NBA CARES AND SOLUTIONS OF SOFTWARE (SOS) TEAM UP TO AID YOUNG MIAMI HEAT FAN
Donated Computer With Speech Recognition Software Helps Disabled Boy Regain Independence
Most kids can find their way around a computer with as much ease as they can throw a basketball. But for eight-year old Michael Stolzenberg of Weston, Florida, both these activities became impossible after he lost both his hands and his feet to a viral infection.
In July of 2008, Michael was hospitalized to treat a bacterial infection that was not responding to antibiotics. For seven weeks, the doctors and nurses of Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital struggled to keep Mikey alive. The bacteria was finally identified and a treatment started.
Unfortunately, oxygen deprivation to his limbs resulted in the amputation of both his hands and his feet. Since then, Mikey has been fitted with prosthetics that have helped him return to some of the activities he enjoyed. But a few things remained difficult, such as using a computer.
That’s where NBA Cares and Solutions of Software (SOS) stepped in to help. NBA Cares donated a new computer with speech recognition software and SOS provided the training. Now Mikey will be able to work on the computer by simply using his voice.
“This speech recognition software will turn the computer into a valuable tool for Mikey,” stated Patricia Murphey, owner and founder of SOS. “In addition to dictating assignments, Mikey will also be able to open programs, save files, navigate the web and even use email,” she explains.
During the training session, Mikey was taught simple voice commands that replace the keyboard and mouse. He learned how to navigate the desktop and open programs such as Microsoft Word, which he needs in order to do his schoolwork.
Mikey also learned how to navigate the internet. Patricia Murphey showed Mikey how to enter a web address and open links. They visited the Miami Heat’s website, www.nba.com/heat and checked out the stats for his favorite players.
Among the list of favorites was #3 guard, Dwyane Wade, who paid Mikey a visit a few days after the training session. To find out more about the visit, you can visit Mikey’s video on You Tube.
By the end of the training, Mikey could once again find his way around a computer. The computer also learned something during the session. Because while Mikey learned voice commands, the computer learned to recognize Mikey’s voice and inflection. To find out more about speech recognition software, read the side bar.
About NBA Cares
NBA Cares is the league’s social responsibility initiative that builds on the NBA’s long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world. Through this umbrella program, the NBA, its teams and players have committed to donating $100 million to charity, providing a million hours of hands on service to the community and creating 250 places where kids and families can live, learn or play.
About Solutions of Software
Solutions Of Software (SOS), Computer Training, is a contemporary training and consulting firm that provides professional, customized computer training solutions to South Florida-area corporations and law firms. For over 15 years they have helped clients increase their productivity by expanding computer skills on productivity boosting software such as Microsoft Excel, Access, MS Project, PowerPoint, SharePoint and many more.