Submission + - portable communicator for stroke victim
terraformer writes: "All trekkie jokes aside, my father-in-law had an embolic-stroke over the weekend and can no longer talk beyond simple one word answers to questions, or has use of the right arm. He is alert and has full cognitive function otherwise. The problem and this is common in most stroke victims, is he is now a prisoner in his own mind. He is getting frustrated and this conservative ex-marine is starting to swear like a drunken sailor, when he used to never swear ever so we know he is frustrated. I am trying to find a portable communicator of sorts where he can try to type. He has use of his left hand but is not strong so this falls in-between a "my left foot" sort of situation and an individual with only one arm. I thought about a cheap laptop with an open text editor but all you need is a window focus to change and he would be stuck. Since time is of the essence here, does any one know of any solution ready-made (not the therapy software which is not what the purpose of this would be) or simple enough to be somewhat reliable (close the lid, goes off, open the lid, goes on with no fuss) that won't break the bank? I was think a OLPC (the recharge handle would be great for those around him to charge it) with an open text editor but apparently they won't be out for a while. Are these new netbooks reliable enough on lid closure transitions (or no lid at all) to work without confusing a novice user?"
