Computers Impact on Physically Challenged :: Argumentative Persuasive Papers

Computers' Impact on Physically Challenged Have computers positively impacted society of the physically challenged? The answer to that question is yes. Computers have helped physically challenged people to become more independent and have better and fuller lives. The Internet has been a useful tool for these people because they can buy, sell, or read objects on the web pages. They can buy their groceries and read the newspaper on-line. Without the Internet and computers the physically challenged would have to depend on other people to help them do their shopping or reading. This paper will discuss speech and language impairments, hearing impairments, visual impairments, and mobility impairments and how computers have positively impacted each of these groups of people. First of all speech and language impairments are usually due to defects of articulation, voice production and rhythm, cleft palate speech, delayed speech development, and disorders connected to hearing impairments ("Speech", p.1). Computers have helped these people through software and hardware designed specifically for speech disabilities. One device, called a speech synthesizer, is connected to a computer or incorporated into the software. This can be useful as a training and teaching aid and also it can be used as a voice output for a non-vocal person ("Speech", p.1). This device allows a person who cannot speak, communicate to another individual through the computer. The computer speaks the words for the speech-disabled person. If the main desktop computer is not available for this purpose a portable communication aid can be used. This portable communication aid is an electronic device that has a speech synthesizer and it may be operated with a switch ("Speech", p.1). Another use of computers for the speech and language impairments is cognitive rehabilitation software. This software identifies and treats people who have suffered a stroke or some type of brain injury. The software is designed to concentrate on the detection and retaining of language function ("Speech", p.1). Michigan Memory Series of Software, provided by IBM, is a series that is useful for adults with stroke defects, closed head injuries, and other neurological problems. This series of software is also useful for children with learning disabilities, communication disorder, reading disorder, autism, mental retardation and other speech impairments ("Speech", p.1). Computers have positively impacted the speech and language impairments of people because these people can learn and communicate with others due to computers. Second, computers have positively impacted people who are hearing impaired.