ALS Internship-Reading Device Introduction

So I've been interning at the ALS with Antoinette Verdone, a wonderful woman who has dedicated her life to assistive technology, as a design technology intern. My current project is to develop a reading device for patients of ALS and really anyone who have difficult turning pages but love to read. Here's a brief outline:


Brief: As patient's symptoms worsen, activites like reading become harder and harder. The ability to hold a book and turn a page becomes impossible. For some, reading is the last leisure they have. There have been devices made in the past but they have all turned out to be disappointing, inconsistent and over priced. Some have no problem switching over to audio books but for those who prefer reading, how do we accomodate the independent reader while making it affordable, reliable, inviting, and user friendly?

Objective: We want to create a tool that will allow those who lack mobility and strength to hold a book, and/or and not limited to, turn a page, and in whole, to be able to read independently.

What about pre existing technologies?
Many pre existing technologies are over priced, size limiting, and do not function particularly well such as the Page Turner. The eBook readers, although affordable and probably the best alternative, lack option in screen and size customization. Computers, although they seem like the best option, is very daunting to some and for many, learning the computer is a tedious task that they may want to avoid.

What are the main issues surrounding an assistive reading device and what are some solutions?
The device should be designed in a way that can be enjoyed by the majority. Ergo, it should be created in a manner that can be customised by the user. Some options should be:

Text
-Font(size, color, script, style)

Screen
-Size (can order a preferred size but is not interchangeable)
-Background color

By making these components customisable, possible concerns of weary/irritated eyes that screens can often subject people to, or if you have poor vision, can be avoided or alleviated.

Is this device affordable?

A big problem with a lot of these technologies is the price tag. Part of the reason why eBook Readers are in the couple hundreds is because they're not only readers, they are also now sketchbooks, memo pads, dictionaries, etc. All these extra features are unneccesary to patients who just want to read.

Is this product user friendly and easily accessible?

How do we get the books on to the device. For the older generation, computer's are complicated and to start learning, a nightmare. The books would have to be uploaded onto the device from the internet. That means that the computer is unavoidable.

However, another alternative would be to create a database and make the device wifi/ethernet capable. So that when the user turns the device on they will be directly connected to the database where there will be a list of books that they can choose from. This way, not only will they not have to worry about uploading and using a computer, all the latest books and daily newspapers will be immediately available. Perhaps this can even create a community of readers leading to a possible social network/forum where books can be rated and/or discussed.

How will this device be used?

The device would most probably be controlled in the form of multiple switches but this area is highly flexible.

Some side notes/thoughts:

-page turning effect on screen
- tilt function