G+_Sergio Cury Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Hey Padre and Brian first of all, love the show. As a fellow geek, i need your help with this: I suffer with ALS for ten years now, and although the disease stopped progressing I am very affected by it. My voice is weak and fuzzy, and to complicate things my wife has significant hearing loss (I know! I laugh about it too!). During the day she uses hearing aids but at night I have a very hard time calling her. So I thought about an Arduino project where I could push a button and a siren or any high pitch noise could be generated. The problem is that I have very limited range of motion with my arms and hands, so I thought about using a Bluetooth switch that I could somehow attach to my forehead or my cheek, but I wasn't able to find anything like it. Do you happen to know any switch that I could use for this project? Thank you in advance. Sergio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Reese Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 I wonder if a headset mic would work. If not for voice commands, than maybe the microphone could be replaced with a small button - or even a metal plate connected to a capacitive sensor? Pyle PLM31 Cardioid Condenser Headset Microphone, Flexible Wired Boom (Standard 3.5mm Connector Jack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EUJF15G/ amazon.com - Amazon.com: Pyle PLM31 Cardioid Condenser Headset Microphone, Flexible Wired Boom (Standard 3.5mm Connector Jack) for Belt Pack Mic Systems: Musical Instruments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Steven Atkinson Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 You could also look at a SmartThings (or similar) hub and use one of the various home automation devices that are available. There are a number of remote controls where you could assign one or more of the buttons to do things like trigger a push notification to your wife's mobile phone, a light turning on or a siren sounding. I know this is UK company, but this is a selection: vesternet.com - Z-Wave Remote Controls | Vesternet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Sergio Cury Posted December 9, 2016 Author Share Posted December 9, 2016 I appreciate the thought but I don't have a normal range of motion with my arms and hands, so I might not be able to reach the remote. Thanks for the idea anyways! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Sergio Cury Posted December 9, 2016 Author Share Posted December 9, 2016 I will look into that, Ben! Thanks for your suggestion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_David Wiggins Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 If love to see more projects in the assistive technology side of things. I know the interactive fiction episode of FLOSS Weekly touched on it, but the maker community has done amazing things for people out off curiosity and need. My button timer light project is in that vein, after falling again for to my bedroom light. I love Ben Reese?' idea of a capacitive sensor ( hand, arm, foot, face, whatnot). Also worth considering, I'd hearing if a concern, think about using light as part of the alert. I know lights are used as part of fire alarms for the deaf, so an LED strip in a couple rooms connected to the alert may be worthwhile Also, am accelerometer or mercury switch may be viable triggers. (That's probably how those fall detector pendants work.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Steven Atkinson Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 I've been looking at these types of devices for use at home as my wife is slowly becoming less able to walk and on occasions her arms and hands don't cooperate. We have started with a couple of light bulbs, but by using the SmartThings we can do just about anything if we want to pay for it. So whilst looking at what is available I came across something called The Button (http://www.fibaro.com/en/the-fibaro-system/the-button) that looks like you can stick it anywhere. It can be programmed with up to 6 actions, so if you can hit the button 1, 2 or 3 times, or just hold it down then using the right automation system just about anything set to happen. You could have many of them around the house even attached to the arm of a chair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Sergio Cury Posted December 10, 2016 Author Share Posted December 10, 2016 David Wiggins Hi David, thanks for your suggestions. I will keep them in mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Sergio Cury Posted December 11, 2016 Author Share Posted December 11, 2016 Steven Atkinson I really cannot rely on my arms, hands, or legs to activate a switch. My range of motion is extremely diminished! Unfortunately a lot of good ideas are not useful for me and others with the same limitations. I appreciate your help anyways! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Steven Atkinson Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 I wish you all the best in finding the solution you need. They do exist, you just need to look at what they can do for severally disabled people like Stephen Hawkins. He can barely move a muscle yet can write books and can 'speak'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Sergio Cury Posted December 11, 2016 Author Share Posted December 11, 2016 Steven Atkinson Thank you very much, Steven. Yes, I know they exist, but they are like hidden gems because this is not a common disease. I have a Tobii Dynavox computer where I can write using my eyes, and one of the modules is used for speech. Really a wonderful computer. It makes my life much easier. Anyway, I'll make sure I post the solution once I find it so others can use it. Thanks again for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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