Assistive Technology -Squeeze Switch

iPod Cordless Remotes

1) BIG Button
2) Directly from an AAC Device

1) BIG Button iPod Remote
iPods remain the hottest technology that has hit in long time. Unfortunately, no one makes an accessible one. A great group out of Australia makes a scanning interface but I still want to improve on it. So I've taken the job to task. Below is my contribution. The large green button is 1-3/4" and the smaller buttons are 1-1/4". They are raised and slightly convex. The entire face of my Remote is angled at about 20 degrees, thus making for a nice orientation to the user. Inside my Remote is an RF (radio frequency) remote that I have modified for this purpose. This means, since it's not IR (InfraRed), you don't have to line it up with the iPod. The outer dimensions are 8" wide x 5" deep x 3" tall. Weight is only about 1 pound.

I've even put switch inputs on the rear for performing any of the button functions! (see note below about scanning)

BIG Button iPod Remote shown with my daughter's Nano (not included) and optional stand
(click pic for larger image)
And yes, the buttons *will* be appropriately labeled soon

The audio can be heard either through your iPod's regular earbuds, or through one of the great external speakers currently available for iPods. I have researched these *extensively* and am selling the Labtec. It is rechargeable! This means you can take it with you without plugging it into any power! And it sounds MUCH bigger than its actual compact size of 16.7" wide x 6.1" tall x 2.5" deep.

Labtec Pure-Fi Anywhere™ iPod portable speaker

I will be offering a scanning version of my Remote within the next several months.

2) Controlling Your iPod Directly From Your AAC Device
Most AAC devices already have built-in Infrared (IR) learning capabilities for controlling around-the-home IR devices, like TV's, cable, etc. I called Dynavox and theirs have had IR learning capabilities all the way back through several generations of their products. I'm assuming the other 'big' AAC companies have also. That's 1/2 of the 'equation'.

* IR learning is when you can 'teach' a device about the IR codes that a remote sends to an entertainment unit, like a TV. Most times, you use a long list of codes to specify a set of IR signals that your remote will emit. But there are other times when you want a device to 'learn' by actually receiving the IR signal and remembering it. So to 'teach' an AAC device a signal, you put it into a certain mode, aim your remote at the AAC device, and it will/should remember the signal for later use)

The second half is getting the iPod to see the IR coming from your AAC. That requires an IR remote for iPod and they already exist! So I purchased every one I could find, so I could select the best one for you out there. I then trained my Super-Auggie AAC device, as a test, with my EADL IR package, using the IR remote from the package. I insert the iPod into the dock of the package. Then I set up a few cells/buttons within my PTP-PC AAC software (all AAC software on the different AAC devices does about the same thing) to send Play/Pause, Volume up/down, previous/next song via IR, and presto, AAC control of an iPod!

This can easily be done with a Dynavox, Mercury, Vanguard, etc. paired with my AAC iPod Controller!

Purchasing Section

H-13 - BIG Button iPod Remote...$99	Order
H-13-Stand - iPod stand...$49	Order
H-13-IR - AAC iPod Controller (includes stand)...$99	Order
H-13-Speaker - Labtec PureFi iPod Speaker...$149	Order