Assessing Student's Needs for Assistive Technology (ASNAT)

Chapter 5 – Assistive Technology for Reading, Studying, and Math
♦ Hand held Computers
These small devices which have become popular in the business world and also can be a great help to
many students with disabilities. More powerful than the first Mac or Windows computer now propping
open the supply closet door, more functionally agile than a graphing calculator, and less expensive than
a laptop, the handheld computer may be the technology that revolutionizes the face of learning for
students with mild disabilities. Handheld computers are small, light weight, have a long battery life and
are instant on. There are two basic operating systems on handheld computers. Similar to Mac and PC for
traditional computers on the handheld side we have Windows based devices and Palm based devices.
Software applications are downloaded to a computer and then transferred to the handheld using the sync
utility provided. The operating system of the hand held computer allows students to record a schedule
with alarm features, take notes, keep addresses and phone numbers, keep reminders, beam documents to
other handhelds, and receive assignments or vocabulary words via beam from instructor. They have
potential for students with disabilities because of their portability, flexibility and low cost.
Data can be entered into the handheld computer in a variety of fashions. Many of the current handhelds
have a built-in keyboard that is accessed by use of the thumbs. Middle school aged children are
accustomed to using handheld devices with their thumb due to the popularity of the Game Boy and
handheld video games, thus they are natural keyboarders with their thumbs. Windows based handhelds
have built-in software called Transcriber that allows the student to write on the handheld’s LCD using
the stylus and then converting the handwriting to text with the tap of the screen. There are also a
significant number of keyboards available to use with the handhelds.
There are thousands of applications that can be added to a handheld to increase the functionality for our
students with mild disabilities. In the area of word processing, FreeWrite is an application that has been
developed by the University of Michigan. FreeWrite allows input of over 25 letter size pages of text and
offers spell checking and auto-capitalization. Word to Go is the equivalent of Microsoft’s Word on a
traditional computer. It is part of Documents to Go and allows a user to create, view and edit word
processing files. QuickWrite is an application from Mobile Systems that includes word prediction that
collects frequently used words and allows the user to add or delete words. Teal Script is an application
that is available for Palm handhelds. It is a text recognition system for data entry and replaces the
traditional graffiti.
For organizational and study skills, Agenda 6.0 is an application that provides multiple calendar views
and allows icons or photos to be associated with certain calendar events. This would allow a non-reading
student to be able to identify calendar entries by the photo/icon. PiCo Map is a concept mapping
program for the handheld. The student can create colorful concept maps or receive the beamed concept
map from a teacher. Thought Manager for Education is an application that allows teachers and students
the ability to create and organize lessons, lectures, and learning activities. It has student templates for
topics like research paper development, word study, proofreading checklists etc. It allows development
of concept maps and outlines of information. WordTutor by Ants Technologies is an application
designed to improve memory and word study skills. Easy Talk is a foreign language tool that translates
common phrases and words and is available for English, French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish.
In the area of math, Toysoft has developed a talking calculator called KidzTalk Calc. This application
turns the handheld’s calculator into a talking calculator. Converter is a free conversion tool that converts
over 215 types of measurements. BeSmart is a math program that generates problems randomly,
including negative numbers, and allows the student to complete the problem on the screen, then checks
Assessing Students’ Needs for Assistive Technology (2004) 140