Wow that's great. I am usually up of the chair around 12 to 13 hours myself. I had no idea the batteries lasted that long. When I was looking at some of the new Bluetooth microphones they indicated they would last around seven to eight hours; so I was basing all of my assumptions on that. I'll wait and see what you get and how well it works out for you before I start going out and trying to reinvent the wheel once again. As for my functional return it sounds like we are just about the same level. They say I am a functional C4 quadriplegic and I only have the ability to shrug and move my head like you, even though I am a C2-3 incomplete quadriplegic.
I am glad Vista is working out for you. As for turning off and on your computer you might be able to purchase a few items for $30-$40 which would enable you to do so with a mouth stick. Additionally, if you can get your keyboard at such a height where you can touch the keys with your mouth stick you might be able to minimize how often you have to hard boot your computer. By using the control, alt, delete keys I have been able to shut down individual programs and significantly reduce the number of times I have had to shut off the computer without actually closing everything down properly. It really saves on the hard drives. Maybe one of these days I'll get around to trying that program out myself. The fact you are able to use a $20 RadioShack microphone is pretty phenomenal. I am using a pretty expensive microphone which cancels out the majority of noise and hangs on the ear. Additionally I have this up into a wireless system which is powered by my wheelchair. I really don't think I can get used to wearing a whole headset again and I don't know if I can get accustomed to using a stationary microphone, but if I get a new wheelchair which has battery access difficulties I may have to think about it. Thanks so much for your feedback. I'll be eagerly awaiting your review once you get your new equipment. Quadius On 8/21/07, Joan Anglin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I have had my cell phone and Bluetooth for almost two years now. In all the time there has only been one incident where my Bluetooth lost power, and two times for the cell phone. I usually have it put on about 8:30 AM, and it is taken off about 9:30 PM. I am a C4 complete, and have no movement whatsoever below my shoulders. I do have extremely strong neck muscles, and a shoulder shrug but that is it for any movement. I will be getting a new set up in a couple of weeks, and let everybody know what I got and how it is working. I am still a strong supporter of speech recognition with Vista, especially since I am now allowed to get up during the day after five months being in bed, and I went back to my desk computer and had to use a mouth stick and Dragon Naturallyspeaking again. I had forgotten how much more difficult Dragon is. There are still some bugs with Vista speech recognition, but I am totally able to control my entire computer with Vista without ever having to use a mouth stick. I do need help in turning on the computer, since I cannot reach the power button with my mouth stick. And like all computers, it does occasionally crash, and then I need help restarting. That sometimes is a pain as I do not have someone here all the time. My microphone is a $20.00 microphone from RadioShack, but it fills my needs admirably. Hope you get some more feedback on using a Bluetooth and cell phone. Joan * From:* Quadius [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] *Sent:* Monday, August 20, 2007 3:10 PM *To:* [email protected] *Subject:* [QUAD-L] Cellphone/Bluetooth I received a rather lengthy e-mail from Joan in January and February of this year regarding this issue, but I am wondering if anyone else out there is using cell phones hands-free. My occupational therapist told me there are several people here that are using Bluetooth without any difficulties, but I try to remind her that the Bluetooth usually only has a battery life of seven to eight hours. Since I am unable to turn the Bluetooth on and off, it would have to remain in the on position and thereby be depleted of battery power within about seven hours. What the heck am I going to do after that? She didn't have an answer. I guess she doesn't have people as they have very long or are alone the majority of the day. Anyway, I'd appreciate if anybody could give me some good feedback. I know cell phones tend to change much like everything else nowadays, but I would definitely love to hear from any of you that are using the system hands-free. Be advised, I'd really do mean hands-free. I am only able to move my head and neck and rely on voice for almost everything. I do utilize mouthsticks at my workstation and around the house, but as of now I have not figured out how to put one on my wheelchair so I can activate a cell phone when necessary. Thanks again, Quadius No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.0/958 - Release Date: 8/17/2007 2:31 PM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.0/958 - Release Date: 8/17/2007 2:31 PM On 8/21/07, Joan Anglin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I have had my cell phone and Bluetooth for almost two years now. In all > the time there has only been one incident where my Bluetooth lost power, and > two times for the cell phone. I usually have it put on about 8:30 AM, and it > is taken off about 9:30 PM. I am a C4 complete, and have no movement > whatsoever below my shoulders. I do have extremely strong neck muscles, and > a shoulder shrug but that is it for any movement. I will be getting a new > set up in a couple of weeks, and let everybody know what I got and how it is > working. > > I am still a strong supporter of speech recognition with Vista, especially > since I am now allowed to get up during the day after five months being in > bed, and I went back to my desk computer and had to use a mouth stick and > Dragon Naturallyspeaking again. I had forgotten how much more difficult > Dragon is. There are still some bugs with Vista speech recognition, but I am > totally able to control my entire computer with Vista without ever having to > use a mouth stick. I do need help in turning on the computer, since I cannot > reach the power button with my mouth stick. And like all computers, it does > occasionally crash, and then I need help restarting. That sometimes is a > pain as I do not have someone here all the time. My microphone is a $20.00 > microphone from RadioShack, but it fills my needs admirably. > > Hope you get some more feedback on using a Bluetooth and cell phone. > > Joan > > > > *From:* Quadius [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ] > *Sent:* Monday, August 20, 2007 3:10 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* [QUAD-L] Cellphone/Bluetooth > > > > I received a rather lengthy e-mail from Joan in January and February of > this year regarding this issue, but I am wondering if anyone else out there > is using cell phones hands-free. > > My occupational therapist told me there are several people here that are > using Bluetooth without any difficulties, but I try to remind her that the > Bluetooth usually only has a battery life of seven to eight hours. Since I > am unable to turn the Bluetooth on and off, it would have to remain in the > on position and thereby be depleted of battery power within about seven > hours. What the heck am I going to do after that? She didn't have an > answer. I guess she doesn't have people as they have very long or are alone > the majority of the day. > > Anyway, I'd appreciate if anybody could give me some good feedback. I > know cell phones tend to change much like everything else nowadays, but I > would definitely love to hear from any of you that are using the system > hands-free. > Be advised, I'd really do mean hands-free. I am only able to move my head > and neck and rely on voice for almost everything. I do utilize mouthsticks > at my workstation and around the house, but as of now I have not figured out > how to put one on my wheelchair so I can activate a cell phone when > necessary. > Thanks again, > Quadius > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.0/958 - Release Date: 8/17/2007 > 2:31 PM > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.0/958 - Release Date: 8/17/2007 > 2:31 PM >
