By Viviana Pastor
What does a banana with software that people without mobility allows them to communicate through a computer? A lot. A banana connected to wires which in turn are connected to a machine that served the association was to show how electric impulses of a motion sensor can travel through almost anything. So we explained how Mariano Montañez is adapting the software that allows you to communicate to Stephen Hawking, with the goal that people can use it for various reasons barely move and can not speak but could do so through a computer.
The software created for the student astrophysical black holes was released by the firm that designed it, ie that their code was uploaded to the great network and any programmer could lower it, but it was for a few days and few who They learned, Mariano between them.
But it was not a matter of copy and paste, had to adapt, because Hawking manages it through a sensor that moves a muscle in his face, the one that runs at will. Mariano had a model to whom the system should serve: Maria de las Mercedes Quiroga, La Porota, a girl of 32 years who has severe cerebral palsy and does not control his body, does not speak, but her mother understands everything he says. She was provincial news a few weeks ago when he received his Bachelor of Arts in UNSJ. He did it with a very poor system for writing alone a stick in the face with the drumming on the compu. But when told that the new software would enable “talk” through the machine, she screamed and laughed with excitement.
The first challenge was to define what move could tame “The Poro” should be on a larger surface than does Hawking in the face, which can be operated with a blow of foot or hand.
Mariano, who knew nothing of electronics, built in a cardboard box that hit the sensor is like a generic button that must sirvir for different cases. Which armed Mariano works. That blow resulting in a boost to the computer translates the choice of the letters on the screen and it leads to predictive word is chosen with another blow. Once armed the phrase will become computerized voice Porota. And if unable to speak or use his hands could be received from licensed, anyone imagine what could be achieved with this system.
In two weeks, Mariano was the prototype of the motion sensor. “It’s a bolazo” strip the San Juan, “a box with a plate keyboard, connected to the surface that will buds, a transistor and a resistor all connected to the computer.”
The San Juan adaptation Software called “Porotita” after Porota. “The goal is always to communicate and this is free and can serve anyone who needs it. Anyone can download and install and three weeks of work will change the life of a person, “Mariano said. He added that another programmer does not know the country which has been able to download this software, but if one of Brazil.
Mariano said there are many things left to improve but need a community that wants to collaborate to continue working. But as it stands, the software and will be available to anyone, said the programmer.
Meanwhile, Porota is working with his physiotherapist to define which movement of his hand or foot can master more in order to adjust the sensor .
With additional investment it could further enhance the program and to put a computerized voice but Argentina.
This project was submitted to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of the Nation, in line delivering a special grant fund innovative projects. The goal is to continue perfecting the signal processing neuronales.Hay people who only handle the blink and they’re thinking Mariano.
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