Category Archives: access

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”

Head-gesture control in iOS7 accessibility options

iOS7 introduces  head gesture control as part of Apple’s accessibility tools. It cycles automatically through every on-screen icon, just like a scanning on-screen keyboard, with the user selecting options by moving their head. The ‘Switch control’ feature, lets you set left or right head movements to trigger Siri, the notification center, control volume, open the multi-taskingContinueContinue reading “Head-gesture control in iOS7 accessibility options”

Apple’s Retina display aids accessibility | TUAW

Macworld blogger Steven Aquino wrote a fascinating piece ..on how Apple’s Retina display technology has helped him — a legally blind individual. ” The high pixel density — 326 pixels per inch — and turning the screen brightness all the way up made it so “even the smallest text was readable, and I was ableContinueContinue reading “Apple’s Retina display aids accessibility | TUAW”

Wheelchair-accessible version of the NYC Taxi

A universal, accessible taxi fleet is something to aspire to, and IMHO Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s push to standardize the NY city’s taxi fleet with a single, universal vehicle is to be applauded. This Nissan vehicle looks the ticket. Though I ‘m not sure how most electric wheelchairs would fit in lengthwise. I look forward to seeingContinueContinue reading “Wheelchair-accessible version of the NYC Taxi”

Live Subtitling for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Using Moverio

Live translating using a microphone, a smartphone running Google Translate, and Epson Moverio Epson’s Moverio is a pair of glasses with Wi-Fi controlled by a wired touch remote running on Android. With a little experimentation and development it could possibly lead to a useful tool for the deaf and the hearing impaired. [wp_youtube]HptVoZiD_14[/wp_youtube] MoverioChannel [via Chip Chick]

Webcam Swiper – swipe your hand to turn pages

Found this neat experiment that you point your webcam at yourself and swipe your hand left or right to turn the pages of the book.   It’s called the Webcam Swiper.   Chrome is the only stable browser which supports webcam access at this time, but Firefox nightly builds supposedly have it too.   Webcam Swiper – http://iambrandonn.github.com/WebcamSwiper/ContinueContinue reading “Webcam Swiper – swipe your hand to turn pages”

YouTube videos focusing on Mobile Accessibility

Luis Perez has a great channel on Youtube where he focuses on mobile accessibility, primarily on iOS devices. I’ve included one on the New Features for Assistive Touch in IOS 6. But there’s others on similar topics as well as accessibility when using iBooks Author. They’re good stuff and I recommend them to anyone needingContinueContinue reading “YouTube videos focusing on Mobile Accessibility”

You Can Do Astronomy – Accessible Astronomy

Noreen Grice is the Founder and President of You Can Do Astronomy LLC. She’s an astronomy educator who is determined to make the universe more accessible for everyone and reaching more people about options for sharing the wonders of the night sky through mobility, non-visual, non-verbal communication and non-hearing access and in developing specialized environmentsContinueContinue reading “You Can Do Astronomy – Accessible Astronomy”

Windows 8 & Metro Accessibility

  Great article outlining Windows 8 & Metro Accessibility: “Our accessibility goals in Windows 8 are to: Improve the assistive technologies that are components of Windows, and provide a good experience with the Metro style UI. Provide developer tools that have baseline accessibility built in, so that accessible Metro style apps are available in the Store.ContinueContinue reading “Windows 8 & Metro Accessibility”

BrailleTouch – a Braille-like texting app

Georgia Tech has come up with BrailleTouch – a Braille-like texting app. This ia a prototype app for touchscreen mobile device. You can Text not even having to even look at the device’s display at all – which bodes well for the visually impaired, of course. “Research has shown that chorded, or gesture-based, texting isContinueContinue reading “BrailleTouch – a Braille-like texting app”

Lifekludger on ABC Radio – Second life, disability & education

      A couple months back I was contacted to see if I could give some input for an ABC Radio National program segment on Second life, disability and education. My input was focused around barriers to access to technology generally and from my Lifekludger perspective. Also touched on the importance of technology forContinueContinue reading “Lifekludger on ABC Radio – Second life, disability & education”

Hitachi stylus compatible, capacitive touch panel

This interesting development was flagged to me recently and is of great interest personally as I battle with the “Touch barrier” that the pervasive use of capacitive type touch-screens pose. Hitachi Displays has developed a projective-type electrostatic capacitance touch-panel that can convert input from a non-conductive object into electrostatic capacitance, thus allowing the use ofContinueContinue reading “Hitachi stylus compatible, capacitive touch panel”

Just5 Simple features Mobile Phone

Just5 Mobile phones take the less is more approach with a phone ideally aimed at older persons and those with a disability with a phone that boasts 5 simple features: 1. Big Buttons : These big buttons really do make a difference. Easy to dial even without putting on glasses. 2. Ease of Operation :ContinueContinue reading “Just5 Simple features Mobile Phone”

Dagi Transparent Stylus for Capacitive Touch Screens

Isn’t it interesting how we are seeing more and more uses where there’s a need for a stylus on these capacitive touch screens? Just when everyone thinks Steve Jobs has liberated them to the freedom of the finger, it seems we aren’t so free after all and that maybe other forms of pointing can beContinueContinue reading “Dagi Transparent Stylus for Capacitive Touch Screens”

Wireless door access TI watch

Wireless door access using the TI hackable watch What seems “novelty” can often be essential in a different context. This type device could be great for access. The TI Chronos development kit will allow many great projects that cleverly exploit the resources of the Chronos watch. This video shows a hack that wirelessly unlocks aContinueContinue reading “Wireless door access TI watch”

Mac Tutorial Video Subtitles

The goal of the Mac Video Tutorials Subtitle Project is to caption the Apple video tutorials that help users learn to use the Mac. To make this great resource available to non-English speaking users, and to those with hearing impairments or language processing problems. A great use of crowd sourcing. [Mac Video Tutorials Subtitle Project viaContinueContinue reading “Mac Tutorial Video Subtitles”

A True Hands Free Bluetooth Headset

Meet Darrell Earlier in the year I was contacted by Darrell. Darrell may not realise it, but he is a Lifekludger. Darrell has a son. His son lives with a disability. His son’s disability prevented him from using a mobile phone. Unable to press a button to activate ‘hands free’ voice control dialing – yesContinueContinue reading “A True Hands Free Bluetooth Headset”

Pressure Sensitive Multitouch pads to come

An article in Technology Review reveals development of pressure sensitive touch pads that could be used on future generation devices. Why is this Lifekludger newsworthy? Because the pads are reported to combine features of both kinds of existing touch pads. To me, this might mean some breaking down of the Touch Barrier and the seemingContinueContinue reading “Pressure Sensitive Multitouch pads to come”

Keyboard Access for Google Maps

Web Axe points to an article where Patrick H. Lauke provides a solution to making Google Maps keyboard accessible by retrofitting keyboard access into google maps. (Obviously JavaScript is still required.) Also, Google Maps provides a text-only option, which is nice for those using assistive devices, mobile devices, low or costly bandwidth, etc. I’ve beenContinueContinue reading “Keyboard Access for Google Maps”

RFID controlled phone dialing

More and more uses are surfacing for RFID chips and I can foresee many practical applications for alternative access to a myriad of life related activities. Hackaday reports on a phone prototype which uses RFID tags to dial. It is common for our motor skills and eyesight to deteriorate as we get older. There areContinueContinue reading “RFID controlled phone dialing”

Puff activated kick pedal mod for Guitar Hero

Ben Heck has modded the kick pedal on the drums of guitar hero so it can be operated by puff of the mouth by someone who uses a wheelchair.   Ben shows exactly how he went about the awesome mod over on his blog in a post here. http://benheck.com/03-01-2009/air-pressure-kick-pedal-for-gh4 This is a brilliant example ofContinueContinue reading “Puff activated kick pedal mod for Guitar Hero”