Specifications

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Appendix D Things to consider when choosing a laptop for A.A.C.
Sandra Stewart & Sue van de Loo, June 1999
Define goals.
Define the student’s needs and goals.
(for communication, computer access and environmental control).
i.e.: what are the specific communication tasks the student must perform in order to
function in particular environments?
Consider the communication partners and the communication environments.
Communication environments may include social time, play time, car, shopping etc.
Consider whether a communication system based on a laptop computer will meet
the student’s communicative needs.
What are the student’s communicative needs versus software access needs?
What proportion of time is required for each task?
Young students do not normally spend very much time using computer software each day.
Their communicative needs are present throughout all of their waking hours even when
they are using computer software.
Computing generally forms only a small part of student’s learning in the first few years of
schooling.
Early school learning is primarily communicative, social and activity based.
Consider whether the student will have access to a computer already within their home,
school and other environments.
Why is an integrated system required?
What benefits does the integrated system offer over a dedicated communication system
with wireless computer access?
If the integrated system stops working the student looses access to everything.
What will the backup plan be?
Powering the laptop.
How will the laptop be powered?
Can it run off the wheelchair battery?
How long will the wheelchair battery last with driving and communicative demands?
What happens when the wheelchair battery goes flat?
Does the laptop have a car charger socket (cigarette lighter) to connect the wheelchair
battery to?
How reliable is it to charge the battery this way?
What cables are required? Will they get in the way?
If the laptop goes flat the student will not be able to access software or communicate.
Can the battery be hot swapped?
Can the user access AC power in the classroom without causing an OHS&W hazard?