AlarMe is a very unique watch that has the ability to alert those who cannot hear an audible alarm by vibration. Multidirectional microphones that can register a drastic change in ambient sound level, or pick up specially asigned frequencies alert the user. The LED lights and face alert the user as to what the alarmContinueContinue reading “AlarMe – Alert watch with style”
Category Archives: Devices
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”
XBox 360 Controller for Mac OSX
Came across this neat little project that could be an alternate input device. Not sure if it could double as mouse and gaes controller, or just games. “…a USB driver which allows you to use wired XBox 360 Controllers via USB, and wireless XBox 360 Controllers via the Microsoft Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows, on yourContinueContinue reading “XBox 360 Controller for Mac OSX”
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”
Phone fingers need a finger to work
[img:1943139268,small] [A Phone Finger on my mouthstick. All revved up with no place to go.] Well, I bought the Mac book home to try these phone fingers on my mouthstick. Doesn’t work. Still needs a finger. I had originally thought the phone fingers might have been made from material that acted like the human fingerContinueContinue reading “Phone fingers need a finger to work”
Have phone fingers- need touch pad
So…the Phone Fingers I ordered arrived and were waiting when I got home from work. Very quick service from Austria to Australia. However you’ll all have to wait to see how they work on my stick… I’ve been so well adapted to not being able to use anything with a touch pad that I’ve gotContinueContinue reading “Have phone fingers- need touch pad”
Phone Fingers – Solution for ‘no finger’ touch?
I’ve been under a rock. Just decided pop my head out and saw that these Phone Fingers had been released. Immediately I thought that this may at long last be the answer to the problems I have using anything that requires a finger skin to operate it. I’m off to order some and see howContinueContinue reading “Phone Fingers – Solution for ‘no finger’ touch?”
Lifekludger on TV – No Limits
A while ago I was approached to appear on the TV show “No Limits”. The show is produced out of Melbourne and screens on Channel 31 on Mondays at 7.30pm. Here’s how they describe the show: No Limits is a project of Disability Media Inc. We believe in the power of the media to changeContinueContinue reading “Lifekludger on TV – No Limits”
Cameras without wires
I notice Scoble’s testing Nikon’s S51C camera that has wifi built in. This has prompted me to write what’s been on my mind about the usefulness of cameras having wireless connectivity – of any kind. I use a Dopod 810 PDA. It’s my work and personal diary, phone, mobile web browser and doubles as aContinueContinue reading “Cameras without wires”
Talking about Tools to OTs
The group of Occupational Therapy students at UNISA I spoke with yesterday about how to use tools to do life with disability. The course title is “Enabling Occupation” Occupation being any activity in this case. I like to simplify that to mean “Helping to do stuff”. Which ain’t a bad definition of what a toolContinueContinue reading “Talking about Tools to OTs”
Emporia Life Phone info sought
Back here I wrote about the Emporia Life Phone. The other day I got an email asking me about where to get one in Australia, which it appears you can’t. Can anyone help shelly? Are you listening Emporia? shelly wrote: EMPORIA PHONE These are not available in Australia at present and nobody I have spokenContinueContinue reading “Emporia Life Phone info sought”
The Digital Pencil – finally a solution to the touch pad finger-only issue
Finally, someone has tackled the problem inherent with ‘finger touch’ devices that I’ve written about before a few times. SUCK UK has developed a Touch Pad stylus, designed as a stubby little pencil, to use on those finger touch devices becoming so prevalent. Popgadget reports: Made from a “special space age” silicone material that exactlyContinueContinue reading “The Digital Pencil – finally a solution to the touch pad finger-only issue”
Bluetooth SoundBall potential for blind soccer
SoundBall is a ball with sensors that make it emit sounds according to what it’s movement is. The ball transmits what it’s doing via Bluetooth, enabling it to control music and sound through motion. It’s creator, Aleksei Stevens, calls it a toy. But I reckon if you put it onto a field for blind soccerContinueContinue reading “Bluetooth SoundBall potential for blind soccer”
More on PowerSwitch kludging – an Australian lead
After Dave Faxon’s post about what he’d been up to with remote controlled power switches, I got an email from Ian from my own hometown. Geez, never know who’s watching! Ian writes: Hi David, Jaycar Electronics have an RF remote switch similar to the Super Switch in their new catalogue. Also available are small in-lineContinueContinue reading “More on PowerSwitch kludging – an Australian lead”
PowerSwitch kludging by Dave Faxon
Lifekludger correspondant Dave Faxon sent in this report on some mods he’s been doing on remote control access of power outlets.Dave first came to my attention when we were talking about the USB PowerBar when he, amongst many others, contacted me, everyone seeking such a device that has control of power outlets via USB. WeContinueContinue reading “PowerSwitch kludging by Dave Faxon”
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”
Mobile phones, PDAs and Bluetooth with a disability.
Photo by agg.alex Operating Mobile phones, PDAs and Bluetooth with a disability. I often get questions about different devices and things via email. I will as much as possible answer these publicly here so we all can benefit from each other’s experiences via comments etc. So if ever you write email to me and don’tContinueContinue reading “Mobile phones, PDAs and Bluetooth with a disability.”
Lifekludger with the olpc
I’ve had a guest living with me the last two weeks – his name was SparkySparky is a laptop from the olpc people. Called an XO, it is one of the 2500 BTest-2 hardware units built by Quanta, sparky had 128Mb RAM, Sugar interface and is green.I was keen to see if someone with abilitiesContinueContinue reading “Lifekludger with the olpc”
RFID Keyless Lifestyle
Caught this idea about a RFID keyless access device on the local New Inventors TV show on the ABC last night. The Keyless Lifestyle Controller is an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag that is small enough to be worn on the inside of your watch band. Evidently he’s a friend of my mate UncleNick. SoContinueContinue reading “RFID Keyless Lifestyle”
Media Centre based AAC
Live blogging from the Connecting Up 2007 conference. Sat in on James Kavanagh from Microsoft giving a presentation on accessibility in Vista. The intereting part was a project MS are doing with the NSW Govt. The project is Alternative Communication, Symbol based Software app built on Windows Media Centre. Was shown an early version onlyContinueContinue reading “Media Centre based AAC”
Lifekludging a UMPC
Lifekludging a UMPC Dave drives an eo Previously I have reviewed and offered my thoughts on Tablet PCs, one being a slate [Sahara Slate] and the other [Acer C200] having a keyboard with touch screen. While the tablet experience really highlighted some advantages for myself and the way I could interact with them, the issueContinueContinue reading “Lifekludging a UMPC”
More simple cell phones for life
emporia have a great statement on their site which states: What is simple will be understood. What is understood generates relevance. I came across these phones made by emporia via Popgadget blog. They reminded me of my observations made in an earlier post where I see that simpler interfaces for devices that hide the convergenceContinueContinue reading “More simple cell phones for life”
USB Power bar surfaces
Last June I wrote about a USB controlled power bar that seemed like it would be beneficial for environmental control in a ‘plug and play’, off the shelf package. However the device written about was in Japan. Since then I’ve had multiple people contact me asking about where to get it and over the timeContinueContinue reading “USB Power bar surfaces”
eAccess forum workup
As part of work, I’m giving a talk/demo at a forum on eAccessibility next week to a couple hundred Govt. and NGO types. I’m no accessibility expert and think mostly they want demonstrated issues around physical access to the online world. I’m thinking about what effects software design, layout, markup – virtual things – haveContinueContinue reading “eAccess forum workup”
tools = freedom
Back on Jan 16 and 18, posts by JP alerted me of a video of Lawrence Lessig speaking at the 23rd Chaos Communications Congress. Here’s a link to the video. JP says: One of the key points made by Lawrence Lessig in his 23C3 speech is how code, once used solely to make things work,ContinueContinue reading “tools = freedom”
