It’s frustrating when I first wake up. Often my Eye Gaze machine needs to be calibrated and I can’t control where the red indicator box that shows me the letter or key that my eyes are focused on is selecting. I will be looking at one letter and the indicator square will show up at the complete opposite end of the screen. As I try desperately to type my message so Jonell will know what I’m trying to say, she’s getting more frustrated by the second from the lack of sleep because she desperately needs to go back to bed. My machine needs to be calibrated, that would mean me starting over and typing a different message first to say I needed her to calibrate it. Then I would be able to type the message I want to say. At times my fragmented sentences make me feel like I’m Tonto from the Lone Ranger. You remember that show that ran throughout most of the 50’s and gave us a stereotypical, almost comical view of Native Americans. When I am at my best and my machine is as it should be, I can only manage about 5 to 7 words per minute, but sometimes I struggle to even manage one word in that same minute when my machine is not calibrated correctly. I try to anticipate what my needs are and things I can say to make conversations go faster, but it is often not possible to guess what someone else is going to say. Like I may only type potatoes, when I’d rather say, May I have some mashed potatoes, please? The program I use to do most of my speaking has a history feature that allows me to store things I think I might say in a future conversation. I have also used it to call up commonly used phrases and things I could say quickly when I wanted. If I type a keyword, the machine will bring up the phrases I’ve used that contain that word. It works the same way the texting program on your phone does. Over time, I will often type and listen at the same time. I suppose it is just an different way of doing what everyone does already. Half listening, and half thinking of what they want to say next. If you think about it, it is rude. Although I hear what the other person is saying to me, the fact that I’m typing while the other person is talking. I mean if I’m formulating my response to what someone hasn’t even said yet, I’m not truly listening am I? What? Do I think I’m a mind reader or something? I need to work on doing more active listening, not reactive listening. As for my speed, that’s on them. The result may be shorter conversations in terms of quantity. But in terms of quality, I believe they will end up more meaningful, and with greater understanding. Isn’t that what should be the focus?
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