Alisa,

I have not seen this product. The Crestwood Company used to have a similar product that integrated a Class II laser pointer with an on-off toggle switch mounted to an adjustable visor cap. They took it off the market due to concerns about eye damage from Class II lasers. You may remember that Tom Jakobs wrote and article for the AAC Journal a few years ago regarding safety issues with Class II laser pointers. His company InvoTek, Inc. has been working on a safe laser pointer that works with low tech and high tech applications (see this link http://www.invotek.org/ActiveResearch.html)

Because it is such an easy and effective low-tech method, I still recommend laser-pointing access to my pALS and their families. When doing so, I of course, caution them about the dangers of eye damage. The main caution is not to shine the light directly into someone’s eye. While not as elegant as the Marvision system, it is easy to make a laser that stays on by using a rubber “o” ring to hold down the on-off switch. The communication partner, slides the “o” ring over and away from the on switch to turn the laser on for use and off when not in use. I have a handout that provides directions for making a laser pointer mounted on a visor. Let me know if you would like to have copy.

Pam

Pamela Mathy, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona State University.

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alisa Brownlee
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 3:26 PM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Assistive Technology] marvision

Is anyone familiar with this product?

http://marvision.com/_wsn/page3.html

It is a laser pointer to be used with a communication board.

Many thanks for any feedback.

Alisa

Alisa Brownlee, ATP

Assistive Technology Specialist

ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter

Assistive Technology Consultant, ALS Association, National Office

Direct Phone: 215-631-1877