Different Types of Technology

Recently in my special education classroom, we watched a video that covered many different interesting types of technology available for people with special needs. I was truly surprised by some of the technologies that are out there. The video was called Freedom Machines. One of the technologies that is talked about is a speech program for the computer. It was interesting to see, though, because it involved a student that was in college and how she used it to write her papers, etc. Another machine that was mentioned was the JAWS program, which reads information on the computer screen to the user. Another interesting technology that was talked about is how a keyboard was programmed with larger keys because the man's daughter could only use her fists. Programs that go along this include intellikeys, which also uses bigger letters. These are technologies that I have heard of before, but it was interesting to see how people use them in their own unique way.
There were also some technologies that I was more unfamiliar with. One of the technologies that is talked about is a scanner that works with the computer that enlarges print for the reader. Examples that are used in the video including books and mail, and this program can definitely be useful for many different types of print. Finally, one thing that really stood out to me was a wheelchair that worked in a way that locked its wheels and rotate to move it up a flight of stairs (this is kind of hard to explain in writing). Some of this technology can be useful in a special education classroom, which is why the movie was so interesting to me. Trying to incorporate technology into my classroom is important to me, so knowing what is available and how its used is obviously something that is important for me to know.
http://www.freedommachines.com/