title: Technology-assisted writing opportunities for a man emerged from a minimally conscious state and affected by extensive motor disabilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess a computer-aided technology for assisting writing in a man who emerged from a minimally conscious state and presented with extensive motor disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The technology served to present letters, in groups, at the centre of a computer screen and display (write) the letters selected by the man (i.e. through a simplified pointing response) on the upper half of that screen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the technology enabled the man to produce clear (readily readable) writing. This writing compared positively with the results obtained using a communication board containing the letters (i.e. a system already available to the man).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Computer-aided technology may provide basic writing (communication) opportunities to persons emerged from a minimally conscious state and affected by extensive motor disabilities and lack of speech.
authors.affiliation: University of Bari, Italy. g.lancioni@psico.uniba.it
authors.forename: Giulio E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: Nirbhay N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Doretta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buonocunto
authors.forename: Marta Olivetti
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Belardinelli
mesh_terms: D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012984:Software