Stephen Hawking My Computer
Since
1997, my computer-based communication system has been sponsored and provided by
Intel® Corporation. A tablet computer mounted on the arm of my wheelchair is
powered by my wheelchair batteries, although the tablets internal battery will
keep the computer running if necessary.
My
main interface to the computer is through an open source program called ACAT,
written by Intel. This provides a software keyboard on the screen. A cursor
automatically scans across this keyboard by row or by column. I can select a
character by moving my cheek to stop the cursor. My cheek movement is detected
by an infrared switch that is mounted on my spectacles. This switch is my only
interface with the computer. ACAT includes a word prediction algorithm provided
by SwiftKey, trained on my books and lectures, so I usually only have to type
the first couple of characters before I can select the whole word. When I have
built up a sentence, I can send it to my speech synthesizer. I use a separate
hardware synthesizer, made by Speech Plus. It is the best I have heard,
although it gives me an accent that has
been described variously as Scandinavian, American or Scottish.
Through
ACAT I can also control the mouse in Windows. This allows me to operate my
whole computer. I can check my email using Microsoft Outlook, surf the internet
using Firefox, or write lectures using Microsoft Word. My latest computer from
Intel also contains a webcam which I use with Skype to keep in touch with my
friends. I can express a lot through my facial expressions to those who know me
well.
I
can also give lectures. I write the lecture beforehand then save it to disk. I
can then use a part of the ACAT software called Lecture Manager to send it to
the speech synthesiser a paragraph at a time. It works quite well and I can try
out the lecture and polish it before I give it.
I
keep looking into new assistive technologies, and I have experimented with eye
tracking and brain controlled interfaces to communicate with my computer.
However although they work well for other people, I still find my cheek
operated switch easier and less fatiguing to use.
Stephen Hawking
Current configuration
Lenovo Yoga 260
provided by Lenovo and Intel
Intel® Core™ i7-6600U
CPU
512GB Solid-State
Drive
Windows 10
ACAT interface
software provided by Intel
Speech Synthesizers
(3 copies):
Manufacturer - Speech
Plus (Incorporated 1988, Mountain View, CA)
Model - CallText 5010
Speaker and amplifier
provided by Sound Research
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