Despite being severely disabled by (ALS), a form of , Hawking is highly active in physics, writing, and public life. Symptoms of the disorder first appeared while he was enrolled at Cambridge. Diagnosis came when Hawking was 21, shortly before his first marriage, and doctors said he would not survive more than two or three years. He battled the odds and has survived much longer, although he has become increasingly disabled by the gradual progress of the disease. He has used an electronic to communicate since a in that followed severe . He gradually lost the use of his arms, legs, and voice, and is now almost completely paralysed. The computer system attached to his is operated by Hawking manually through a single , which, along with programs called Equalizer and EZKeys, allows him to talk; compose speeches, research papers, and books; browse the ; write e-mail; and perform most other computer tasks. The system also uses radio transmission to provide control over , , and at his home and office.
Personal use.
At home, Stephen Hawking watches television like many other people do in their spare time. In order for him to change the channels on the television set via the remote control, he has got a computer system, with many peripherals attached to it. However, these peripherals are not conventional, but have been specially made for his special needs. One of these peripherals is a universal infrared remote control. This enables him to operate many electronic items around the home, such as, televisions, video and DVD players and music centres. Another one of these peripherals that he has got attached to his computer is a radio-controlled device, which enables him to open doors, and lights around his home.
Social use.
As Stephen is a world famous Physicist, it is essential for him to have contact with the outside world. This is where his telephone comes in. He can either use his mobile phone, or connect his chair computer directly to a telephone socket on the wall. The process works by sending digital commands from his computer, instructing the telephone to dial a particular number, answer the ringing phone or hang up at the end of a call.
Work Use.
Stephen Hawking was given a brand new computer system by major firm Intel. At the time it was fastest, highest specification machine of its type. It was because of the latest Pentium II mobile chip, at 33 MHz. He also has to do a huge amount of E-mailing to all of his associates. He does this by using the digital technology enabled on his computer. The technology allows him to connect to the Internet via the process in the above category, Social Use. He can review, and comment on recently released publications on-line before many other people get to view them.
The Computer.
Stephen relies on his computer for everything, as his is confined to his wheelchair due to the non-existent movement in his limbs. His computer is a massive help to him, as it helps him in the working environment. It also helps him get in touch with his associates, and with any other personal uses he may find.
As pat of his personal, social and work life, he has to communicate with a computer system. He has always used IBM compatible computers on his chair. They run off the batteries, which are situated under his chair. The monitor is mounted on the arm of the chair, where he can see it. On the computer he runs a programme called “Equalizer”. He has a switch in his hand, which stops the cursor. Words are printed on the bottom of the monitor, and he can choose a word by pressing the switch. He also uses a speech synthesizer, which he sends a sentence to he has built one up. He uses Windows XP Professional for his operating system, through an interface called EZ Keys. He can save what writes to a diskette. He can also write papers using the programme called “TEX”. When he gives a lecture, he will write the lecture and save it at a sentence at a time. He will then send it to his speech synthesizer on his computer.
Evaluation Comment – Personal Life.
As Stephen is in a wheel chair, he is ever dependant on his computer for his needs for his personal life. He is also very fortunate to have this technology as other sufferers don’t have a computer, supplied by IBM with all of the specific programmes he has already installed on his computer. His infrared remote control meets his needs very successfully as he is able to do many things any normal, able-bodied person can do. He can access many electrical items in his home via the remote control. This particular use of technology is a lot quicker as he doesn’t have to go to the appliance and turn it on. His radio-controlled device also meets his needs well as he can operate other things around his home, including opening and closing doors. However, he could also do with a voice-activated remote control, which would allow him to activate electrical appliances, without even pressing the remote control or turning the device on by hand.
Evaluation Comment – Social Life.
As Stephen is in a wheel chair, he is ever dependant on his computer for his needs for his social life. As his disease stops him from receiving signals to his muscles, he is unable to ring people from a conventional telephone because of the restricted movement in his limbs. He does this instead by attaching the computer on his chair to a telephone socket on the wall. This will then allow him to answer calls from his char, as well as, dialling from his chair and hanging up the phone after a call. This technology is ever efficient as he can choose the numbers on his computer that he wants to dial. He can also be anywhere in the house, but he will still be able to make and receive a call, due to the mobile phone, which is also attached to his computer. He can also see who is calling because the name and number will appear on his computer monitor, situated on the arm of his chair. However, he could also do with a voice-activated phone, which would allow him to call people, without even dialling from his chair.
Evaluation Comment – Work Life.
Stephen’s wheel chair plays a huge part in his working life, and his computer also meets his working life needs greatly. He can do his work at home or while he is on the go because of the mobile Internet capability on his chair. Without his computer, Stephen wouldn’t be able to do any work what so ever, because of his illness. As he is a lecturer, it is vital that he prepares lecturers before hand, and enters them into his speech synthesizer, which enables his to give his lecture. This speech synthesizer plays a huge part in his working life because if he didn’t have it, he couldn’t give a lecture. The switch on his wheel chair also plays a vital part of his working life because it controls the cursor on his computer, letting him choose what words he wants to select for his everyday speech, or lecture. This technology is vital for Stephen because of his special needs. As he has restricted movement in his limbs, he cannot write out, or present his lectures, so he relies on his computer and speech synthesizer greatly.
