Help me help a paraplegic (Quadriplegia)

Vonkhan

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
8,198
0
71
A few weeks ago, I came across the story of MP Anil Kumar. He's a former fighter pilot (Indian Air Force) who was in an accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down at the age of 26, in the middle of his career. He taught himself how to write with a pen held in his mouth and is now a well respected writer on defense matters.

You can read his story here or simply google his name.

He's now strapped into a wheelchair and uses a pencil held in his mouth to type on a keyboard.

I've been corresponding with him for a while now and his knowledge of world history, current affairs, defense issues, insights into AfPak, etc. are amazing.

Now, here's where I need your help ATOT: I want to send him something that will help him out with his life. It can't be money, it has to be something helpful - something that will raise the standard of his living. I don't have any experience with handicapped folks, let alone someone in his situation.

What can I get for him?
 

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
How about that OCZ neural input mouse thing? haven't heard about it in a year or two but seems like it might work out nicely for him.
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
Is he able to speak? Perhaps some text to speech software and/or a netbook so he can dictate instead of using his mouth to write?
 

crab

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2001
7,330
19
81
I'm not sure...I'm a low level high functioning quad and so is my wife. We live alone, drive, fly, etc etc. We do well.

Hes in a different situation with his level of paralysis...Does he NEED anything in particular?

Interesting note - He was injured June 28 1988. I was injured June 28, 1999 - and my wife June 28, 1990. We were married June 28, 2008. :)
 

RESmonkey

Diamond Member
May 6, 2007
4,818
2
0
Wait.

THIS IS VONKHAN!


YOU MADE THAT WHOLE THREAD ABOUT YOUR LANDLORD. WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT?!?!?!?!?


update ur thread!
 

RESmonkey

Diamond Member
May 6, 2007
4,818
2
0
Originally posted by: SpatiallyAware
Originally posted by: RESmonkey
Wait.

THIS IS VONKHAN!


YOU MADE THAT WHOLE THREAD ABOUT YOUR LANDLORD. WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT?!?!?!?!?


update ur thread!



Link?

It's one of the epic threads. Let me find it.
 

Vonkhan

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
8,198
0
71
Thanks guys - voice recognition software it is :) Being a writer, I think it'll really help him out!
 

Papagayo

Platinum Member
Jul 28, 2003
2,303
24
81
Originally posted by: Vonkhan
Thanks guys - voice recognition software it is :) Being a writer, I think it'll really help him out!

Not to be mean but..

Will the software work with someone that has heavy Indian or Asian accent?
I'm guessing his native tongue is Indian.. Do they make voice recognition software for Indian Language?
 

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
18,447
133
106
Originally posted by: Papagayo
Originally posted by: Vonkhan
Thanks guys - voice recognition software it is :) Being a writer, I think it'll really help him out!

Not to be mean but..

Will the software work with someone that has heavy Indian or Asian accent?
I'm guessing his native tongue is Indian.. Do they make voice recognition software for Indian Language?

Voice recognition software works on training. You can train it to recognize words through your accent, you just need to take a lot of time to do it. Training it takes forever anyway though. I used Dragon for a while before I decided that it was taking me more time to train it properly than it was worth to just deal with hand pain from carpal and arthritis.
 

keird

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2002
3,714
9
81
TrackIR

Wiki

Gamers should be able to game no matter what. I should also see if they need this for the Child's Play drive this year.
 

ganga

Junior Member
Jan 17, 2010
1
0
0
Have you got any good suggestions? Heard this S/W wil help in such cases.
A few weeks ago, I came across the story of MP Anil Kumar. He's a former fighter pilot (Indian Air Force) who was in an accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down at the age of 26, in the middle of his career. He taught himself how to write with a pen held in his mouth and is now a well respected writer on defense matters.

You can read his story here or simply google his name.

He's now strapped into a wheelchair and uses a pencil held in his mouth to type on a keyboard.

I've been corresponding with him for a while now and his knowledge of world history, current affairs, defense issues, insights into AfPak, etc. are amazing.

Now, here's where I need your help ATOT: I want to send him something that will help him out with his life. It can't be money, it has to be something helpful - something that will raise the standard of his living. I don't have any experience with handicapped folks, let alone someone in his situation.

What can I get for him?