GENERAL FEATURES   Simple to Use  Faster Communication Physically Easy to Use Safe  Adjustable Angle Lightweight & Comfortable Standard or Switch Adapted

Comparison of Lasers

GENERAL FEATURES

Simple & Intuitive: 
The individual uses head movements to point the red laser dot to a letter, word or symbol on a paper communication board.   The communication partner then says the item out loud.

Check out the Product Videos (on the tab above), to get a sense of how simple and quick communication with the laser can be.

 Faster Communication: 
A laser can allow a person to point to a larger communication board with many more 'targets' than they might be able physically access on a high tech device.  This allows some people to use a core vocabulary system.  Core vocabulary words are the most frequently used words in the English language (words like 'the', 'and', 'he', 'she', 'how'.)  Using core vocabulary can significantly speed up communication.

Safe: 
Our laser uses a Class II laser module (the lowest powered visible laser available).  A Class II laser is considered safe for normal operation. More on laser safety. 

Physically Easy to Use:
A laser goes exactly where you point it.  It always travels in a straight line.  Unlike a head mouse or an eye gaze system, the user never needs to "re-calibrate" the laser. The distance between the laser and the board can also significantly magnify head movement.  (The farther away the board, the less the person has to move their head.)  

Adjustable Angle:

The laser is on a small adjustable arm.  Throughout the day, when the person using the laser changes the position (for example, reclining in a power chair), the angle of the laser pointer can be adjusted up, down, left and right.

Lightweight & Comfortable
The portion of the device which clips onto a cap weighs 5/8 of an oz, making it lightweight and comfortable to wear.

Standard Laser or Switch Adapted:

Standard Laser:  The communication partner can turn the laser on and off, using the  small switch on the battery box.  (This is designed to be turned on and off by the communication partner, not the person with the disability.)
Switch Adapted Laser: This allows the person with the disability to independently turn the laser on and  off using an ability switch. (The laser does not come with a switch.) A switch is required to turn the laser on and off. AbleNet and Enabling Devices offer a wide variety of switches.

LASER COMPARISONS (HEAD MOUNTED
	EXPLANATION	LaserWriter (Wireless)	LaserWriter (Eyeglass Mounted)	LaserWriter (Clip-On)
WEIGHT	Weight of the portion  clipped to glasses/cap	2 oz (Includes battery)	1/4 oz	5/8 oz
WEIGHT EQUIVALENT (in dimes)		25 Dimes (10 Quarters)	5-6 Dimes	9 Dimes
Type of Battery		1 CR2 battery	2 AA Batteries	2 AA Batteries
Continuous  Battery Burn Time*	(see below)	100 Hours**	130 hours***	130 Hours***
Laser Type	Class 2 = <1 mW  ( Eye Safe Laser)	Class 2	Class 2	Class 2