Label elements
We wish we’d thought of this: $6.00 packages of iconic labels to put on all your plugs, so that you can easily identify which cable came from which appliance. A boon to people with cognitive disabilities, of course–but since technology tends to boost cognitive demands on everyone, we’re hoping the vendors are successful in persuading manufacturers to include these with every new product. They look pretty low-vision friendly, too.
Have a fit at the airport
Next time you’re going through the Philadelphia Airport (or Levi’s stores in several large cities), stop at the Virtual Fitting Room to get thoroughly measured. Based on 200,000 data points, you can then search many famous brand name clothing websites and find out what overpriced rags are guaranteed to fit you. Wonder if it can accommodate people sitting in wheelchairs, or “non-standard” bodies in general? If so, it could save a lot of people a lot of waisted…er, wasted time and energy.
Another bone conduction receiver for phones
We’ve seen bone conduction before, but this one is Bluetooth, stylish, and adds T-coil compatibility for hearing aid users. So it promises two ways to improve sound reception on your wireless phone. Assuming you’re Japanese, at least for now — it’s only available on NTT’s DoCoMo network.
CTIA 2007: Test-driving the Sound Leaf Bone Conduction Receiver Microphone - SlashPhone.com
Vote gloat?
So it turns out that voting machine security is so bad in California, the mainstream touch-screen units might be dumped in favor of…machines originally set up primarily to guarantee accessibility. And oh yes, there’s sudden notice being taken of non-compliance with state regulations on “offer[ing] a paper record that blind voters can verify through an audio playback.” Accessibility: Not just the law; it’s a good idea.
Takes a dropping, but keep on shopping
What irony — we’re conditioned to buy new gadgets every month, but the gadgets themselves may last longer and longer. Plastic chips and flexible LCDs are reducing the damage due to accidents. Great news for the fumble-fingered among us, no matter what the cause.
LiveScience.com - Cell Phones of the Future Could Survive Being Dropped
Yet another array microphone
Array microphones are great: they tune out everything in your environment except your voice, for accurate input without a headset. This one claims to do an even better job of noise reduction. The article talks about its use for speech recognition and home automation (”environmental control” or “EADL” to rehab nerds).
Gizmos for Geeks :: Acoustic Magic Voice Tracker Kit w/USB Adapter
Chips on your shoulder
A British researcher is developing a wearable camera system that can recognize head and hand movements and “intelligently” interpret the wearer’s intention–e.g., “warn a computer to reroute phone calls to avoid interruptions, or cause it to bring up information on a computer screen or head-mounted display related to the task in hand.” Developed for the mainstream, but imagine what this could do for people whose physical or cognitive capabilities don’t match their intentions…