Computer Control

Challenge:	Margot has no body control and is limited to rotating her head in one direction only. She has a pillow switch with which she can operate a telephone. She has also a voice controlled computer that she uses for email and to read newspapers on line. Like most computers, she experiences lock up when on the Internet and must wait for someone to arrive and reboot the computer.
Solution:	It would be very difficult for Margot to operate a second pillow switch so a microprocessor based multiplexer was designed. This allows her to use one pillow switch to select the telephone by pressing the switch once and to reboot the computer by pressing the switch twice. A system self test capability was included so that if the power fails or the multiplexer suffers electronic failure the switch is connected to the telephone.
Volunteer:	Ian Waller
Chapter:	Metro-Halifax, Nova Scotia