Voice terminal may offer opportunities for employment to the disabled

A rapidly growing information industry based on the combined technologies of the digital computer and telecommunications offers unique opportunities for employment of the physically handicapped. In the studies reported here, the use of voice control was investigated as an alternative to mechanical control for two quadriplegic clients too severely disabled to successfully operate a typewriter keyboard. Using a recently developed voice terminal, the clients were able to type finished copy and program a remotely located computer entirely by voice control. The voice terminal is presently in production. An evaluation of the vocational potential of the voice terminal is currently being conducted by the Rehabilitation Services Administration, DHEW.