Allison Greene is quadriplegic due to multiple sclerosis (MS) and must spend much of her day in bed. Her husband Bill has ingeniously adapted her Mac-based computer system to allow her to use it either from her wheelchair or while in bed.
The computer system includes a large size monitor, keyboard and mouse replacement functions, and the ability to watch TV and make and receive telephone calls.
Bill clarified for me in email that because of the cabinet the whole system is easily portable and could be moved to a different room, although his wife usually uses hers in the same room whether she’s in bed or in her wheelchair.
The system is also very very flexible because it’s based on a Mac Pro; additional pieces of equipment can be added or removed as needed. It’s actually quite similar in theory to my own computer system which I use from bed, although mine isn’t portable like Allison’s is. This site is well worth a look.
Website: Accessible computer workstation for an unassisted quadriplegic user
- Ricky Buchanan
atmacjournal August 10, 2009 at 11:44 pm
New on ATMac, a flexible mac setup for a quadriplegic user: http://is.gd/2asqC
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Paul Natsch August 11, 2009 at 2:23 am
Wow! That’s awesome! I’m continually amazed by what people are able to come up with to suit their needs.
I noticed she’s using iListen. Dictate is leagues better than iListin although I would imagine she (and her husband) are aware of that. It’s not cheap but it’s well worth it.
Thanks for sharing this amazing setup.
Ricky Buchanan August 26, 2009 at 10:51 pm
@Paul: I know a few people who are stuck using iListen because they are still running PPC-based computers. Dictate needs intel chips to run, and I can’t remember off the top of my head but I suspect Sue is in that situation.
Rampracer August 11, 2009 at 7:42 am
RT @atmacjournal: New on ATMac, a flexible mac setup for a quadriplegic user: http://is.gd/2asqC
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
atmacjournal August 11, 2009 at 7:45 am
Adapted Mac Computer System For Bed or Wheelchair use by a quadriplegic: http://is.gd/2asqC
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Paul Natsch August 27, 2009 at 4:53 am
Ah yes. I hadn’t considered that. Well hopefully someday she can get an Intel Mac because as you know MacSpeech Dictate is superior to iListen in every way.
Wheelchair Bling August 15, 2010 at 12:13 pm
That looks like what my husband may eventually need, though now he’s using a laptop so he can move around. But he’s said he would like a monitor on the ceiling!
.-= Wheelchair Bling’s last blog: Leopard Print Wheelchair Cushion =-.
Ricky Buchanan September 23, 2010 at 6:04 pm
I often think that a monitor on the ceiling (or a projector pointed at the ceiling) would be good for watching TV or movies, but I wouldn’t want my computer screen that far away from my eyes personally!