Category Archives: lifekludger

Blow scrolling

Wired Gadget Lab has the full report on a breath-enabled interface recently shown at CES. To scroll blow steadily. To click, blow a forceful puff. Using ‘suck, puff, blow’ switches is nothing new in the area of  Assistive Technology but seeing them developed as alternative options for ‘mainstream’ Joe Public is. Wired thinks that “TheContinueContinue reading “Blow scrolling”

One Touch Automatic Jar Opener

The One Touch Automatic Jar Opener is made to make life easier in the kitchen for those without the strength or with any weakness or disability. Will open all kinds of jars at the touch of a button. It is fully automatic, just attach it to a jar and press the button. Operates on 2xAAContinueContinue reading “One Touch Automatic Jar Opener”

The future of brain-controlled devices – CNN.com

CNN report on the future of brain controlled devices. In part : “Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) come in two varieties. Noninvasive techniques use electrodes placed on the scalp to measure electrical activity. Invasive procedures implant electrodes directly into the brain. In both cases, the devices interact with a computer to produce a wide variety of applications,ContinueContinue reading “The future of brain-controlled devices – CNN.com”

Etre Touchy – Gloves for your iPhone etc

Call me a heretic, but surely there’s got to be something inherently awry (not to say anything about accessibility) with a device that has to have specialised, modified clothing for humans to use it! Just sayin. [Etre Touchy – Gloves for your iPhone, iPod Touch, Nintendo DS, Blackberry, PDA and more…] —

Kind Reminder – for people with Alzheimer’s

The Kind Reminder is a recorder that can be worn around the neck as a necklace or just kept close by. When the patient has a moment of disorientation, they can press the button on the recorder and the voice of their caretaker will play. The website says the product is designed for people withContinueContinue reading “Kind Reminder – for people with Alzheimer’s”

Voice Controlled Alarm Clock

[Link: Moshi Alarm Clocks: Speak to your Moshi Alarm Clock and it speaks back] Moshi Alarm Clocks are sleekly designed clocks with voice recognition technology. The Moshi Alarm Clock is fully voice interactive and can be operated without ever even seeing the clock. Speak to your Moshi in plain English and it will speak backContinueContinue reading “Voice Controlled Alarm Clock”

Do RIM’s optical trackpads offer Accessible Alternative to “Skin” Touch?

It seems RIM’s ‘optical pad’ technology could offer hope for the “touch barrier” that exists with the requirement for skin to touch the capacitive type pads that dominate todays gadgets. Thinking about how your phone’s touchscreen operates, you might assume that the so-called optical pads that have been making appearances on recent BlackBerrys (among otherContinueContinue reading “Do RIM’s optical trackpads offer Accessible Alternative to “Skin” Touch?”

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”

You can’t have inclusion without openness

You can’t have inclusion without openness. That may seem obvious to some. But it’s true power hit me like a ton of bricks when it popped into my head. More-so as I’ve been hung-up and writing on this openness thing for ages, on many levels, not being able to articulate the importance my gut wasContinueContinue reading “You can’t have inclusion without openness”

Story of ‘good will’ highlights Lifekludger concept – Santa Cruz Sentinel

This story from the Santa Cruz Sentinel shows the power of connection and what can be achieved when a Maker (Jon Bjornstad, a Santa Cruz freelance computer programmer) is backed by a Giver (Roy and Ana Cook of Saratoga) to help a Liver (Karadole, a paralyzed woman who lives in Croatia) – with the endContinueContinue reading “Story of ‘good will’ highlights Lifekludger concept – Santa Cruz Sentinel”

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”

Automated blinds controlled via computer and remote

A neat project showing automated ‘venetian’ blinds controlled via computer and remote. I once had a mod done that used a stepper motor from a hard disk that turned the blinds via the wand on the blinds. That way it was able to leave the blind in tact and could be taken with me, asContinueContinue reading “Automated blinds controlled via computer and remote”

The Social Internet as Social Assistive Device

The social web offers a means of engagement that trascends the technology and transforms lives. Strangely or not, I tend not to see myself as disabled. Maybe that’s why I tend to focus on sharing more about what I’m doing than who I am or what I think about disability specific things – whatever thoseContinueContinue reading “The Social Internet as Social Assistive Device”

Slashdot Hardware Story | Better Tools For Disabled Geeks?

Interesting, wide ranging discussion over on Slashdot about Tools For Disabled Geeks, voice input and other hardware discussions. [Slashdot Hardware Story | Better Tools For Disabled Geeks?] Hat tip to whoever it was pinged me on this, I’ve forgotten who it was now, but if it’s you, thanks. Image by by JanneM

Acoustibuds Earphone Adapters

I have trouble with earbuds falling out and this is problematic for me as I can’t put them back in myself. Seeing a lot of my listening is done wile traveling in the back of my van, it becomes a bigger problem and annoyance. My solution was to purchase earbuds with the soft rubbery endsContinueContinue reading “Acoustibuds Earphone Adapters”