Telecomputing for a Mobility Impaired Scientist

by
Craig L. Smith
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
School of Marine Science
College of William and Mary
Gloucester Point, VA 23062
Email: SMITC@CHES.CS.VIMS.EDU


Introduction

Education and careers in the sciences for mobility impaired individuals are made increasingly more possible as computers, especially personal computers, become more affordable and available. Although levels of mobility impairments range as widely as personalities, the personal computer offers equal access to receive information, to create and communicate ideas, and interact with other physically remote contacts in a variety of useful and rewarding ways. The personal computer is a common input/output device that can be readily and usually inexpensively tailored to suit even the extremes of individual impairments.

I personally use a mouthstick to type, and need only minimal keyboard and software aids to work effectively, but laser pointer devices, sip-n-puff switches, or voice command interpreters can provide higher-level interfacing. What is really effective is connection of my personal computer to other devices (usually other computers), where it acts as a gateway for data flow between systems. I have been using multiple direct serial interface connections on separate lines to operate the most sophisticated of analytical instruments (including multiple gas chromatographs and mass spectrometers) by remote login to their dedicated computers, and to the time-shared central computer that runs our outside network connection. Progress is underway to install local area network interconnection for the data-collection instruments to the many personal computers. This will not only enable actual unattended machine gateway operation and allow considerable reduction of present spaghetti wiring scheme, but also permit faster intercommunication by more users, and through a router connection, direct access to the outside network.

Expanded Potentials by Network

The connected computer serves me as pen and notebook for data collection, and as calculator and word-processor for many other needs, most of which are identical to those of able-bodied scientists. For me, the computer-centered environment has enabled me to efficiently do work that would never have been attempted 20 years ago, simply by alleviating the need to physically transport my body to various locations. Although I seldom work at home, it is by choice and not by necessity. The truly breath-taking extension of my computer-centered environment has been my recent connection to the Internet network and through the myriad gateways of communication possible to other systems throughout the world.

Access to the means of communicating information over such a broad range has brought me renewed vigor and interest in many subjects about which I had previously dropped because I had not been able to keep easily abreast of current thought. A very significant impact is the diminished need to cope with many loose bits of paper, or turning pages that won't stay turned on books I can't budge. Major aspects of the now invaluable network services offered are remote access to library information, electronic journal and newsletter publications, and ability to participate in electronic discussion groups and communicate readily by electronic mail. I have exponentially expanded my level of communication, as these are all types of new educational opportunities from which I had felt excluded. Library information ranges from catalog search and reading abstracts to occasional full text retrievals. Many governmental agencies, particularly the National Science Foundation, not only provide, but also encourage use of electronic communication for announcements, publication requests, and more.

Look to the Future

I am extremely fortunate to be a member of an academic community that makes my network interface possible. Regrettably, this opportunity is available to relatively few individuals. Most of the general public is restricted to local BBS services, or prohibitively (to many) expensive commercial information servers that provide little or no options for true and full access to the international network systems. Future accessibility to the broader educational system (sub-University level) looks promising, and exposure of this powerful communication medium to students at younger ages may create an overwhelming demand for affordable access to the network by the growing population of computer-literate citizens outside academia. It can be a continuing source of education both formally through local or distant course work, and informally by self-directed or "osmotic" learning processes.