Category Archives: access

Revisiting touch on the OLPC XO laptop and hardware access design

“Accessibility is about accommodating characteristics a person cannot change by providing options” — Joe Clarke, 2001 * An outline * some ideas in olpc first look was promising * accessibility and usability are hardware issues too * accessibility should venture out of the online space into hardware design Last year I had a first lookContinueContinue reading “Revisiting touch on the OLPC XO laptop and hardware access design”

The Touch Barrier – Stylus enquiries continue

I received an email from a reader, Scott Sands, around the touch barrier issues I’ve been writing about here and here on the blog. Scott graciously agreed for me to put his email here for my response so all might benefit from the issues discussed. Scott outlines how he uses his computer and his issuesContinueContinue reading “The Touch Barrier – Stylus enquiries continue”

Door lock operated by Internet or mobile phone.

Set to launch in October : A door lock that can be activated by mobile phone and over the internet. Can also notify via phone when someone enters. I could use this as I can use my mobile but not open my door without assistance of a keypad. This has huge potential in the communityContinueContinue reading “Door lock operated by Internet or mobile phone.”

New iPod and the Importance of Input Feedback

Being the geek I am, as well as the sleeper I am, I found myself following the Apple ‘Let’s Rock’ event at 2.30am. One interesting thought about the new stuff that was announced is the accessibility aspect is being thought about and incorporated at th design stage.  Like most of the things to do withContinueContinue reading “New iPod and the Importance of Input Feedback”

iPhone text accessibility plan from AT&T

For deaf, hearing impaired, and those with difficulties talking, AT&T unveiled a Text Accessibility Plan. For $40.00 per month, qualified customers get unlimited text and unlimited data, without any allotment of minutes for talk time. Sensible move by AT&T, showing that barriers to access don’t always involve convaluted solutions. [via techgadgetupdate]

Dave the Lifekludger gets a mention by Mark Pesce on New Inventors

Over a month back I mentioned in a blog post titled “Mind control interface a near reality” the Epoc Headset, being developed by Emotiv. The other day on the New Inventors on the ABC here in Australia my friend Mark Pesce gives a shoutoput to me. Ref 1min in.

The touch barrier — responses

After my previous post about the “Touch Barrier” as referring to the inherent issues of the pervasive use of touch technologies I had some good responses. @lucychili pointed me to work Peter Hutterer is doing with MPXLaurel wrote a blog post “Disabilities social networks games” pointing to a article DISABLED GAMERS’ COMPRISE 20% OF CASUAL-VIDEOGAMEContinueContinue reading “The touch barrier — responses”

The Touch Barrier – Accessibility and usability issues around touch technologies

I’m Worried. Worried about recent technology developments – actually the application of one technology in particular – touch. In this instance, when I say ‘touch’ I’m referring to devices requiring skin – a finger as opposed to a stylus – ala the iPhone and nearly every laptop on the market. For the past 60% ofContinueContinue reading “The Touch Barrier – Accessibility and usability issues around touch technologies”

Travel Second Life hands free

Lots of new and interesting input and interface devices being developed it seems lately. Lets hope we can see some real world uses for access to technology evolving from them. Mitch Kapor (from Linden Labs Board) and Philippe Bossut designed a prototype interface that demonstrates the possibilities for operating Second Life “hands free” without aContinueContinue reading “Travel Second Life hands free”

Turn phone into walking radar to detect physical spaces

The “Walking Radar” project connects up a Basic Stamp and IR sensor to your cell phone in order to detect objects in the environment and influence games on the device or trigger SMS messages to be sent. [Make] It occurred to me this gadget if hooked up to the vibration part of your phone couldContinueContinue reading “Turn phone into walking radar to detect physical spaces”

Pointui – touch for when you don’t have fingers – acting agnostic

Recently I was made aware of a program called Pointui while scanning Frank Arrigo’s blog (hi Frank). I thought it sounded interesting if for no other reason than the screenshot looked to provide bigger buttons. So I visited the Pointui site. Pointui is a interface layer for Windows Mobile based devices. It adds larger iconsContinueContinue reading “Pointui – touch for when you don’t have fingers – acting agnostic”

Unforseen custom uses for Wii as input device

There exists assistive technology devices that use tracking of a reflective dot by infrared to control a computer. They cost in vacinity on USD $4-500. Now take a look at this video and think about the unforseen possibilities of general purpose ‘stuff’. And what happens with mass market uptake and the effect it has onContinueContinue reading “Unforseen custom uses for Wii as input device”

Thinking about Three Levels of Technology Access

Overview: * Getting hold of technology, operating it and getting value from it are challenges when the mode of access falls outside the intended design parameters. * Access to technology needs to start with a person focus not a technology focus. * Gaps in access should be approached from the bottom up with an opennessContinueContinue reading “Thinking about Three Levels of Technology Access”