Category Archives: Smart design

SNOWL – The Mouse Reimagined

Snowl is a wearable ring-shaped device that brings 3D range of motion to devices that are traditionally 2D such as touch screens and computer mice. With Snowl, you can experience precision control over your favorite devices through three motion tracking modes: Air Mouse mode, Gesture Mouse mode Joystick Mouse mode.COXSPACE

Siri Shortcuts stands to be a boon for people living with disability

I watched the Apple WWDC presentation this morning and was excited to see the announcement of Shortcuts. Siri Shortcuts Streamline the things you do often with shortcuts. Siri can now intelligently pair your daily routines with third-party apps to suggest convenient shortcuts right when you need them. So if you typically pick up a coffeeContinueContinue reading “Siri Shortcuts stands to be a boon for people living with disability”

A shape-shifting navigation device for both the sighted and visually impaired (w/ Video)

Without doubt, this concept has to be the most lateral thinking piece of technology I’ve seen recently. Just think what it would be capable of if it had GPS built in and a route could be preprogrammed in it from a map. Or a phone providing real time navigation information from a pocket and the cubeContinueContinue reading “A shape-shifting navigation device for both the sighted and visually impaired (w/ Video)”

Maker uses 3D printing to create eye-tracking wheelchair

  UK-based maker Patrick Joyce, who has degenerative condition motor neuron disease (also known as MND or ALS), has created an eye-tracking wheelchair controller that allows a user who has lost all motor functions except for eye movement to be able to control their wheelchair and an onboard computer. With Joyce, fellow Maker David Hopkinson, helpedContinueContinue reading “Maker uses 3D printing to create eye-tracking wheelchair”

Open source, 3D Printed, thought controlled prosthetic hand

3D Printed, thought controlled prosthetic hand for less than $1000. – Opensourced   http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1   via Meet Easton LaChappelle, The Teen Building A Cheaper, Better Prosthetic Arm.

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”

Tactile Watch – ‘Touch Time’

  On Kickstarter is a beautifully designed time-piece called ‘The Bradley’  – made for wearers –  including the blind and visually impaired — to tell time through touch rather than sight. Instead of traditional non-visual designs allowing one to ‘feel’ the watch hands,or rely on audible read time, “The Bradley” uses two ball bearings: oneContinueContinue reading “Tactile Watch – ‘Touch Time’”

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”

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”

3D-printed, individually designed prosthetic legs

[wp_youtube]fir5HI0Gwrc[/wp_youtube] What I love about this is how the people feel re-connected with themselves. 3D-printed, individually designed prosthetic legs that are unabashedly artificial and completely personal. Source: http://pinterest.com/pin/69031806758345278/ via Lifekludger on Pinterest

Wireless Foot Mouse

Flip Flop Mouse “The Toe Mouse is especially designed for those who have upper limbs disability and cannot use their hands to move the mouse. This ergonomically designed gadget uses our natural ability to grip between the toes, for manipulating the Mouse. You need to slip it on, between the big toe and second, justContinueContinue reading “Wireless Foot Mouse”

Apple keyboard & touch pad tray

The Combine collective is a group of like minded artists working together to achieve a common goal. They have come out with these stylish keyboard trays, designed to combine the mac wireless keyboard and trackpad into one clean unit. It occurred to me that this idea could be good for people requiring a way ofContinueContinue reading “Apple keyboard & touch pad tray”

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”

One problem with Stylus for Capacitive Touch Screens

iPhone Hacks blog has the low down on the problems of styluses on capacitive touch screens in a post titled New Apple Patent Talks about Stylus for Capacitive Touch Screens. The relevant bit: According to the inventors, modern day capacitive touch sensors are not optimized to receive inputs from styluses. This is because, unlike aContinueContinue reading “One problem with Stylus for Capacitive Touch Screens”

Open-Source Hardware for Prosthetics

Scientific American has an article about the Open Prosthetics Project. The Open Prosthetics Project has applied the “open source” model to the design of inexpensive prosthetic hands and arms that a small demand can still support. The designs are free for anyone to use. This is an exiting project to me as it’s an example of whatContinueContinue reading “Open-Source Hardware for Prosthetics”

Phone designed for the Blind shows importance of feedback

SENS concept phone. by Japanese designer, Takumi Yoshida I’ve written previously about the importance of the correct type of feedback for input, especially when one or more of your senses fail you. This SENS phone uses a combination of tactile sensors and audio feedback to the user. When a person key is pressed the phoneContinueContinue reading “Phone designed for the Blind shows importance of feedback”

Bicycle Design for People with Disabilities | Future Technology

Great to see some good asthetic thought as well as pure functionality put into accessible design in this bicycle. From the Tuvie site: Bicycle designer Gavin Smith has come up with a new bicycle design that will help people with disabilities to ride the bicycle independently. Sometimes disabilities like cerebral palsy can affect the basicContinueContinue reading “Bicycle Design for People with Disabilities | Future Technology”

Working Touch Screen Netbook running Mac OSX

Now folks we are talking about something I want and would actually be able to use. Compact, Mac OSX and a Resistive touch screen allowing me to control the cursor as I couldn’t o this device and can’t with the current track pads all Macs have. I couldn’t find out who did this, but ifContinueContinue reading “Working Touch Screen Netbook running Mac OSX”

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”

The Touch Barrier – Testing the pogo stylus

pogo no go After writing an article about my concerns over the pervasive use of touch I was alerted via a comment to the pogo stylus [thanks @garthk] . The Touch Barrier pogo stylus I thought it might’ve been a solution so I wrote to “Ten One Design” outlining why I’m so interested. The responseContinueContinue reading “The Touch Barrier – Testing the pogo stylus”