Homework for week 3

So here’s what I will do to:

1. I will link to my favorite price matching search engine: PriceCanada.com
2. I missed hearing about ping and trackbacks, so hope I get this right.  I intended to refer to Allen’s blog about an anchor tattoo.

In case I misunderstood assignment #1, here’s a link to the previous post of this week:

The Phrase “while in use” and Power Management

The phrase “while in use” or variation of it is one that I have come to be wary of. It is subject to interpretation and usually for non-technology savvy people, “while in use” could mean:

1. proper meaning of actually using the device and it shuts down suddenly
2. improper meaning of using the device, get distracted and stop using device for a period of time and come back to it. During this period the device has powered off.

The second meaning is more likely since typical users are not aware of power management. All electronics that have batteries have a limited life of use before needing to be plugged into AC power for charging. To extend the life of the battery before needing to be charged, some devices implement the use of power management. This means that the device is programmed to shutdown something in the device that is not necessary to be running all the time to reduce the total power drain. Sometimes, this even means the device will turn itself off or go into sleep/standby mode to stop the power drain for the time being.

Vantage (1st gen.) by Prentke Romich

For example, today I got my hands on a PRC Vantage (first generation) for repair. Among the symptoms listed is one for the Vantage turning itself off during use. After playing around with the Vantage for a couple of minutes to see if it would turn itself off, it would work fine. Next I check the Auto Power Off setting in the Toolbox’s Maintenance Menu. It is set for 2 min. See the Prentke Romich support page for details about this.

This is where I suspect that the person who reported that the Vantage would turn off “while in use” is using the 2nd definition of the phrase. I come across this often where people just don’t understand power management and misdiagnosing the symptom as “crashing” for computers or computer-based devices.

PEOPLE! Please read the manuals of these devices and learn what they can do!

Our tech support teach lacks troubleshooting guides and reviews of devices as many devices are passed directly from receiving to our clients almost immediately.  The client’s case consultants get to see them, but the technicians are not such priviledged.  It has been discussed before the have the technicians be included with the review with the case consultants, but this still has not happened.

I have therefore decided to do two things:

1. Come up with reviews for current inventory (from my perspective, of course) that are as complete and thorough as possible.
2. Come up with troubleshooting cheat sheets that will help to summarize the sections of the user manuals for troubleshooting particular problems (eg. how to do resets, what keys are pressed to start a diagnostic routine).
3. Make mention of new computer technologies that may be helpful for use as AAC technology.

Again, this is mainly for myself and my tech support crew.  If others find this information useful, all that much better.

Dynavox:

• Series 5 – now recently also saw EyeMax too
• Mo Series – MightyMo and MiniMo
• Series 4 – DV4 and MT4
• Dynawrite – but see very few of these)
• PalmTop 2G & 3G – previously called Enkidu Impact)
• LightWriter – Dynavox is just reselling this product from Toby Churchill

Prentke Romich:

• Eco-14
• Springboard – original, Plus and now Lite
• Vantage – original, Plus and now Lite
• Vanguard – basically a large version of the Vantage
• Pathfinder – original and Plus (soon to be phased out)

AMDi:

• Smart series – seemingly the successor to the Tech series
• Tech series – Talk, Speak, and Scan
• plus others (but don’t see often)

This is something that is important for when computers move to Windows 7. My company has been banking on Windows XP downgrades for now so that we don’t have to deal with Vista. Too many issues with Windows Vista.

Now we can have more chances for compatibility with Windows XP mode!

Just for reference, I am a computer technician by training and a special education technology technician by trade. My team and I learn many things on the job regarding the assistive technology devices that we are charged with supporting. Unfortunately, not many of us like to record our findings, so I decided to record my findings on this bog so that my team and I can reference this information. Hopefully others may find interest in the information that I post.

The equipment that my team and I service are the following:

• Toshiba – notebook computers
• Lenovo – desktop computers
• Prentke Romich – AAC devices
• Dynavox Mayer Johnson – AAC devices