title: Use of microswitch technology and a keyboard emulator to support literacy performance of persons with extensive neuro-motor disabilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness and acceptability of microswitch technology and a keyboard emulator to enable three participants with extensive neuro-motor disabilities to write words.
  
  
  METHODS
  In Study I, two participants triggered an automatic scanning keyboard and selected/wrote letters via a small sliding movement of their hand(s) activating a touch/pressure panel (microswitch). In Study II, a third participant used the sliding movement and panel and a vocalization response with a voice-detecting microswitch. The sliding movement allowed her to light up the keyboard and select the letters and the vocalization to perform the scanning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants showed a better performance (shorter writing time) or an equally effective but less tiring performance with the new microswitch technology and response(s). They also preferred using this technology, and social validation ratings favoured such technology over previous solutions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The aforementioned technology may be useful to enable persons with extensive neuro-motor disabilities to write successfully.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bari, Via Quintino Sella 268, Bari 70124, Italy. g.lancioni@psico.uniba.it
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: Nirbhay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chiapparino
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Pace
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stasolla
mesh_terms: D001259:Ataxia; D002547:Cerebral Palsy; D002648:Child; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D014956:Writing; D055815:Young Adult