AMANDA HYNAN FINAL THESIS PDF

social communication are known to be strong motivators for young people to digitally
engage (Livingstone & Helsper, 2007).
5.3.6. Summary of causal conditions
The causal conditions for creating the central phenomenon of desire to use the
internet and online social media are: technical innovations which support access,
human support in terms of technical knowledge and training and the digital agency
and digital decision making of participants to use technology in ways that suits their
requirements. The reported use of the internet and online social media sites across the
diverse profile of participants shows options are increasing for people who use AAC.
The causal conditions are also a site of tension as limitations within them can disrupt
digital engagement.
5.4. Limitations for achieving the central phenomenon
5.4.1. VOCAs and mainstream computer issues
Many of the limitations described relate to the integrated VOCAs and/or mainstream
technology. Issues seen were: losing the ability to communicate whilst using
computing programmes (integrated VOCAs and the iPad), cameras being unavailable
on VOCAs, power limitations of VOCAs (3G dongle and eye gaze system could not
be used simultaneously), problems linking into college domain from particular
mainstream operating systems, processing limitations on some VOCAs to handle
photographs or computer games, switch access making it difficult to play certain
types of computer games, and the issue of on-going support and technological
provision after transition from educational settings. In addition, many of the
participants within the current research had older models of VOCAs rather than the
new powerful VOCAs described within the literature review which could be why if
they had access to mainstream computers they preferred to use these for their internet
and online social media requirements.
The importance of collecting this kind of information from specific groups is
discussed by Newell (2008). He points out that although progress has been made in
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