The Box is a major cultural and heritage attraction and archive, which opened in Plymouth’s city centre in September 2020. Its collection, formally the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), is the regional film archive for the South West of England, comprising the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and Television South West (TSW). It also includes a significant number of donated film collections dating back to the early 1890s.
This film is part of Free
Sip-and-Puff Assistive Technology
Eileen Brown lives with Multiple Sclerosis and uses assistive technology to write after seven years.
From the collection of:
Overview
Eileen Brown from Braunton in Devon lives with Multiple Sclerosis and uses assistive technology in the form of sip-and-puff to write short stories and a novel after seven years of not being able to write due to her condition. Sip-and-puff uses air pressure by inhaling by sipping or exhaling by puffing through a special mouthpiece or wand which controls the typewriter and is based on the principle of morse code.
The Patient Operated Selector Mechanism (POSM or POSSUM) was developed in the early 1960s and used a sip-and-puff control mechanism. Morse code was used for typewriter control through voiced or sip-and-puff in the VOTEM system in 1969 and by oral muscular control by 1972. As technologies developed more investment produced augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices crucial in the education and communication of disabled people and children. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a condition of the central nervous system where the coating of the nerve fibres or myelin is damaged by the body's own immune system.
Related
Watch for free
Ian Dury Ian Dury
Biopic 1983 52 mins
Blockheads lead singer talks about how becoming disabled has affected his life and music.
Watch for free
Y Gwr O Gwr Yr Aran Y Gwr O Gwr Yr Aran
1978 29 mins Location: Llanuwchllyn
Teacher Frank Letch of Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd discusses his life and living with his acquired disability in this TV documentary. In Welsh with English subtitles.
Watch for free
A Day in the Life of Kevin Donnellon A Day in the Life of Kevin Donnellon
1972 28 mins
An episode of World in Action documenting the life of 11 year old Kevin and how he and his family live with the effects of the drug Thalidomide.
Watch for free
Disabled Graduate Disabled Graduate
News 1981 6 mins Location: Cambridge
Disabled graduate Peter Thweeney simply wants the opportunity to be economically independent, and has ambitions to become a lawyer.
Watch for free
Disabled Boy Invents Speech Machine Disabled Boy Invents Speech Machine
News 1973 5 mins Location: Cambridge
Anglia TV report on the young disabled entrepreneur that has invented the Lightwriter, a communication device that won a British Design Award
Watch for free
Championship Swimmer Championship Swimmer
Current affairs 1967 1 mins Silent Location: Exeter
Champion swimmer Linda Hockworthy returns to the pool after a recent leg amputation.
Watch for free
Somerset Stars at Braunton CC Somerset Stars at Braunton CC
News 1980 1 mins Silent Location: Braunton
Cricket stars turn out for centenary at the Kelsey Ground Braunton CC
Watch for free
End Piece to Opus One: The Car goes Home End Piece to Opus One: The Car goes Home
Amateur film 1955 1 mins Silent Location: Braunton
Eddie takes to the lanes in his old car around Braunton
Watch for free
Farm Auction at Braunton Farm Auction at Braunton
Amateur film 1955 3 mins Silent Location: Braunton
Cattle and sheep at Braunton Auction
Watch for free
Braunton Bulb Farm Braunton Bulb Farm
Amateur film 1960 12 mins Silent Location: Woolacombe
Horticulturalists rear fine blooms
Watch for free
The US Troops' Peace Tree at Braunton The US Troops' Peace Tree at Braunton
Amateur film 1944 4 mins Silent Location: Braunton
US Troops' Peace Tree at Braunton
Watch for free
Felling the 'Cross Tree' Felling the 'Cross Tree'
Amateur film 1935 2 mins Silent Location: Braunton
Lumberjacks of Braunton: north Devon villagers gather to cut down their celebrated 'Cross Tree' to make way for a better road system.
Watch for free
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Watch for free
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Watch for free
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.
Watch for free
Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.
Watch for free
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Watch for free
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.