Reading and the consequent process of page turning are quite simply taken for granted. Recall for a moment how many documents you refer to routinely for education, general information, leisure:

Those people who cannot physically turn pages should not be denied access to that information. Over the years a number of page turners have been developed. Their designs fall critically short of providing truly independent reading for the more severely disabled individual. Conventional, automatic page turners cannot sense page size, thickness, texture, single or multiple pages, ink density, etc. The GEWA Page Turner BLV-6 does not attempt to do the impossible by trying to be automatic; it allows the user to direct the page turning "manually," just as one directs a robot.

The most important prescription criteria for this device is the determination of a suitable operating control and mounting scheme. GEWA has developed a selection of standard multi-switch arrays (four switches to achieve for turning steps) for access by hand, foot, chin, pointing apparatus, and two-level sip-and-puff; each with suitable mounting hardware where needed. A visual scanner accessory is available for single-switch users (profoundly handicapped) capable of a single volitional action. Virtually any single-action switch may be used. The most immediate benefit is that now the severely disabled school-age student can truly achieve his/her maximum educational potential through independent reading.

And, for reading in bed, GEWA offers the only overbed table that rotates a full 360º for tilting the Page Turner forward as much as 45º over the user for maximum visual comfort. The BLV-6 is the only Page Turner that can be used this way!

Setup Procedure

An attendant need only:

1. Raise the outer plastic panels to insert the document.
2. Secure its cover underneath the inner plastic panels.
3. Connect and plug in the wall transformer.
4. Connect and position the selected operating control.

Multiple Switch Use

The user manipulates a mechanically driven rubber roller through four(4) simple maneuvers to complete the page turning:

1. To the right across the document to a point of sufficient roller grip.
Roller positioning varies depending on the overall page size, thickness and texture. The user quickly learnes to "play the roller" in small increments in all four movements to achieve the desired results. It is this ability to "manually" manipulate the roller that helps the user work out common turning problems such as sticking or mis-angled pages. Repeated subtle roller movement in directions opposite to the desired end result often helps create air pockets between pages to eventually free them for proper turning.

2. Clockwise roller rotation to "scoop" or pull a single page forward until it actually flips forward of the roller.

3. Counter-clockwise roller rotation to flatten the underside pages so they are not inadvertently creased or folded during the next step.

4. To the left across the document until the page is completely turned. Generally, the roller is then brought back to the center of the document to clear the page being read.
Normally, the roller is returned to the center margin for reading the pages on either side. If the center margin is narrow and the roller obscures the print, move the roller to the opposite page of the one being read.

To turn pages backward, just reverse the above process: 4-3-2-1!