Thursday, July 15, 2010

Day 9: Answers to class questions on switches

Barb, our professor, asked us to post answers to the following questions on our blog, so here they are:

What is a switch?
                o Is a mechanical device that closes a electrical circuit to complete the circuit that
                    replaces any action that a person would normally do

Who uses switches?
                o People who have limited or no movement

Why do people use switches?
                o Allows people to access devices which they would normally not have access to

List the selection criteria in selecting a successful switch.
               o Position
                            • if the switch is not positioned right, unable to use switch effectively
                            • OT and PT helps determine this
               o Movement Pattern
                           • requires a consistent, voluntary movement
                           • key is to select switch to accommodate movement
                           • person must be able to operate switch with minimal fatigue
               o Control Site
                           • where on body person wants switch to go
                           • the hand is usually the control site
                           • more motor involved (uncontrolled movement) a person is, the less likely    
                             that the Control Site is the hand

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