etadd_46(4) - Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities
etadd_46(4) - Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities
etadd_46(4) - Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
al. (2007) still found a gap between the use of<br />
cell ph<strong>on</strong>es by people with intellectual disabilities<br />
compared to pers<strong>on</strong>s without disabilities.<br />
In their report they found that n<strong>on</strong>-use by<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>s with intellectual disabilities was primarily<br />
due to cost, percepti<strong>on</strong> of not needing<br />
a cell ph<strong>on</strong>e, <strong>and</strong> lack of accessibility. To address<br />
the issue of cognitive accessibility, Stock,<br />
Davies, Wehmeyer, <strong>and</strong> Palmer (2008) evaluated<br />
a specially designed multimedia software<br />
prototype, Pocket ACE (AbleLink Technologies),<br />
with 22 participants with intellectual disabilities<br />
(range IQ score 47–69). The program<br />
operated <strong>on</strong> the Pocket PC 2002 Ph<strong>on</strong>e editi<strong>on</strong><br />
of a mainstream PDA <strong>and</strong> incorporated a<br />
picture-based address book <strong>and</strong> simplified system<br />
for operating ph<strong>on</strong>e functi<strong>on</strong>s of the<br />
PDA. Adapted features allowed participants to<br />
place ph<strong>on</strong>e calls by tapping pictures <strong>on</strong> the<br />
PDA screen <strong>and</strong> to see a picture of the pers<strong>on</strong><br />
calling them when they received a call. When<br />
compared to a mainstream Nokia cell ph<strong>on</strong>e,<br />
participants required fewer prompts <strong>and</strong><br />
made fewer errors when placing <strong>and</strong> receiving<br />
calls.<br />
With the widespread availability <strong>and</strong> relatively<br />
inexpensive cost of cell ph<strong>on</strong>es, it may<br />
be time for the field of special educati<strong>on</strong> to<br />
look in-depth into cell ph<strong>on</strong>e use bey<strong>on</strong>d<br />
emergency applicati<strong>on</strong>s. Other features <strong>and</strong><br />
uses identified by Bryen et al. (2007) were:<br />
paging <strong>and</strong> text messaging, c<strong>on</strong>necting to the<br />
internet, use of voice recogniti<strong>on</strong> capabilities,<br />
speed dialing, voice mail opti<strong>on</strong>s, transmitting<br />
computer files, taking digital photographs,<br />
<strong>and</strong> video-calling. Incorporating these features<br />
into a cell ph<strong>on</strong>e is now recognized<br />
within the realm of smartph<strong>on</strong>es. Smartph<strong>on</strong>es<br />
are electr<strong>on</strong>ic h<strong>and</strong>held devices that<br />
integrate the functi<strong>on</strong>ality of a mobile ph<strong>on</strong>e,<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>al digital assistant (PDA), or other informati<strong>on</strong><br />
appliances to offer features bey<strong>on</strong>d<br />
making voice calls (www.en.wikti<strong>on</strong>ary.org/<br />
wiki/smartph<strong>on</strong>e). Smartph<strong>on</strong>es include devices<br />
such as BlackBerry, Razr, iPh<strong>on</strong>e <strong>and</strong><br />
Palm Treo (www.sag.org/c<strong>on</strong>tent/new-mediaglossary).<br />
Smartph<strong>on</strong>es may also come equipped with<br />
built-in cameras <strong>and</strong> screens for visual, realtime<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong>s. In the early 1990s<br />
AT&T introduced its VideoPh<strong>on</strong>e, but the<br />
b<strong>and</strong>width limitati<strong>on</strong> of dial-up ph<strong>on</strong>e lines,<br />
high cost of entry ($1,000 each), <strong>and</strong> require-<br />
Figure 2. Videoph<strong>on</strong>e (Avaya Nortel 1535 IP<br />
model). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.<br />
org/wiki/Videoph<strong>on</strong>e<br />
ments for both communicati<strong>on</strong> parties to own<br />
the videoph<strong>on</strong>es, prevented them from taking<br />
off (www.answers.com/topic/videoph<strong>on</strong>e-1).<br />
High-speed cable <strong>and</strong> DSL allowed videoph<strong>on</strong>ing<br />
to eventually become popular by using<br />
a computer <strong>and</strong> specialized software. In<br />
2006 Skype popularized the use of videoph<strong>on</strong>es<br />
by offering free worldwide calling<br />
(www.answers.com/topic/videoph<strong>on</strong>e-1).<br />
In additi<strong>on</strong> to computer-based systems, videoph<strong>on</strong>es<br />
are also available in desktop or l<strong>and</strong><br />
line models which provide video <strong>and</strong> audio<br />
transmissi<strong>on</strong>s for communicati<strong>on</strong> between<br />
people in real-time. These videoph<strong>on</strong>es are<br />
currently popular am<strong>on</strong>g deaf pers<strong>on</strong>s who<br />
use them with sign language <strong>and</strong> am<strong>on</strong>g pers<strong>on</strong>s<br />
with limited mobility (www.answers.com/<br />
topic/videoph<strong>on</strong>e) (Figure 2).<br />
Video calling <strong>and</strong> downloading multimedia<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tent <strong>on</strong> mobile smartph<strong>on</strong>es are currently<br />
available with models such as the S<strong>on</strong>y-Ericss<strong>on</strong><br />
K800 (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videoph<strong>on</strong>e)<br />
(Figure 3) <strong>and</strong> the newly released<br />
iPh<strong>on</strong>e 4 which allows video chats using a<br />
feature called FaceTime (www.apple.com/<br />
iph<strong>on</strong>e/features/facetime.html) (Figure 4).<br />
Renblad (1999) reported the positive results<br />
of using early picture teleph<strong>on</strong>es <strong>and</strong><br />
video teleph<strong>on</strong>es (videoteleph<strong>on</strong>y) to increase<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> social interacti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
am<strong>on</strong>g pers<strong>on</strong>s with intellectual disabilities. In<br />
his review of the literature of studies c<strong>on</strong>-<br />
Twenty-First Century Portable Electr<strong>on</strong>ic Devices / 487