iPad for a stroke victim.

[StonerStuart]

Hey everyone,

My grandfather has recently had a stroke and can't use his one arm so he is getting increasingly frustrated. He can't read his books or do anything stimulating.

I want to set him up with an iPad that he can attach to his wheelchair for reading books with and for streaming movies to and even just to keep his technical brain healthy, since there are a lot of apps that keep the brain fit. Plus it will give him something to FaceTime us with or even just a Skype call to see how he is doing.

So far I have found the following iPad attachment jobby: http://www.wantitall.co.za/PC-Hardw...y-for-iPad-4th-3rd-2nd-Gen-MMA108__B009T0FDPO

I haven't really seen any other types, but I've only been looking for a few days now.
If you guys know of or have seen any other similar attachment thingies please share a link or even just a name.

I am a Mac user and I know how painful iTunes can be, is there a need for iTunes to be run on a computer? I know you can use iCloud but that is just economically unjustifiable.

So do I need to run a pc or a Mac in order to run iTunes or is there a new networked device that can store and run iTunes content on?


I also want to set him up with one of those powermonkey chargers so he doesn't have such limited time on it when he has it on wifi and has the screen at full brightness. Can I have that plugged in constantly or should it only be plugged in once it is going flat?

I'd also like to give him a Bluetooth keyboard so he can position it wherever is most comfortable for him.

My question is: has anyone does something like this or know if its simple enough for a normal guy like me to undertake?

Oh and this setup will require quite a powerful router what are my best options?


Please any feedback will be really appreciated.

Thanks
Stuart

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Hi SS

1. You can keep the iPad plugged in, should not damage the battery
2. Wifi depends on two things - the ADSL line (if it's sub-2Mb, then videos will buffer)... best have a 4Mb ADSL line for best performance and have the wifi router in the same room as the iPad
3. You can use the iTunes applet on the iPad to manage your purchases etc, no need for a PC/Mac. But, in order to back the iPad up, you will need a PC/Mac.

That's all from my side. Hope this will help you.

May your grandfather recover soon! Sorry to hear about his stroke.

 

[StonerStuart]

Hi SS

1. You can keep the iPad plugged in, should not damage the battery
2. Wifi depends on two things - the ADSL line (if it's sub-2Mb, then videos will buffer)... best have a 4Mb ADSL line for best performance and have the wifi router in the same room as the iPad
3. You can use the iTunes applet on the iPad to manage your purchases etc, no need for a PC/Mac. But, in order to back the iPad up, you will need a PC/Mac.

That's all from my side. Hope this will help you.

May your grandfather recover soon! Sorry to hear about his stroke.

Thanks Lib,

I won't be using ADSL I'm getting him the 8ta i5 promo.

The thing is I don't think he will be staying in one room since he is in a wheelchair he will be wondering the house and the garden.
So I'm guessing ill need at least three wifi routers wired together the give him sufficient range.

Yeah so I'll need a computer because most of the data will be stored on it. Like movies and series and music.

Thanks for your input.
Is the powermonkey my best option in your opinion?

 

[StonerStuart]

Just bumping this post up...
For all you late bloomers

 

[StonerStuart]

Got quotes for a cool system that should be full proof or at least I think.
The only thing I'm missing is the actual wheelchair mount and powermonkey system.

Tell me what you guys think, this is now to cover a whole house with wifi including some outside areas!
Let me know if I have gone over board please.



1 MAC MINI R8 499 95
INTEL I5 QUAD CORE PROCESSOR
4 GB RAM DDR3
1TB HDD 7200 RPM
1 YEAR WARRNTY

1 IPAD 16GB WIFI R5 499 95
1 DUXBURY3GMODEM ROUTER R2 199 95
2 NETGEAR RANGE EXTENDERS R2 199 90
1 BOSE HEADPHONES AE2I R1 699 95
1 SEAGATE 2 TB NETWORK DRIVE R2 499 95
1 CAPDASE BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD R849 95
1 BELKIN STYLUS R249 95
1 MAGIC MOUSE R899 95
1 BATTERY CHARGER R349 95
1 APPLE WIRELESS KEYBOARD R899 95



That's everything besides the powermonkey kit and the mount.
Does it seem like I have missed something?

Sweet,
Stuart

 

[AfricanTech]

Thanks Lib,

The thing is I don't think he will be staying in one room since he is in a wheelchair he will be wondering the house and the garden.
So I'm guessing ill need at least three wifi routers wired together the give him sufficient range.

How big is the house?

I'm having great success with the Ubiquiti Unifi - it's replaced two repeaters that gave me spotty performance at best.

These guys - http://www.scoopdistribution.co.za/p...oducts_id=1129 and these guys stock it www.dbg.co.za

 

[AfricanTech]

Got quotes for a cool system that should be full proof or at least I think.
The only thing I'm missing is the actual wheelchair mount and powermonkey system.

Tell me what you guys think, this is now to cover a whole house with wifi including some outside areas!
Let me know if I have gone over board please.

2 NETGEAR RANGE EXTENDERS R2 199 90


Sweet,
Stuart

If you're determined to get these, I'll pass the two I have on to you for R900 - they're two months old and I don't need them anymore (see post above re: ubiquiti)

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Or, alternatively - is the iPad in question 3G enabled?

If so, get the correct 8ta SIM, stick it into the iPad, no wifi (or mifi) routers needed...

 

[Shiraz]

If you getting the i5 promo from 8ta, why do you need the router etc. why not just put the sim in the iPad?

 

[StonerStuart]

If you're determined to get these, I'll pass the two I have on to you for R900 - they're two months old and I don't need them anymore (see post above re: ubiquiti)

Thanks for the offer man but my aunt is paying and she wants everything to be brand new.
She has a thing about warrantees and buying second hand stuff, so I have got to listen to her.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Thanks for the offer man but my aunt is paying and she wants everything to be brand new.
She has a thing about warrantees and buying second hand stuff, so I have got to listen to her.

Then get the iPad with 3G enabled - it will save you the hassle from setting up wifi AP's...

 

[StonerStuart]

Or, alternatively - is the iPad in question 3G enabled?

If so, get the correct 8ta SIM, stick it into the iPad, no wifi (or mifi) routers needed...

Ok the duxburry (whatever) router is a 3G router that I'm using to create a network around the house that can be connected to the Mac mini for backup and iTunes and also connect the media server to it so I can load it up full of movies and stuff he will enjoy just in case he wants to watch a movie now and then or an episode of something.

The 3G connectivity is solely for communication purposes ie, FaceTime and Skype plus app download and book downloading.
You can get books on the iPad right? Please let me not be mistaken?

Now do you think since the Mac mini is necessary or should I keep it cheap and get an i3 windows piece of crap?

The reason I'm trying to go all apple is so there is little room for errors! My system is much more advanced but all Mac and I have no issues with disconnecting devices or any single issues.

So the 8ta is just for him to have access to the net, I'm sure he will only use a gig a month but why not let him enjoy it if my aunts willing to pay besides the price is good.

 

[StonerStuart]

Does it make sense?

 

[StonerStuart]

I might scrap the media server for just an external hdd.

 

[StonerStuart]

Although the media server plays all formats and encodes on the fly where as iTunes only plays certain file types and to encode hundreds of movies will take me forever.

 

[StonerStuart]

Ok since his house is small and these routers are expensive I'm going to get only one of them.
And remove the Bose headphones for now, I'm sure I can find cheaper ipad earphones with mic since I do not think iPads come with those ear pods. For the mean time I'm sure the onboard speaker will do fine if not ill get him a pair out of my own pocket.

 

[Grant]

So the 8ta is just for him to have access to the net, I'm sure he will only use a gig a month but why not let him enjoy it if my aunts willing to pay besides the price is good.

I suspect once he gets used to the system and into it, he will start exploring more and more - pretty soon 1GB will not be enough !
Especially given he is in a wheelchair, his options (entertainment etc) are a lot more restricted than the rest of us.
Check 8TA speed in the area it is to be used.

 

[StonerStuart]

I suspect once he gets used to the system and into it, he will start exploring more and more - pretty soon 1GB will not be enough !
Especially given he is in a wheelchair, his options (entertainment etc) are a lot more restricted than the rest of us.
Check 8TA speed in the area it is to be used.

Haven't done a physical Che k but it appears on their map of coverage the same way my house does. And my speeds are really tolerable. Not slow at all but not lightning fast.

Well I really hope he starts learning and exploring it because he really deserves the best.

 

[Dolby]

Although the media server plays all formats and encodes on the fly where as iTunes only plays certain file types and to encode hundreds of movies will take me forever.

How about Plex?

$4.99 I think

 

[StonerStuart]

How about Plex?

$4.99 I think

I use plex but it's nowhere near as good as that seagate device. And tvmobili works for me 10 times better than plex does.