[Cialug] Matt Stanton: Update 2

Josh More MoreJ at alliancetechnologies.net
Sun Nov 21 16:31:18 CST 2010


I just got off the phone with Matt's dad to find out how the surgery went.  As with the previous update, I will be avoiding specifics.  If you have a need/desire to know more, please contact me off-list.

Short and sweet version:  the surgery went far better than anyone expected it too.  There was a serious amount of work done on his spine, but there seems to have been little nerve damage.  This has allowed them to lower the level of pain medication he's on and he is able to communicate somewhat.  His father says that Matt's personality is still there and that his right arm still works.  However, it does look as though he will require rehab for the rest of his life.

It is still requested that we NOT visit him.  While he can communicate, communication is erratic and he is not completely present so he might not recognize us.  His dad says that it could take a while for Matt's mind to clear, and he'd like that to happen before visitors will be allowed.

Lastly, I did express the desire that the LUG has to help out.  Matt's dad thinks that eventually Matt could get back into doing computer graphics.  However, the rest of the family isn't sufficiently familiar with the technological landscape to do the research.  Moreover, when Matt is recovered enough to start rehab, he won't be in any position to do the research.  So for those that have been wanting to help, here are our tasks:

1) We need a project manager to keep this on an even keel.  If you are interested, please let me know.
2) Research ergonomic input device.  We do not yet know the extent of his capabilities, so we'll need to come up several plans.  To start, I would recommend:
  * Review accessible tablet devices and determine where different ones would be good fits.
  * Review accessible mouselike devices and determine where different ones would be good fits.
  * Review accessible keyboardlike devices and determine where different ones would be good fits.
  * Review accessible monitorlike devices and determine where different ones would be good fits.
3) Draft plans for different scenarios of Matt's future capabilities.
4) Put together an estimated budget for each scenario.
5) Put each scenario together for Matt's family to review, so that they can be prepared as Matt passes through the states of recovery.

Ideally, I'd like to have a small team working on this, so that if we get individually pulled off in different directions, the project can continue.  Bear in mind that we do not know the extent of his future mobility, and things that might be simple for some of us (moving your head side to side or up and down, moving fingers independently, etc) might not be possible for Matt. 

-Josh More, CISSP, GIAC-GSLC, GIAC-GCIH, RHCE, NCLP
morej at alliancetechnologies.net
515-245-7701


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