The South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA) is the regional film archive for the South West of England. Established in 1993, SWFTA's core collection comprises of the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and TSW (Television South West). The archive also cares for a significant number of donated film collections, both amateur and professional, dating back to the early 1900s.
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
News 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
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Watch for free
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Watch for free
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Watch for free
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.