I’m not sure if this is related in any way, but at a support group meeting on Friday, the husband of a pALS said that they had learned that his wife would no longer be able to access and use Face Book with her Tobii.  Their understanding is that Face Book has made some business decision that is the source of the loss, and he says that it is a HUGE loss for her as that is how she keeps in touch with family.

He asked that I find out what is going on.  Does anyone have information on that?

Hello fellow listservers,

I have a consultant working with a family on the PC Eye to Go with a tablet.  I have copied her report below.  Have any of you have experience with these issues?  Have any guidance for us?
I appreciate any feedback.  

I saw XXX yesterday with the new Tobii EyeMobile device. They purchased the package with the MS Surface tablet (vs the Dell, which the technology was developed with, but which costs @ $200 additional). Was there for over 2 hours trying to help them troubleshoot. There were intermittent successes paired with a high degree of frustration; many tears mostly XX’s.  XX definitely understands the basic operating mechanisms and strategies; that is not an issue.

Two levels of problem: eyegaze and associated software/firmware/possibly hardware issues; and MS 8 issues. Possibly a compatibility issue as well across technologies (?memory; ?processing speed/power; ??).

Eyegaze, etc issues: 

- despite optimal initial calibration, there was moderate difficulty selecting targets, not just for XXX but for all of us (hardest for her but we all struggled)

- attempts to recalibrate became impossible as calibration program kept freezing

- inconsistent interactivity between eyegaze and tablet features -- some tasks appeared compatible and some not

- eyegaze became nonoperational at one point after being briefly unplugged; worked again upon full reboot

- software/design limitation such as placement of eyegaze keyboard blocking half of Facebook screen without clear options for, eg, modifying browser proportions so keyboard doesn't block the screen

- no manual (printed, digital or online) other than initial eyegaze connection and very basic explanation of a few icons -- no guidance on navigating the web, formatting issues, etc (eg, see comment below about Facebook and typing issue) other than a brief, glib video of some Tobii guy using it flawlessly (also moving his head in the process)

MS 8 issue:

- speaks for itself -- who came up with this mess? SO difficult to navigate; multiple and nontransparent layers. Enormously frustrating.

I left them with a few, limited suggestions:

- keep trying to use the device using the handful of successful strategies we had today as a basis for navigation

- call and talk with someone at Tobii, describe problems (wrote them down yesterday for reference) and request that all components be replaced

- consider swapping the MS Surface tablet for the Dell tablet -- may be more compatible as it served as the basis for development per Tobii's website

Not much of an online community that I've found yet on these issues but I will keep looking.

I think the MS 8 training issues probably have to be more on the family than anything else, but there should ideally be a way to train the eyegaze device on a stable platform, which did not seem to be the case yesterday. The freezing calibration, which happened multiple times, seems to be a symptom of possibly serious problems at any number of levels.

Alisa

Alisa Brownlee, ATP

Manager, Assistive Technology Services

ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) Association, National Office and Greater Philadelphia Chapter

Office line: 215-631-1877

Business Cell: 610-812-0361

Twitter: alsassistivetec

Facebook: Alisa Brownlee ALS