seem similar to GN-NETCOM but I am not 100% certain. There have been a number of threads about Bluetooth wireless headsets (http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?t=73611&highlight=Bluetooth) and Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Some of our members are using KnowBrainer but I have not used it in a couple of years. I believe the newest version is KnowBrainer 6 (http://www.knowbrainer.com/PubForum/index.cfm?page=viewForumCategory&categoryId=2) and you can ask the users about the benefits with DNS 9.0 coupled with this software. I recently became aware of the Kinoma Player (http://www.kinoma.com/) which will allow you to stream almost anything to your Palm device providing you have one.

http://www.kinoma.com/pix/home/kplayer_home_mobilev4.jpg

Cingular's BlackJack (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000KJS8CI/leoville0f-20) looks pretty slick and it's something between Motorola Q (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000FYU4SO/leoville0f-20) and T-Mobile Dash (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NNZT1Y/leoville0f-20) Smartphone. I think it has the capacity to access Cingular.

http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000NNZT1Y.01._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_V44968687_.jpg

[BigBearJoe]

Just to make one quick correction:

That should be "Next Generation Technologies". They are located in Lynnwood, Washington.

After a little bit of research it looks like I may be looking for a Pocket PC instead of a Smart Phone. More as I get smarter!

[Bspill1]

Check out the Samsung I700. The phone is Windows mobile based and has the largest touchscreen available currently. There is voice software for it and most Pocket PCs. Most will require you still initiate some action with a button. This is the phone I use as a C-5. I gave up on the voice activation stuff since I was able to use the touchscreen well enough.

That being said. Hold out for the Iphone or the Google phone. Both will have full touch screens with no physical keyboard. That is key. (A terrible idea for the common user but perfect for us) I can't tell you much more than that. There really isn't anything out there yet. Lots of speculation anyway.

[BigBearJoe]

Check out the Samsung I700. The phone is Windows mobile based and has the largest touchscreen available currently. There is voice software for it and most Pocket PCs. Most will require you still initiate some action with a button. This is the phone I use as a C-5. I gave up on the voice activation stuff since I was able to use the touchscreen well enough.



How do you work the touchscreen? With your finger or with a stylus? And if you use a stylus, do you hold it in your fingers or in some type of cuff?

After my research today, I finally understand that DNS is only going to work on a regular laptop. Nothing else either has the processor speed or RAM to handle it. Plus you can only load it via a CD-ROM.

So I guess that leaves me with trying to find a PDA with phone capabilities and with very accessible manual controls for someone with very limited hand control. I currently am able to operate the mouse on my laptop most easily with the little "red pencil eraser" mouse pointer that sits between the G and H keys. Are there PDAs that have a mouse pointer similar to the red pencil eraser kind?

[Bspill1]

I just use my bare hand. Mostly my knuckles because my hand muscles out mostly tightened up. Sometimes my thumb comes in handy to work the scroll bar on the right.