Sorry for the delay …

Regular readers will know this e-zine is being published a week later than usual this month, for which I apologise, but I did have a very good reason.

My sister in New Zealand is seriously ill and our family decided we should travel to Auckland to see her and the extended family over the long weekend and I must say we are all glad we went.

Whether it is the circumstances, the time spent travelling or simply staying in different surroundings but I find on these types of occasions one’s mind examines all sorts of things from a different perspective.

Having spent the best part of the last 10 years researching community portals (now more commonly called social networks) I would like to think I have examined nearly every way possible to communicate person-to-person online.

As I sat helplessly beside my sister’s hospital bed, trying to make conversation now she has only the partial use of her left arm and leg and primarily communicates by exchanging facial expressions (moving her eyebrows), I could not help wondering if any of the lessons or skills I had picked up over the years could be deployed usefully to … well, get connected. 

I now understand most severe stroke cases involve loss of speech but they often retain some use of limbs – in my sister’s case she can still move her left arm and leg and she is left-handed.

I naturally questioned the hospital staff about the availability of communication tools and was politely informed that budgetary constraints precluded any PC based tablets or other apparatus, and when I got in front of a PC I quickly Googled speech therapy equipment for hire or sale with little success. 

I also visited the local Apple store to check out apps for an iPad with no success. 

What I need to know, and I throw out the challenge to all our 25,000 odd subscribers in the YOC network, is if there are any tools readily available which will enable me to improve the interaction with my sister in both the face-to-face situation and online now I am back here in Australia?

Ideally what I am seeking is a web-based tool preferably utilising an iPad or similar touch screen device. Conventional tablets / smartphones are too small and I don’t want to lug around a laptop PC. 

And I think a wiki format would enable a variety of users to make contact, i.e. family, friends, doctors, hospital staff etc - all date stamped and available online 24/7.

A possible innovation would be a menu of possible messages so that my sister can select what she wants to say by simply touching the relevant phrase on screen – something similar to what Google now uses to assist searchers generally.

The thought occurs that most online tools are set up for ‘normal’ users and users with particular specialised needs have individual solutions purpose built with input from speech therapists.

A suite of templates for the differing users could become the interface and the patient would have a very simple log-in procedure and one touch options to quickly select key phrases, e.g. “I am feeling much better today” is a much more informed and helpful answer than a simple yes/no response and it can also form a record of status over time.

Another possible use for this ‘ideal’ tool here in Australia would be to incorporate medical data collection and the monitoring of critical functions in real time – the  e-health type innovations promised to be delivered utilising the NBN.

Ideally if all the services could be wrapped up in a single social network type tool many of the logistical problems of families visiting sick relatives could also be overcome – "When’s a good time to visit?" or “Are you awake?”

Considering the amount of time currently being spent on the likes of Twitter and Facebook this type innovation, specially developed for people with special needs, could help everyone GET CONNECTED.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.