About Switches

Why do we use switches?

• Allow access to academics and leisure activities


• Replace any action a person might normally do


• allows accesss to device

List the goals for using switches?

• Perform task


• Communicate


• Make switch easy to locate and activate


• Needs to do whatever the user would like to access

List selection criteria for selecting a successful switch. What needs to be considered at all times?

• Determine mounting solution


• Needs and challenges


• Simply: access through touch


• Speciality: accessed through breath or eye wave


• Position of client


• position of user, user movement pattern, users controlled, type of switch: simple of speciality


• May be using it for long periods of time therefore must be one they can use with minimal fatiguge


• Social aspects: user may want various sights depending on whether they feel one area is more socially exceptable


• Whether the user has fine or gross motor skills


• Force: must be aligned with strengths and weaknesses of muscles


• Feedback: Gives user conformation that the switch has occured


• 1. Auditory feedback makes a sound to let the user know the connection has occured


• 2. Visual colors help some user with visual impairments


• 3. Tactile feedback gaves users smooth or rough surfaces


• 4. Kinestheic feedback


• 5. Porprioceptive feedback for users who have an overflow of mevement


• Travel: Distance user has to go to activating switch


• Play: amount of give in a switch


• Single Switch: controls any device using one switch


• Dual Switch: 2 switches in one, control any 2 devices
• Multiple Switch: 5 single switches in one

What is they purpose of the mount?
Where the switch will be placed, wheel chair

• To hold the switch in place
• dependent on the needs and abilities of user
• Mobility
• Height
• Diameter