What are they?
Switches are adaptive input devices.
Examples of switches Images source: Ablenet, Inc.
What do they do?
They allow a person who cannot use a keyboard or mouse to provide input to the computer.
How do they help?
They receive information in practically any form that a person can give it, i.e. by touching a pad, blowing through a straw, moving a lever with a head or other body part, etc. They require only a single movement. They may produce a single action, or may allow a person to select an item from an onscreen scanning display.
What kinds are there?
There are a wide variety of switch types: large, medium, small, differing in sensitivity, placed on table or worn on a strap or attached to a wheelchair. A very common switch is the Jelly Bean switch made by Ablenet.
| Product Name | Big Red | Jelly Bean | Discover Switch |
| Manufacturer | AbleNet, Inc. | AbleNet, Inc. | Don Johnston |
| Address | 1081 Tenth Ave. S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55414 |
1081 Tenth Ave. S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55414 |
26799 W. Commerce Drive Volo. IN 60073 |
| Phone | (800) 322-0956 | (800) 322-0956 | (800) 999-4660 |
| Fax | (612) 379-9143 | (612) 379-9143 | (847) 740-7326 |
| URL | www.ablenetinc.com | www.ablenetinc.com | www.donjohnston.com |
| Cost | $41.99 | $41.99 | $449.00 |
| Size | 5" diameter | 2.5" diameter | 5" diameter |
| Features | Cable storage in base, press anywhere, audible click | Press anywhere, audible click | Easy to set up and use. Complete keyboard and mouse functions in a switch. Powerful for providing access to any application program. |
| Related Products | Symbi-Key Computer Interface (1-SKCI) $199 | ||
| Pressure | 3 oz. | 2 oz. | |
| Item Code | 1-B | 1-J | Mac- M63A1 Win- M63WA1 |
| Specifications | Contact Manufacturer | Contact Manufacturer | Contact Manufacturer |
Related Issues: Students with cognitive delays may need assistance to access the benefits technology has to offer. Switches are one kind of device that can allow children to make a connection between their action (hitting a switch) and a related action (a visual change on a computer screen, a sound, etc.) Once they understand this connection, they may be able to transfer this knowledge to other adaptive devices, such as alternative keyboards. |
