An automatic page turner is designed to turn and hold a page on a book to promote independence in reading for people with disabilities and decreased hand functioning as well as turning sheet music for performing musicians.
Rehabmart is proud to offer the latest technology in automatic page turner devices from such innovative vendors as PageFlip, Incorporated, and Bili, Incorporated.
What is an Automatic Page Turner?
Today’s automatic page turners employ cutting edge technology to provide hands-free page turning for a variety of applications. While most page turners come with a wireless foot pedal that can be tapped with the user’s foot to turn the pages, other turning options include a variety of capability switches that may be purchased separately. Eye switches, Jellybean push buttons and sip-n-puff switches are just a few of the available page turning choices for users with disabilities.
Used for turning scores of music, pages of books and other reading materials, automatic page turners can also be utilized for turning pages of digital reading devices. This helps musicians to keep their hands on their instruments while playing music, instead of having to manually turn the pages of the score. It also enables many users with disabilities and manual physical challenges to enjoy alternative ways to read and view materials that are both in hard copy form and digital form.
The automatic page turners available from Rehabmart include bidirectional capabilities, allowing users to turn pages both forward and backward. The foot pedals are wireless, effectively eliminating unsightly and potentially hazardous cables around music stands, musical instruments and reading areas. These page turners are also lightweight and highly portable, and they offer silent operation which will not interfere with reading, or with playing music.
Automatic Page Turners for Digital Content
As an ideal solution for hands-free reading of the digital content found on computers and tablets, certain types of automatic page turners provide Bluetooth foot pedals and wireless capability switch operation for musicians and manually-disabled individuals. Electronic documents and musical scores are easy to flip through with the use of page turners designed specifically for this format.
Wireless Bluetooth pedals (and separately sold wireless capability switches) help to alleviate the challenges and inconveniences of turning pages for both musicians and the disabled. Compatible with any Windows, Linux or Mac computer, Bluetooth page turners are also designed to work with iPad and Android tablets, as well. They help users to navigate forward and backward through web pages, digital documents and image collections hands-free simply by tapping the foot pedal, or through the use of capability switches. Other available modes include Up/Down arrow, PageUp/PageDown, Left/Right mouse click, Left/Right arrow and Space/Enter. Just a press of a button changes the mode, and no special software or programming is required.
Bluetooth page turners operate well with any iPad applications such as MusicReader, forScore, Scorecerer, Virtual Sheet Music, OnSong, Music Podium, Sheet Music Direct, Avid Scorch, Set List Maker, Steinway Etude, unrealBook, NextPage, Deepdish GigBook, Online Planning Center and Teleprompt+. They are also compatible with Android apps such as SongBook, ezPDF Reader, MobileSheets, Lyrics Flipper+, Fakebook, Cool Reader, EbookDroid and Moon+Reader.
What are the Features of Automatic Page Turners?
Modern automatic page turners offer a host of benefits for all types of users. Here are a few of those highlights.
Convenience and Ease of Use
Because the hands are not required to turn pages, musicians don’t have to stop playing their instruments, nor do they need assistants to turn the pages for them. People with manual disabilities and other physical challenges are able to use wireless capability switches and/or foot pedals to turn pages, making reading and viewing both hard copy and digital content an enjoyable activity.
Reliability and Robust Operation
The automatic page turners available from Rehabmart guarantee 100% turning ability and accuracy, whenever and wherever it is required. Only one page may be turned at a time which helps avoid turning multiple pages at once. If continuous scrolling is desired, an auto repeat switch can be employed to enable this feature by keeping the foot pedal pressed down. When the auto repeat feature is turned off, the user may rest their foot on the pedal without inadvertently turning pages.
Portability and Versatility
Because they are often used in a myriad of various environments, automatic page turners are typically designed to be small and lightweight for easy portability. Users can choose between AC power and battery power, whatever is most convenient. Bluetooth page turners offer a selection of preset modes for the pedal’s functions, and some models offer enhanced software compatibility.
Wireless Connectivity and Unique Pairing
Bluetooth page turners communicate wirelessly with an existing computer up to a range of about 33 feet, and there are optional Bluetooth USB dongles that can be purchased separately for users who do not already have Bluetooth technology on their computers. Because the Bluetooth pairing process creates unique wireless connectivity between one computer and one page turner pedal, multiple pedals can be under operation in the same room without any interference.
Automatic Power-Off Function and External Switches/Pedals
Automatic page turners typically turn off when there is no activity or usage for a period of time. They will come back on immediately after tapping the foot pedal, or engaging the capability switch. Many kinds of capability switches can be used with automatic page turners, including sip-and-puff, Jellybean, gumball, eye-controlled, textured and a host of others.
Who can Benefit from Automatic Page Turners?
There are all kinds of people who are enjoying the benefits of utilizing an automatic page turner because these devices work so much better now with the advances that have been made in technology. Page turners can be used on music stands, pianos, exercise equipment, kitchen counters and beds for hands-free reading of books, documents and sheet music.
Musicians can keep their hands on their instruments now that a foot pedal can turn their musical scores or sheet music for them. Even digital formats of music have required manual tapping or swiping to turn pages, but now musicians can employ foot pedals to turn the digital pages. Avid readers love the convenience of hands-free reading support, while others replace cookbook holders with page turner devices in the kitchen. They can also be utilized for PowerPoint presentations and lectures by remotely controlling the turning of slides.
Automatic page turners provide disabled users with some efficacious assistive technology for the reading and viewing of various materials, both hard copy and digital. They are especially helpful for those with neurological impairments, limited bilateral upper extremity function, generalized weakness and musculoskeletal disorders and issues. Users include those with spinal cord injuries, multiple scleroris (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cerebral palsy (CP), cerebrovascular accidents and arthritic joint changes.
Page turning devices help to more fully engage elderly users, as well, by providing alternative means for reading. Even people confined to bed can recline in a supine position and use the page turner foot pedal or capability switch to control the pages on an overhead display.
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Co-Founder & CEO
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