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Conclusion

If we consider the combined cost of hardware and software, a custom laptop system may

appear to be significantly less expensive than an ‘off-the-shelf’ device. A custom system

also offers the cost advantage of not always including additional (and sometimes

unnecessary) functions, such as E.C.U., which are integrated into the ‘off-the-shelf’

packages. However, these “extras” that ‘off the shelf’ solutions offer may be considered an

advantage.

An advantage that ‘off-the-shelf’ systems have is that they come with pre-installed

hardware and communication software, and therefore the customer receives a complete

product that should work and interface seamlessly in the given configuration. With a

custom laptop system there may be initial teething problems whilst getting the system up

and running (this is not to say that an ‘off-the-shelf’ system won’t have its share of

problems). This raises the question as to who will actually get the system up and running.

As already mentioned, the expense involved with getting a suitably qualified professional

to implement the system could elevate the cost of a custom system to be on par with the

‘off-the-shelf’ systems. This also raises the issue of hardware/software support and who

will provide such support. An ‘off-the-shelf’ device carries with it the warranties and support

of the manufacturer, to some extent.

Care must be taken if you intend to purchase an ‘off-the-shelf’ system, as some of the

products do not appear to offer any advantage over a custom made system. This appears

to be the case for a few laptop systems more so than tablet systems, however this may

change as tablets gain popularity in the mainstream market, thus reducing their cost. The

Freedom Toughbooks are an example where an equivalent custom system could be put

together, for a significant cost saving, without compromising any function. Of course this

assumes that whoever puts the system together and installs the software is experienced

and capable of setting up such a system.

If a fully integrated tablet style system including E.C.U., switch access, joystick access, etc

is required then the Mercury (or similar) would be a wise choice. The ‘off-the-shelf’ device

minimises the number of cables and connections by integrating hardware such as switch

interfaces, wheelchair power adaptor and E.C.U. into the package, thus improving the

long-term reliability of the overall system. If funding is available for the ‘off-the-shelf’

device then there seems no reason to attempt to replicate the system. However this

document has shown that if cost is an issue then it may be possible to construct an

equivalent, cost-effective system. Sacrificing features such as durability and touchscreens,

if they are not deemed necessary, can reduce the overall cost of the system, but it would

be advisable to exercise some caution in pursuing this alternative.

One big unknown is the cost of mounting either a laptop/tablet or commercial A.A.C.

device and this could easily contribute anywhere from $500 to over $1000 to the total bill.

If intending to set up a custom laptop or tablet based A.A.C. device the most important

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