On Friday 15 August 2008 00:26:58 Kendall D. Corbett wrote:
> Mike,
>
> First AAC device I ever saw (and helped put together was a laptop and
> Words+ software back in 1992 or 1993 for a client when I was working for an
> IL Center.  It worked well for her, but it was *heavy*!  Back then, laptops
> werighed more than 12 pounds, and the speaker for the Words+ added another
> couple of pounds.  The user was in a power chair with a tray and a vent, so
> weight wasn't that big an issue.  Now a LightWriter can do the same thing
> that did, and weighs about 1.5 pounds.
>

Hi Kendall,

First AAC device I "guinea pigged" was a "Possum". Back in 1969, you wheeled 
it around on a trolley (but it had to be plugged in to the mains to use)!! No 
CRT, just a light board with letters on a grid that lit up with a suck/blow 
switch. You could switch the "mode" so that each grid square performed a 
function instead (turn on light, open door, etc). Way cool for '69 all 
controlled by banks of solenoids and analogue circuits. The monster cost 
about 5 times the average yearly wage, so I was sorely tempted to say "I must 
have it", but I found it slower than my single digit electric typing, so gave 
it a thumbs down. The same firm is still in business "Possum Controls" and I 
think they developed "Say It Sam" with Microsoft.

Cheers

Deri

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