1. Environmental Control Unites/Electronic Aids to Daily Living for People with Polytrauma Environmental Control Units/Electronic Aids to Daily Living for People with Polytrauma

2. Environmental Control Units (also referred to as Electronic Aides to Daily Living ) are specialized assistive technologies designed to enable an individual to operate many household appliances and electronics if he or she can not use the standard controls. For example, if an individual can not access a standard light switch, an ECU could provide an alternative way for the individual to turn the lights on and off. Another example would be if someone had difficulty accessing and/or using the telephone. Once again, an ECU could provide a different way for the individual to use the telephone. ECU’s can also provide alternative controls for the television, cable box, DVD player, stereo, heating/air conditioning, fans, doors, etc. Definition

3. From Cook and Hussey, 1995

4. The principal components of an ECU are also illustrated in the following block diagram: USER DISPLAY USER CONTROL INTERFACE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT X-10 MODULES/RECEIVERS AND OTHER X-10 INTERFACES TELEPHONE INFRARED DEVICES: TV, DVD PLAYER, CABLE BOX, STEREO, ETC. The User Display and User Control Interface constitute the human/technology interface IR Radio Signal

5. X-10 control input module (left) and receivers (right)

6. X-10 Transmitter Radio Signals X-10 Receiver House Wiring X-10 Modules IR Receiver / IR to X-10 Converter House Wiring X-10 Modules IR Transmitter IR Signals Two Common X-10 Input/Output Block Diagrams

7. STAND ALONE SYSTEMS (PERFORM ECU FUNCTIONS ONLY) INTEGRATED SYSTEMS (PART OF OR INTEGRATED WITH OTHER ASSISTIVE TECHOLOGY) TWO WAYS TO CATEGORIZE COMERCIALLY AVAILABLE ECU's:

8. STAND ALONE SYSTEMS

16. Switch Activated

20. Big Button Remote Control

23. INTEGRATED SYSTEMS

33. ECU Integrated with Augmentative Communication

37. Infrared (IR) Capabilities built into power wheelchair electronics:

40. ECU POWER WHEELCHAIR PERSONAL COMPUTER IR X-10 via house wiring USB Connection Radio frequency or IR signal Any Control interface used to drive Any computer access technique Telephone

46. FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN RECOMMENDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL UNIT: * Client’s Goals (what does he or she wish to control) * What other assistive technology is utilized by the individual * Client’s prognosis (stable/progressive?) * Client’s cognition * Where is the system going to be used (home or work, in one room or throughout the house, etc.) * System reliability, flexibility and ease of operation * Local tech support for installation/configuration/service * Expense of the system and the funding source

47. Thank you. Any Questions John Coltellaro MS, ATP coltellaroj@upmc.edu