Pine Point Participants
Background Information
Pine Point Participants use a variety of Assistive Technologies to help mitigate their disabilities, which have included: stroke related paralysis, multiple amputations and quadriplegia. The first group of Participants was recruited at Pine Point and trained in techniques of introspection and self-reporting to assist in the performance of usability studies. They are a functionally diverse,self-selected group of users of a variety of formal and incidental Assistive Technologies to help mitigate their disabilities.
Aggregate Technology Usage Survey results:
All Participants owned PCs prior to their participation, and two had dial-up Internet accounts. Their PCs were donated 386 and 486 CPUs. The quadriplegic Participant has been using a PC for about 15 years, starting the year following his automobile accident. One of the other Participants had used a PC for 2 years and the other for about 3 months prior to the CareWheels Project. All would be considered Dependent, in need of some or maximum help with three or more Activities probed by the Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus II ADL/IADL assessment tool: Social Health Maintenance Organization Demonstration Project Comprehensive Assessment Form.
All Participants agreed strongly with the statements: “I enjoy learning.” and “I love new technology.”. They all disagreed strongly with the statement: “Technology scares me.”. Two Participants strongly disagreed with the statement: “I am often bored.”
All Participants had used computers or terminals on the job prior to their disability, primarily for data entry and retrieval. The two with dial-up Internet accounts each claimed to use network services from 4 to 6 hours per day, compared with 2 to 4 hours of TV per day.
All Participants use at least one remote control; two have super-remotes to control multiple AV components. Only one Participant used X10 home controls and voice recognition tools, including PC-based Dragon Dictate and a voice activated telephone.
The following network-based technologies were considered most important to the Participants, ranked in order from most to least importance: email, Web, instant messaging, peer-to-peer applications and online games.
The following Assistive Technologies were considered most important to the Participants, ranked in order from most to least importance: power wheelchairs, medication reminders, medication dispensers and the Lifeline emergency response system.
The following household technologies were considered most important to the Participants, ranked in order from most to least importance: telephones (including cell phones and answering machines), PCs, TVs, remote controls and microwave ovens.
The Participants’ wish list for new technologies includes the following: smarter telephones, automatic doors and locks, stair-climbing wheelchairs, better tools to control their homes and appliances, accessible Palm computers and organizers, better access to e-commerce and transportation services, and the means to work at a good job.
All Participants expressed a strong interest in the possibility of telecommuting to work.
Pine Point Apartments
A specialized housing project for people with severe physical disabilities who wish to live with utmost independence in Portland, Oregon. Pine Point features private apartments, barrier-free design and live-in attendants.
