-------- Original Message --------
Subject: PALS assistance
From: Alisa Brownlee <xxxxxx@alsa-national.org>
Date: Fri, February 15, 2013 10:59 am
To: National ALS Association AT Listserv <xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com>

I am seeking help from the group trying to understand what this PALS is aiming to do. I have tried several times to envision what he wants but I am stumped. Anyone have any ideas?

>>>While the current technology works well for face to face communications, it does not work well for telephone calls. When I use my VMAX+ or IPad on the phone people claim they cannot hear the speech very well. I had an idea to try and have a program or app written that interfaces the IPad or PC to a telephone with Bluetooth. I have written letters to both the presidents of Microsoft and Apple asking if they would be able to create such a program to help people like me communicate better over the phone (they have not responded). I know there are relay services that I can and do use, but to me they are impersonal.

What I am thinking of is to have a Bluetooth enabled phone act as a speakerphone for an IPad or PC. When a call comes into the Bluetooth enabled phone, a window would pop up to allow the person to accept the call or send it to voice mail. I have tried to write a program like this for windows, but have been unsuccessful in getting it to work. I believe it would be beneficial to people like me who have difficulty speaking due to ALS because it would eliminate having to carry an external Bluetooth speaker and I believe the sound quality would be better.

Alisa

Alisa Brownlee, ATP

Assistive Technology Specialist

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

215-631-1877

Follow me on Twitter: @alsassistivetec

Follow my blog, dedicated to assistive technology issues, disability issues, and ALS: http://alsassistivetechnology.blogspot.com