Through a combination of frugality and needs, I long ago landed on a combination of speech recognition and a mouthstick to do my writing and editorial work. But as a C4 quadriplegic with multiple sclerosis, and growing older, my seating and positioning are growing more precarious. I wanted options that might free me from some of the physical contortions and frustrations that have long been part of my work setup. After using the same computer accessibility setup for about 30 years, I recently decided it was time for a change.
Having read about Augmental’s MouthPad^, a custom-made wearable controller that looks and fits like a dental retainer, I was excited to try it out. I expected a novel tool that was somewhat of an upgrade from the speech-driven mousegrid/voice control navigation I’ve been using half my life. What I got was a genuinely exciting experience and an instrument I believe I’ll continue to master and explore with.
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| Multitasking with my MouthPad |
The MouthPad^ has an embedded touchpad that you use with your tongue, but the device also recognizes other easy inputs like head motions, sip and puff, and bites. Through Bluetooth and an accompanying app, it can control devices that run more recent versions of Windows, iOS and MacOS. It helps control Android devices too, in a more limited way.
I found the device to be extremely mobile, discreet ("Ah, sweet privacy!" says the decades-long speech recognition user), and versatile with its many features. Funding and product-life are two concerns, but vocational rehab often does fund the device and there are other financial sources available.
It gives me better control of my device, like when a phone call comes in while I'm working, I'm instantly able to pause work, switch off speech recognition and answer the call long before it goes to voicemail. A big improvement for me.
Finally, it is fast. Many of my most basic activities, like editing; navigating between files and programs; or working my way around websites, go much quicker. To me, that's not just a convenience. So much of my disabled life is about losing time: the waiting, the slower pace, the obstacles, the need to do things more than once. When I can move quickly, it’s exhilarating, it's empowering. The MouthPad^ lets me to do this.
Check out my full review in New Mobility for details. The future for disability users tastes spicy, and I like spicy.
