March 13, 2003
Contact: Ed Gellenbeck (509-963-1435/fax 509-963-1449/e-mail: gellenbe@cwu.edu)
ELLENSBURG, Wash. - While stationed with the U.S. Army in Germany,
an Ellensburg man – Ron – suffered a traumatic brain injury several
years ago as the result of a car accident. He returned home with
greatly diminished cognitive and motor skills.
When Ron’s plight became known to Central Washington University
computer science professor Ed Gellenbeck and several of his students,
they determined they wanted to help. Yesterday (WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12),
a team of four CWU senior computer science majors unveiled a project,
called “Enabler,” that will help Ron enjoy an improved quality of life.
“His disabilities are such that he has limited verbal skills and
his facial expressions can be very hard to interpret,” says Gellenbeck,
who serves as the project’s faculty advisor. “Part of our goal was to
determine what his cognitive ability is right now.”
Over the last six months, the students, Kelly Crooke, the team
leader, from Yakima; Jason Brown, lead developer, Montesano; Lindsay
Appel, quality assurance, Vancouver; and Tammie Correll,
multimedia/graphics, Ephrata, developed an augmentative alternative
communication software program for Ron, which allows him to participate
in decision making and furthers his cognitive development.
“Right now, it’s hard to tell what he wants,” Gellenbeck points
out. “He has limited communication ability to express even his basic
needs. So, the primary purpose of this software program is to give him
the capability to express his basic needs to his caregivers.”
The software helps Ron communicate through the use of common
phrases as to what he wants or how he feels. In addition, it will
allow caregivers to elicit responses to questions they have. The
software will also allow Ron to read short stories, play word games,
and use an online keyboard. As his skills improve, he will be able to
take advantage of additional capabilities of the program.
Similar commercial software is available, for a hefty price tag of
between $800 and $1,000. But, regardless of price, those programs
would not have helped Ron.
“The problem with off-the-shelf solutions is they rely on the
ability to manipulate a keyboard or click a mouse,” Gellenbeck notes.
“Ron doesn’t have that capability. So, we took some of the ideas that
are already out there and coupled them with a user interface that was
simplified enough that he could use it.”
Not only is the interface easy to use, through the use of a
keyboard and a so-called “mouse box” also developed by the students,
two people can simultaneously use the software.
While it was specifically designed for Ron’s needs, the students’
goal is to create software that can be altered to fit the needs of
similar disabled users. Their final version will be presented to Ron’s
parents Friday, March 14.
Team members stated that the project was very rewarding because it
helps improve an individual’s way of life. Several team members plan
to continue working with Ron next quarter to develop more software for
him.
Although unrelated, the March 12 demonstration came in conjunction
with National Brain Awareness Week. During the week, CWU has been
sponsoring a variety of on-campus activities.
Brain Awareness Week is an international effort organized by the
Dana Alliance to advance public awareness about the progress and
promise of brain research. Founded in 1992, the Dana Alliance is a
nonprofit organization of more than 200 leading neuroscientists,
including seven Nobel laureates.
