Author Archives: dnw

Commodity Environmental Control – The Smart Home and Accessibility | TechCrunch

Techcrunch feature an good article on the smart home and accessibility. For over thirty years I’ve been kludging ways to control what I can around me.  There’s a whole field of rehabilitation technology centred around what’s termed “environmental control”. All this time I’ve dreamed of the day when this stuff – what you could call ‘lazy-man’ tech.ContinueContinue reading “Commodity Environmental Control – The Smart Home and Accessibility | TechCrunch”

Reader Writes – carbon fiber mouth stick fabrication needed

I received the following comment on my post Reader Writes: Another alternative for a touch mouthstick from Aaron who is looking for help fabricating a mouthstick solution. The aim of Lifekludger is to try and bring together people who make things (Makers) with people who need things (Livers). I post it here in hope someone might be able toContinueContinue reading “Reader Writes – carbon fiber mouth stick fabrication needed”

The unconsciously built connected consciousness | Cluetrain at Fifteen

[The Net is] the connected consciousness of the market itself. It makes markets smart by giving customers unprecedented powers, the most fundamental of which is each other via Cluetrain at Fifteen | Linux Journal. What I have always loved about Doc is how human he is. For me this quote encompasses everything the article hasContinueContinue reading “The unconsciously built connected consciousness | Cluetrain at Fifteen”

Apple’s App Review Should Test Accessibility – Marco.org

Marco has a great post outlining why Apple (among others) should require accessibility of an app before releasing it. The closer to the design end of the development curve that accessibility is included, the better. Poor or broken accessibility is exactly the sort of problem that Apple’s App Review team should check for: many developersContinueContinue reading “Apple’s App Review Should Test Accessibility – Marco.org”

The Great Automatic Light Saga or How to control a WeMo light from your PC

Summary: Control a lamp with a script on your PC via WiFi and a WeMo Switch This is going to get a bit convoluted so try and stick with me. I moved house the end of last year and, as happens every time, I left behind all the alterations and small tweaks I’d done toContinueContinue reading “The Great Automatic Light Saga or How to control a WeMo light from your PC”

DwellClick

DwellClick lets you use your Mac without clicking. You point, it clicks . DwellClick will drag for you. Point at windows and resize areas to auto-drag, and use the control panel  for anything else. Save thousands of clicks per day. Drag hands-free with total control.What is dwell clicking?Dwell clicking enables clickless operation of your computer.ContinueContinue reading “DwellClick”

Reader Writes: Another alternative for a touch mouthstick

Overcoming the “touch barrier” I received a message the other day from a reader … in …. Michael writes: Please see the attached [link for] pencil tops or stick tops – or whatever you’re having yourself – tops. I have been using something similar from the same website for some time.  They are effectively noveltyContinueContinue reading “Reader Writes: Another alternative for a touch mouthstick”

 HandsFree, a Mac app worth $4.99 in the Mac App Store, that uses your Mac as a…

Reshared post from +David N Wallace HandsFree, a Mac app worth $4.99 in the Mac App Store, that uses your Mac as a handsfree device by routing the audio from your Android phone or iPhone to your Mac. (Needs OS X 10.9)* HandsFree Lets You Make & Receive Phone Calls On Your Mac There are thoseContinueContinue reading ” HandsFree, a Mac app worth $4.99 in the Mac App Store, that uses your Mac as a…”

Pressy – a smartphone task button

The Pressy is a tiny, simple button that you plug into the headphone jack of your phone that allows you to easily access a regular task. It uses an app that lets you setup the presses it takes to perform certain functions. Clicks are similar to Morse Code and are comprised of long and shortContinueContinue reading “Pressy – a smartphone task button”

Kwikset Kevo smart lock

Kwikset are a leading brand of door hardware and home improvement. The Kevo smart lock is a Bluetooth-enabled deadbolt that will turns your iPhone into your housekey. The Kevo smart lock gives you the ability to unlock the door with a smartphone, accompanied by a simple touch. Electronic keys (eKeys) can be sent to family, friendsContinueContinue reading “Kwikset Kevo smart lock”

Ribbit wireless handset, speaker and dock for mobile phone

The Ribbit is a wireless handset, speaker and charging dock for your mobile devices. Use the classic receiver to make calls while your smartphone or tablet is charging. The Ribbit has volume control and a noise reduction system to ensure crisp, polished sound. A rechargeable battery provides around 6 hours of continuous talk and 35ContinueContinue reading “Ribbit wireless handset, speaker and dock for mobile phone”

Much awaited new Accessibility feature – iOS 7 Switch Control

From the AblenetInc youtube page comes some info on Switch Control in iOS7 “iOS 7 includes a powerful new accessibility feature, Switch Control. For users with significant physical disabilities, Switch Control is a much needed feature that provides access to almost every feature in iOS 7 through the use of one or multiple switches.” [wp_youtube]fqWkNxB27DM[/wp_youtube]

Captionfish: A captioned movies search engine

Stumbled across this service the other day. Lists captioned movies and TV shows as well as a search facility. You can customise results to shown within a certain area. Howeverer it only seems to be US-Centred currently. I’d really like to see this expaned to other countries, especially Australia. Captionfish: A captioned movies search engine.

Hands-Free Hair Dryer by AirPhysics

Ok, here’s one from left field. The AirPhysics Hands-Free Hair Dryer will be able to rest on just about any hard surface, and can be easily activated with but a touch of a button. I came across this hands free hair dryer, something I’d never heard of, and immediately thought how it could be beneficialContinueContinue reading “Hands-Free Hair Dryer by AirPhysics”

Leapmotion Gestures for accessibility

[wp_youtube]GoytMqwygZ0[/wp_youtube] Christian Heilmann has a neat article and video about using the Leap motion for accessibility gestures. In essence, this means: Swiping your finger right will scroll the page down, left will scroll up. The speed of the swipe defines the amount of pixels scrolled Making a clockwise circular gesture will jump to the nextContinueContinue reading “Leapmotion Gestures for accessibility”

Wheelchair hack for foot control

Alejandro who was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy which limits his ability to move. Rather than wait five years for a powered wheelchair, his father [Shea] took it upon himself to hack a wheelchair his son could control. He used a second hand adult-sized motorized wheelchair on eBay and the sensors from a digital kitchen scale asContinueContinue reading “Wheelchair hack for foot control”

Smartphone Device That Maps Surroundings to Aid Blind

Curtin University research a smartphone-like gadget that senses an entire room’s features, builds a virtual map of it and communicates this to the user may one day replace the humble white cane to help blind sense their surroundings. Using special multi-sensor array technology, the Indoor Navigation Project will enable blind to sense their surroundings beyondContinueContinue reading “Smartphone Device That Maps Surroundings to Aid Blind”

DN!

(curated from DN! by Lifekludger) Many cable companies refuse to list the titles of shows that air on public access television stations in their on-screen guides. Now media activists are pushing for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to intervene.Complete article at source: http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2013/8/7/cable_companies_urged_to_make_public_access_television_shows_more_accessible

Sony & Amazon Ask to Exempt E-readers from Accessibility Law

(curated by Lifekludger from Sony & Amazon Ask to Exempt E-readers from Accessibility Law ) A group of e-reader manufacturers including Amazon, Sony, and Kobo, are petitioning the Federal Communications Commission to exempt the devices from federal accessibility laws. Complete article at source: http://www.deque.com/sony-amazon-exempt-e-readers-accessibility-law

Crowdsourcing Accessibility Maps with AXSMapShare This

Like many of you, I use the Google Maps application on my smartphone, a lot. Whether I need to locate the nearest convenience store or find the closest BART stop, having a map in my hand with a realtime “you are here” dot is an incredible convenience. via Pocket http://codeforamerica.org/2012/05/18/crowdsourcing-accessibility-maps-with-axsmap/

Playing with Leapmotion for accessibility

Today I spent a few hours in the Leap motion offices talking about the web possibilities of this cool new technology. On the way back we had an internet connectivity outage, so it was a great opportunity to start playing with some of the ideas. Here is a video of what I am working on.ContinueContinue reading “Playing with Leapmotion for accessibility”