mobile – life tools

Prototyping accessibility in web and mobile UI design

Adaptable, interactive and coherent prototypes for users with disabilities. Covering accessibility in the prototyping phase of web and app design. Pay close attention to color, contrast and visual hierarchy … Make your interactive UI elements more interactive … Don’t crowd me! … Make your app accessible by being adaptable … “Flexibility is the key to ensuringContinueContinue reading “Prototyping accessibility in web and mobile UI design”

Microsoft Tackles Office Mobile Accessibility, Adds Excel Toolset

Microsoft announces upcoming accessibility enhancements for Office 365 Android and iOS apps and adds several new data transformation options to Excel. Building on Office’s existing accessibility options for visually impaired users, Microsoft revealed that it plans to add new capabilities.” I am excited to announce that Office 365 teams are not only working on enhancingContinueContinue reading “Microsoft Tackles Office Mobile Accessibility, Adds Excel Toolset”

Smartphones, apps liberate the blind, visually impaired

Ruben Morales, a blind 59-year-old retired engineer who lives in this Silicon Valley city, has used a specialized screen-reading program for years to write and run spreadsheets on his desktop computer. But recently, he figuratively cut the cord to his desktop and joined the mobile revolution. Morales was visiting an area Veterans Affairs blind rehabilitationContinueContinue reading “Smartphones, apps liberate the blind, visually impaired”

Smartphones, apps are liberating the blind and visually impaired

Ruben Morales, a blind 59-year-old retired engineer who lives in this Silicon Valley city, has used a specialized screen-reading program for years to write and run spreadsheets on his desktop computer. But recently, he figuratively cut the cord to his desktop and joined the mobile revolution. … learning how to use an iPhone’s features for vision-impairedContinueContinue reading “Smartphones, apps are liberating the blind and visually impaired”

How to Convert Word Documents to HTML

///with more people accessing the web via mobile devices, opening a Word document or PDF is problematic. Many users don’t have Mobile Viewers for Microsoft Office installed on their mobile devices… Text in the PDF or Word document may not reflow to fit the screen, resulting in users sliding the content left and right, upContinueContinue reading “How to Convert Word Documents to HTML”

Mobile Web Accessibility for Developers – Slides and Video – Marcy Sutton

Mobile Web Accessibility for Developers We are web developers creating responsive websites and hybrid mobile apps with our HTML, CSS and JavaScript skills. How can we ensure our mobile experiences are accessible to all people, including those with disabilities? In this talk, we’ll discuss mobile web accessibility fundamentals, pain points and development tips you canContinueContinue reading “Mobile Web Accessibility for Developers – Slides and Video – Marcy Sutton”

Moto G 2015 accessibility options – Android Central

Moto G 2015 accessibility options Android Central Android phones have come a long way in the accessibility department, and the Moto G 2015 is no exception. Using the features and tools Google has provided for Android Lollipop, the Moto G 2015 has plenty of options for those with trouble seeing or … (curated by Lifekludger)ContinueContinue reading “Moto G 2015 accessibility options – Android Central”

Float Label Pattern – Building Better Interfaces

Float Label Pattern The Float Label Pattern was originally conceived by Matt D. Smith, where he needed to solve the issue of input field labels and space issues on mobile forms. … the Float Label Interaction, which combines the idea of using both placeholder text and a label to identify form fields. The challenge with formContinueContinue reading “Float Label Pattern – Building Better Interfaces”

DIY door lock for smartphone accessibility by Sony

sony’s DIY ‘qrio’ smart lock clips onto door for smartphone accessibility via source: http://www.designboom.com/technology/sony-qrio-smart-lock-12-14-2014/

Firechat Enables the Crowd to Become the Internet –Bypassing Central Powers | Web Strategy by Jeremiah Owyang | Digital Business

Keep an eye on this. Mesh networking should be more of a player as proliferation of mobile devices increases. Especially in high density populations. Firechat Enables the Crowd to Become the Internet –Bypassing Central Powers | Web Strategy by Jeremiah Owyang | Digital Business.

Pressy – a smartphone task button

The Pressy is a tiny, simple button that you plug into the headphone jack of your phone that allows you to easily access a regular task. It uses an app that lets you setup the presses it takes to perform certain functions. Clicks are similar to Morse Code and are comprised of long and shortContinueContinue reading “Pressy – a smartphone task button”

Smartphone Device That Maps Surroundings to Aid Blind

Curtin University research a smartphone-like gadget that senses an entire room’s features, builds a virtual map of it and communicates this to the user may one day replace the humble white cane to help blind sense their surroundings. Using special multi-sensor array technology, the Indoor Navigation Project will enable blind to sense their surroundings beyondContinueContinue reading “Smartphone Device That Maps Surroundings to Aid Blind”

WeMo – power control via mobile

WeMo is a family of simple, ingenious products that allow you to control home electronics from anywhere. Turn them on or off, trigger them with motion, even put them on a schedule. WeMo lives on your smartphone and uses your home WiFi and mobile internet. Source: WeMo by Belkin via Lifekludger on Pinterest

Windows 8 & Metro Accessibility

Great article outlining Windows 8 & Metro Accessibility: “Our accessibility goals in Windows 8 are to: Improve the assistive technologies that are components of Windows, and provide a good experience with the Metro style UI. Provide developer tools that have baseline accessibility built in, so that accessible Metro style apps are available in the Store.ContinueContinue reading “Windows 8 & Metro Accessibility”

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”

Sonamba Wellbeing Monitor for Independence

Sonamba is an easy-to-use, stand-alone device designed to enhance caregiving for seniors or people who need a little assistance living on their own. Sonamba can send and receive messages, track normal activity patterns and warn of any changes. It provides medication and appointment reminders, and it even calls caregivers or emergency numbers. Anyone with aContinueContinue reading “Sonamba Wellbeing Monitor for Independence”

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

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”

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]