Pioneer Center

3
Case study | Pioneer Center
“The rst thing I wanted to do when I saw
Sprout was to touch it,” says Wells. “And we’re
seeing the same reaction in many of our
clients. It’s less intimidating to them than a
keyboard and mouse. It actually draws them
in. It provides condence.”
For Pioneer Center, Sprout is a new opportunity
to eectively integrate a computer into the life
skills training and vocational programs of its
clients.
A better t for those with
special needs
“For some clients, just being able to work
with a computer in a natural position, with
their head down, is helpful for them. Using
the Touch Mat gives them the ability to
exercise their motor skills,” explains Christy.
For clients who are on the Autism spectrum,
the built-in apps help them explore new
ways to communicate. “And they’re able to
eectively manipulate a computer that’s
new and mainstream, rather than traditional,
and sometimes cumbersome, assistive
technology.”
He notes that there are essentially two ways
to use Sprout. One is to use the unique Sprout
workspace, which integrates image capture,
editing and manipulation. The other is to use
a Windows environment to run touch-enabled
applications, including Microsoft Oce.
Christy says that while Sprout oers more
options in the user interface, users at Pioneer
Center who have had diculty with a keyboard
and mouse in the past seem to nd Sprout
easy to use. “What really bridges the gap for
our users is utilizing the mat as a touchscreen
to manipulate the desktop. The applications
really seem to jump o the page for them.”
“ The rst thing I wanted to do
when I saw Sprout was to
touch it,” says Wells. “And
we’re seeing the same
reaction in many of our
clients. It’s less intimidating to
them than a keyboard and
mouse. It actually draws them
in. It provides condence.”
– Jackie Wells, President and Chief Executive Ocer
Sprout is also fast, he notes, even when
working with complex, scanned 3D objects.
That speed comes from the combination of a
4th generation Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA
GeForce graphic card, and solid state hybrid
storage drive.
PC Versatility and more
Newport, who is more focused on Pioneer
Center’s employment and training programs
for those with intellectual and developmental
disabilities, likes the versatility Sprout
oers. People who need to run standard PC
applications can work in them. People who
need to work on other skills can do that, too.