Before there was eye-gaze technology, there was switch-operated technology; and for people with limited but functional muscle control, the switch can still be the preferred method. Eyes get fatigued like any other muscle. Alternative-access switches can be manipulated by a variety of body parts, potentially allowing the user to rest one finger while using another (or a knee, foot, or mouth).
Still, switch technology has its “cons”:
- It tends to respond slower than eye-gaze.
- Not all switches work with all fine-motor skills, which can make it hard to customize devices for individual users.
- While eye-gaze is designed for pinpoint screen navigation, switch technology relies on a “grid” approach. The typical switch system, moving a box-shaped cursor around the screen to highlight “standard” buttons, may not recognize differently shaped “touch spots.”
Connecting to the Smartphone—Or Not
Another not-so-great aspect of switch technology: much of it is still wired, and today’s personal devices are designed for the wireless era. The earliest switches plugged directly into a “headphone jack” on a tablet or phone, but “most Apple products don’t have a headphone jack anymore,” says Daryn Ofczarzak, BridgingApps Speech Language Pathologist. “They all still have Switch control in their Accessibility settings, but now you need a Bluetooth switch specifically—either that or a wired plug-in switch with a Bluetooth adapter. (I use a Tecla adapter.) For me and many clients, there’s been a re-learning curve.
“And as for Android devices, many still have headphone jacks; but in my experience, these jacks don’t work with switches anymore. So you still need a USB or Bluetooth. (I’d add that Androids now have built-in software designed for use with ‘head, mouth, or eyes,’ and so will Apple after it releases its next update.)
“Another thing: just because Switch control is built into all Apple devices, doesn’t mean that switches work well with all apps. You can’t change a switch’s scanning pattern—how the cursor moves around the screen—so on some apps it will skip over sections or lump several smaller items together. That said, there are apps specifically designed for switch access. And I know other apps, like Peekaboo Barn (a favorite with kid clients of all ages) that work seamlessly with switches.”
The Ever-Changing World of Assistive Technology
It would be unfair to pronounce switch technology “dead” or “outdated” just yet. Like eye-gaze and other technology, it’s still growing and evolving, working to stay adapted to the needs of users.
“Technology has advanced significantly,” says Daryn Ofczarzak, “and more people are now starting with eye-gaze. But switch is still one of the main approaches I evaluate during AAC trials. It still ranks as a common access method, up there with eye-gaze and direct selection (direct use of hands/foot/nose/stylus).”
As with any technology, there are many different options and accessibility levels; and what’s most important is finding the best option for each individual.
One User’s Experience
Andi Fry is BridgingApps’ Coordinator for Montgomery County Outreach; Andi’s daughter, Megan, has cerebral palsy and extremely limited muscle control. Now in her twenties and relying on eye-gaze technology for everyday functioning, Megan started out using switch devices. Andi says of their family’s experience:
“Before Megan mastered eye gazing, she used two switches in a wheelchair headrest: left button for scanning, right button for selecting, and auto-scanning features for customization. It was an amazing game changer in independent communication. When Megan got tired, the customization settings were a big help: her device would automatically scan and highlight individual buttons, so all she had to do was hit the switch when the button she wanted came up. And the device could speed up or slow down to match her ability on any particular day.
“Megan tried lots of different switches—big buttons, little buttons, sticks—before settling on ‘Jelly Bean’ switches (large plastic buttons). She was very hard on them, and we needed to replace them a few times a year.
“When she moved to eye-gaze technology, it was equally labor-intensive in the beginning, and required ‘unlearning’ the muscle-movement approach she’d used for years. Now, though, she finds eye-gaze a much better tool for keeping up with conversations—and being a part of everyone else’s world.”
See also:
- BridgingApps Switch Accessible Apps (AAC)
- BridgingApps Switch Accessible Apps (Non AAC)
- RJ Cooper & Associates for custom assistive technology products designed for complex disabilities