Tobii User Story - Astrid Lorenzen

8/14/2019 Tobii User Story - Astrid Lorenzen

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MyTobii P10 User Story Freedom to communicatewith the world

Astrid and her MyTobii P10


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A ter su ering acute lack o oxygen at birth,Astrid Lorenzen was declared dead. But sheconquered death, came back to li e and isnow nine years old. For the past year, she hasbeen able to communicate with her amily andthe rest o the world in a way unimaginableuntil now.

When Astrid came back to li e we decidedto ght to give her the best li e possible, saysAstrids mom Dorte Lorenzen.

Astrid has severe CP due to her birthcomplication. As a result, she is unable tomake hersel understood through speech.For the rst eight years o her li e Astridcommunicated by using body language andpointing at pictures in a specially adapted

book. Since December 2007, however, she

has used the MyTobii P10 to communicatewith those around her.

The rst thing I wrote was My name isAstrid. I was happy to be able to say it withmy new voice, says Astrid.

Cant st p talkingDorte remembers the changes that occurredin the amily when Astrid started using theMyTobii P10.

Suddenly we had another girl in the amilywho was active in discussions around thedinner table, recalls Dorte.

Sometimes she talks too much, say Astridstwin sisters with twinkles in their eyes.

It is so nice or me that she can call mewhen she is in her room and I am somewhereelse in the house. All o a sudden I can hear avoice calling Mom, continues Dorte.

Enj s c mp te games

It is a rainy day in the middle o November2008, in Astrids hometown o Snderborg insouthern Denmark. She lives with her amilywhich includes her Mom Dorte, Dad Willy,thirteen-year-old twin sisters Emma and Ida,and Brum the cat.

Dorte Lorenzen opens the door to their largebungalow. Astrid has just come home romschool and is sitting in the kitchen playing theclassic computer game Minesweeper. Shehas always enjoyed playing computer games,

but MyTobii has made it much easier or her.

Astrid cant stop talking Nine- ea - ld Ast id L enzen as gained av ice and a b and ne a f c mm nicating

it e famil and classmates.



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Astrid sits timidly in the sa ety o her momslap. Once her initial shyness wears o shesits in her wheelchair and xes her eyes onthe computer screen. Proudly, she showswhat she has written when asked about herequipment: Good sound, play games andwrite nicely. A emale voice reading the samewords resonates rom the speakers.

Her parents discovered the P10 by chance atan IT exhibition a couple o years ago.

We realised immediately the opportunitiesit could give Astrid to communicate, saysDorte.

At rst it wasnt certain that Astrid wouldget the equipment. Snderjyllands Amt wasinitially reluctant and their rst answer wasthat the waiting list or the equipment was toolong.

They changed their minds once they realisedthat Astrid needed the equipment to keep upin school.

Text bec mes speecAstrid is currently Denmarks youngest

MyTobii user. She is in third grade and worksat the same level as her 22 classmates.She communicates with her peers andanswers her teachers questions by usingthe computer screen instead o pointing ather red book like she used to. Astrid ormswords by xing her eyes onto letters shownon the screen, which then are converted intospeech.

She can also point at the screen with her eyesand access pictures o her classmates. Astheir photographs appear in rapid sequenceAstrid can say all o their names with thecomputers voice.

The device has given her a new, easier way tocommunicate with her classmates. Now shecan call them and say exactly what she wantsto say.

Astrid has suddenly become a bigger girl.Its important that she can answer with avoice at home and at school. Its easier or theamily now since we can communicate much

more naturally than be ore, says Dorte.

Be ore, she was totally dependenton others. These days Astrid is moreindependent with her MyTobii and can chat,send emails and play games in ront o hercomputer.

C i s ab t M T biiWhen Astrids communication device rstarrived about a year ago, a number o curiouspeople including her mother, ather, assistant,math and Danish teacher all gathered to seeit in action.

We got the equipment working immediately,says Dorte.

When asked what the rst thing she did withthe MyTobii was, Astrid fashes a big smileand answers play games.

Astrid has become increasingly better atusing the equipment. She is still learning,especially since using complete sentencesto communicate is totally new or her. Playinggames has been a good way or her to learnhow to track with her eyes.

Apart rom amily and school Astrid leads an

active li e and manages to both swim and rideonce a week. She also has several riendsthat she plays with regularly.

The equipment presents greatopportunities. In the uture Astrid can use itmore actively to send text messages, writeemails and sur the Internet. Next year weplan to get an electric wheelchair and mountMyTobii on it or Astrid to use in the house.This will allow Astrid to become even moreindependent and gives her greater reedomto communicate with the world around her,concludes Dorte.

All f a s dden

I can ea a v ice

calling M m


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Tobii . Illustrations and specifcations do not necessarily apply to products and services o ered in each local market. Technical specifcations are subject to change without prior notice. All other trademarks are the property o their respective owners.

M T bii P10MyTobii P10 is a portable eye-controlledcommunication device. Everything, includinga 15 screen, eye control device andcomputer, is integrated into one unit. Justconnect it to a power source, such as a wallsocket, power wheelchair or separate battery.

The device can be mounted or use at a desk,on a wheelchair, in bed or anywhere suitableor the user.

The MyTobii P10 can be relied upon toper orm. It operates with a high level oprecision in nearly all light conditions. Mostdi erent users, regardless o ethnic origin,can be tracked including those with glassesor contact lenses. You can move reely in ronto the screen without having to worry aboutinterrupted tracking or reduced unctionality.

Ce eb al palsCerebral palsy, CP, means paralysis dueto brain damage and is the most commoncause o physical disability among childrenand young people. CP is an umbrellaterm encompassing a number o di erentsymptoms. A physical disability caused by

an injury or developmental disorder in thedeveloping brain is the common denominator.

The injury can occur during pregnancy,during birth or within the rst two years.In ections, circulation disorders, lack ooxygen and brain hemorrhaging are the mostcommon causes o CP.

Children with CP have a delayed motordevelopment. The most common result obrain damage is more or less impaired muscle

control, but the span is wide. Some childrenhave a minor physical disability while othershave absolutely no muscle control. (Source:Swedish Health Guide)

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Tobii User Story - Astrid Lorenzen