A quick review of MyGaze Foundations

mygaze4Like many of my colleagues in schools, I was deeply skeptical when I read some of the claims about eye gaze systems and how they might ‘revolutionize’ (their word not mine,) our teaching of students with profound and multiple difficulties. So like so many of you, I had to find out for myself what this technology brought to the classroom and how I might use it to help unlock some of my students.
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Free Gazespeaker Suite for Eye Gaze

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It seems to me that if you want to make BIG money in the special needs market, the place to be is eye gaze. It’s not uncommon to see pretty mediocre software commanding huge prices simply because it has a ‘For Eye Gaze’ label. Excited this morning to find the free (yes free) Gaze Speaker eye gaze suite. Gaze Speaker is a suite of applications designed for use with your eye gaze setup. The suite features a full AAC environment, a configurable web browser and a skills building section much like the expensive ‘eye gaze skills progression’ software we see from major suppliers. (more…)

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Zumo slapping for switch skills success?

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I’m not one to knock innovation, especially in the field of special needs where new technologies can have such profound impact for our students. Take eye gaze for example, originally developed to help sell food in supermarkets, now facilitating independence and communication for people with the most complex difficulties. Innovation is something to be encouraged. (more…)

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USB Switch from Pretorian Technologies

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Had a bit of a play with the new USB Switch from Pretorian Technologies when I was visiting the Hollybank Trust the other day. The idea is simple, you plug the switch directly into the computer via an available USB socket and the switch is ready to go. No drivers, no switch box needed. It’s a medium sized switch much like the Jelly Bean from Ablenet and can be mounted in the same way. Like the Simply Works range also from Pretorian, this new switch has the same LED display and small buttons on the base to set switch functions like space and enter plus some new features like switch acceptance delays and multiple press filtering. Two 3.5mm sockets have been added to enable you to plug in standard wired switches. (more…)

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