Swings And Roundabouts.

 

 

Gravedigger.
Andre Breton.
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Breton

What always surprises me is how quickly Friday will turn into Sunday, just like it has this weekend.

I am trying to use my right hand which is not easy, as I have not used it much lately.

It is difficult to stretch out to reach the keys I need; this is not easy as it sounds, because my right arm is very weak and stiff.

I used to be able to type with two index fingers but now it is more difficult to stretch my right arm.

So I try to do as much as I can, sometimes there are moments when I can type with both like now and then it is impossible.

Using the mouse, as often as I can with my right hand and not the mouse below the keyboard is also good.

It is not easy which means that I have to do it, despite the pain and huge effort needed to stretch my arm.

Sometimes it works, like now which is good, but now I can’t use my right hand to type but I can use the mouse.

Swings and roundabouts right now both hands are working, quite an effort but so very worthwhile.

Patience Plenty Of Patience.

 
Leonardo man (after Virtuvius) with the artist tree, 1998.

Anthony Earnshaw.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Earnshaw

Trying to use the on-screen keyboard without losing my temper and typing the words myself, typing this has taken more than thirty minutes.

That is too much patience for me right now, so I am typing this without the on screen keyboard which is still quicker, as the same sentence just took me five minutes.

Quite a difference and not as tiring too, I think that selecting the letters is extremely time consuming,  as I try to get the mouse to point to the letter that I want to use.

For now the alternative keyboard is not such a good option, now with such lack of control of the mouse keypad or hand operated mouse.

I will keep alternating between typing myself and using the keyboard, the more I use it and often use the same words, then those words should be included but they are not.

Keyboard and pre-emptive are still not recognized, despite using both words regularly, very frustrating for me.

Good job my hair is very short and my hands won’t co-operate otherwise I might be pulling out my hair right now.

Nevertheless I shall do my best to see if this software can be helpful to me, I have to try out this software plus maybe software called See Tech which is eye controlled software.

If none of these work for me then I will be able to try out the Brainfingers software,  right now it  seams that I am not handicapped enough to qualify to use it.

pre

Meeting With Johanneke.

 
Fish Circus.
Eileen Agar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eileen_Agar

Today I have a meeting with Johanneke, my occupational therapist to assess how I sit in the wheelchair.

It will be good for her to assess this; as it could be that there are some adjustments needed.

The wheelchair seat was adapted in November 2009, so I might need some additional support now.

Johanneke will also talk with me about my problems with using my laptop, right now this maybe difficult to assess.

In the mornings my fingers work ok, with problems, these are caused by not being able to control my fingers.

By the evening I can hardly do anything, my left index finger can not click on anything and using the mouse is impossible.

Because my capabilities come and go, it maybe difficult for Johanneke to judge what I need right now.

I have tried the Head Mouse, which seemed to cause problems with my neck hernia, voice recognition, not bad but does not help navigate between applications.

Now I am using the pre –emptive keyboard, which is frustrating, as it selects all the letters that I come near.

It would be brilliant if Johanneke recommends software that allows me to keep writing my blog.

.

Sunshine and Brainwaves.

Gareth's Photos From Wales.

Another spring day of changeable weather one minute it is sunny the next the wind is back up and whipping down the road in fine mid winter style.

Have been quite busy this afternoon, had two appointments one with the woman from a software company called HESERVIS which has Brain Fingers and other gadgets for handicapped people.

My other appointment is with Mathilde, my physiotherapist

Seems that Brain Fingers is not as clever as I had thought it was on the site and on the site of the parent company in the US, where I read that it is directed by brainwaves.

http://www.heservis.nl/

http://www.brainfingers.com/

The woman from the company gave me the idea that it was much simpler software that meant you could control the mouse with either your eye brow or your eyes or brain waves.

She had a laptop and she tried to show me how it worked and I now think it is a slightly more sophisticated version of the Head Mouse which controls the mouse with a tiny reflective sticker on forehead or glasses.

It does not seem to be able to interpret brain signals and translate thoughts into text which is a big shame.

Wonder where I got that idea from must be the name it does seem to suggest more to me than only moving the mouse.

Still think it must do more, just can not imagine Steven Hawking using software where he has to point at every letter in turn in or for him to write a lengthy essay.

Obviously I need to find out more, sadly had no time to see what else the software could do as my second appointment arrived on time.

Think Ann will com back another time and show me more of what Brain Fingers can do, think I shall investigate my Dragon software to see what else you can do but record speech into text.

Also need to investigate the Head Mouse and learn how that works, so plenty to do before Ann comes back again.

Tomorrow I have my last business appointment with my ergotherapist, believe that is Occupational therapist in English.

We are going to discuss an omgevings besturing in Dutch; it is a small gadget with a touch screen.

Which helps to dial phone nrs and switch on the radio or TV and it can also open doors and curtains.

We are also going to discuss the bed, seems there are two things that would help me enormously.

One is being able to raise the knees which would mean that my posture and position in bed would be better.

Heard from Mathilde that it is possible to get a bed which goes up at the head end and swivels back so with the knees up it helps you to sit well.

This would be a great innovation in my life, it would greatly benefit both myself and Richie, we shall see whether Johanneke says is possible tomorrow.

Well it is 17.40 and the sun has finally come out, it is an exceptionally cold day, with a bitter wind and until now only a rumour of sun in Belgium not here.

Now it is nearly 19 pm and the sun is stll shining now and everything looks much better which instantly makes everything much better.