If you have bought or looked at television remote controls in the past five years, you know that the complexity level is rising. The ability of TVs to do more and more and the popularity of universal remotes have made it more difficult to understand. For an...
The Vizio Co-Star is a streaming media player and entertainment hub for TV. Basically the Co-Star is a tiny box that has a version of the Android operating system that allows a user to stream videos from Netflix, Hulu Plus, or Amazon Video. Other features of...
During a recent consult, I was asked the following questions by someone caring for an individual with dementia: “Is there a device that will sound an alarm when the individual leaves their bedroom that I can clip to my belt?” “I also want to be able to talk to...
There are FREE user guides for iOS devices that can be downloaded as an eBook. Apple has made guides available for the iPhone, iPad, iOS 5.1 and iOS 6. If you want to make the most of your iOS device, head over to iTunes and download what you need today....
Yes, there is a way to get a new telephone at no charge! Almost all states in the country have a specialized telecommunication equipment distribution program for persons with disabilities. In North Dakota, IPAT is the source for the Telecommunications Equipment...
Do you know someone who has trouble going up and down stairs? A case manager in northwestern North Dakota did and contacted IPAT for help. An older gentleman she was working with was no longer able to safely use the stairs in his home, and as a consequence was at...
Whether you need an on-screen keyboard because you are using an alternative input such as a mouth joystick or you need one because your keyboard just stopped working like mine did when I was writing this article, Microsoft has a decent onscreen keyboard already...
Many of us have experienced how various types of music can evoke certain emotions and memories, which can completely change our moods. For some people with dementia, music has shown to help them not only with mood, but also with communication, alertness, behavior,...
I recently had the opportunity to work with “Mary” and her caregiver to talk about ways for her to stay safe at home. Mary has a hearing loss and her caregiver mentioned that she was not answering phone calls or hearing when people were at the front door. Mary was...
A while back, a man, who was having trouble capturing important information during meetings, visited IPAT for a solution. After discussion and demonstration of a few devices, we decided on trial of a Live Scribe Echo SmartPen from the IPAT Equipment Loan Library....