Category Archives: Lifekludger Links

Magnets the TouchBarrier solution for capacitive screens?

Looking at this post re HTC and stylus patents, I'm going to start looking at a kludge for my mouthsticks using magnets. HTC has a solution ready for the market. They have patented an ordinary stylus but with a twist. The stylus has a magnetic head, and due to the current induced by its movementContinueContinue reading “Magnets the TouchBarrier solution for capacitive 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 heads towards mainstream?

Interesting article on Computerworld talks about the emergence of open-source hardware and the ways it seems to be moving towards more mainstream acceptance. Open-source hardware developments offer great hope and advantages for the adaptive technology field where there is not a huge mass market need and such specialisation and individualised needs exist. Here’s a snippetContinueContinue reading “Open-source hardware heads towards mainstream?”

Resistive Multitouch Touchscreen tech

Touchco was a New York company that, according to it’s now closed website title, was developing “IFSR* multi-touch resistive sensors”.  It has now reportedly ben bought by Amazon. The impressive thing about this technology is this. “Unlike the more common and more expensive capacitive touchscreens, Touchco-equipped screens can be used with a stylus as easilyContinueContinue reading “Resistive Multitouch Touchscreen tech”

Make Open source hardware list 2009

Make has put together a list of Open Source Hardware projects. These are projects in which the creators have decided to completely publish all the source, schematics, firmware, software, bill of materials, parts list, drawings and “board” files to recreate the hardware – they also allow any use, including commercial. Similar to open source softwareContinueContinue reading “Make Open source hardware list 2009”

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”

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”

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?”

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”

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”

Motion control “in-air pointing” with the Loop

While touted as a “mouse for your TV,” the Loop combines motion control with the familiarity feel of a mouse packaged in to an ergonomically friendly circular design. Control the Loop pointer using four buttons and scroll wheel. Further more though is the motion control. Freespace motion control technology allows “in-air pointing” – by movingContinueContinue reading “Motion control “in-air pointing” with the Loop”

iMainGo iPod Speakers for AAC

A recent comment discussing uses of the iPodTouch/iPhone as a Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device brought to light this little accessory for iPods that could enable output of sound while maintaining the small, light portability. [iMainGo iPod Speakers for AAC]

More medical applications for mobile technology

Along the lines of an earlier post here on the interfaces emerging between mobile devices and medical technology, Diabetes Device & iPhone. Popgadget reports: AT&T has just launched new technology in partnership with Mednet which monitors heart patients’ health and transmits the results to their cardiologists via Bluetooth. [via – More medical applications for mobile technology] MoreContinueContinue reading “More medical applications for mobile technology”

Report Disabled people often poor

A report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare earlier this month comes to what to me, and I suspect many, would think obvious. Disabled people often poor Thursday, 02 April 2009 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Economic hardship can be both a cause and a result of disability, according to the study.ContinueContinue reading “Report Disabled people often poor”

Will Apple’s 10-inch touchscreens still need skin?

Reuters reported last month on Apple ordering larger touch screens: Taiwan touchscreen specialist Wintek already makes small screens for Apple iPhones, and has received orders for the larger ones that are roughly the same size as those used in mini PCs – [http://www.wintek.com.tw/] I bet you’ll still need skin! Source [Apple orders 10-inch touchscreens forContinueContinue reading “Will Apple’s 10-inch touchscreens still need skin?”

GM and Segway new balancing two-wheeler transport project

My ex-boss, when talking about the language of disability, always used to tell people that “wheelchair bound” should refer to those who do not use a wheelchair, as they’re potentially headed there and we’ve already arrived! Well, now take a look at this experimental vehicle from Segway. See, he was right! The Personal Urban MobilityContinueContinue reading “GM and Segway new balancing two-wheeler transport project”

Diabetes Device & iPhone

ReadWriteWeb reports on iPhone app that wirelessly connects to a Bluetooth-enabled glucose meter. A good example and model of technology assisting health and well-being. I think lots more work on hardware device interfacing needs attention allowing software <-> hardware interactions as these types of things tend to foster possibilities for environmental control. [Diabetes Device &ContinueContinue reading “Diabetes Device & iPhone”

Puff – Blow Concept for phone interaction.

Interesting idea. A first-thought is in the future this would be a way around the ‘voice-command’ dialing barrier that exists with most devices currently, where you’re expected to push a button then talk. A “puff-talk” action would work as a ‘complete’ hands free dialing alternative. [Pantech IM-] via ubergizmo