Mouldy mouse
Just a prototype so far, this mouse body is made of flexible plastic with a fabric skin. Its shape can be rearranged for users with non-standard hands or dexterity impairments. Then slap on the radio-linked buttons and scroller.
The opera of the Phantom
The Thanko Phantom mouse has a button that lets you minimize all windows with a single press. Big deal, we said at first; there have long been keyboard commands to let you do the same thing for $24 less. But what’s interesting about the Phantom is that it comes with a programmable utility that lets you press the button again to bring up just the window of your choice–whether it’s the productive application you do want your boss to see, or the prurient one you don’t. Could provide helpful dexterity or cognitive assistance.
New Launches: Thanko Phantom Mouse for watching all that NSFW stuff
The incredible shrink-ing mouse
What now has the potential to interpret your mood better than anyone else? Why, it’s the SensDevice mouse, which uses biofeedback technology to figure out when you’re about to boil over, and interrupts whatever you’re working on to suggest stress-release exercises. Could be useful for people with some types of emotional disabilities that affect stress handling.
Sometimes when we touch…
… the error rate’s too much. But no longer! Two new Microsoft Windows Mobile input utilities will improve touchscreen performance, perhaps especially for those with impaired dexterity.
SlideIt lets users slide the stylus from letter to letter instead of lift-and-lower for each character; lifting gives you a space.
Then there’s ThumbKey, a predictive system that takes a guess at what your fat thumb meant to do, and offers you the word you may be trying to input.
Dasur release new keyboards for touch screen mobile device - SlashPhone.com
iPhone becomes iSee?
Brando has come out with a $20 6x telephoto lens for the iPhone camera. Hmm, wonder if it would double as an unobtrusive low-vision aid for myopics who need a little boost to figure out if that’s our lunch date 50 paces away…
Red Ferret: Apple iPhone Telescope Lens - snap sharper further faster
See SPOT fail…
Sounds like the SPOT Personal Tracker would have been right up our alley; it was designed to allow users to upload real-time tracking data and to work in areas with no cellular service. In addition, it has a simple interface, with buttons for direct access to 911 and to “Help” that are nicely arranged, and a good gripping surface. Unfortunately, its GPS capabilities don’t rate well. Back to ye olde drawing board.
Straight shooter
The Eazzzy is technically just one step up from the pinhole cameras we used to make out of Quaker Oats boxes–no viewfinder, no focus capabilities, no interchangeable lenses, and a single button for taking the shot. On the other hand, we’ve never seen a Quaker Oats box with a USB connector for easy uploading of digital pictures. If this camera makes it to market and has a teeny price to match its size, it could become a fun tool for people with visual and cognitive disabilities…and hey, wonder if the button could be configured to work with switch input?