I can feel you calling
Samsung has added to its line of haptic phones with the Anycall, which has 22 kinds of vibration that actually try to simulate real-world tactile sensations–e.g., the feel of a radio dial for turning volume up and down. Looks like blind users might not be entirely left out of the touchscreen revolution after all…at least in South Korea.
Touch of Bluetooth
Bluetouch is a controller for cell phones and other Bluetooth devices that can be operated via either a large-print touch screen or voice recognition. Designed to keep drivers focused on the road, but has implications for folks with low vision and/or dexterity disabilities too.
He’s baa-aaaack…
It would have been silly to think that Art Lebedev would release his Optimus keyboard and then sit back on his laurels. No sooner does the Optimus start shipping than Art posts a demo Optimus Tactus keyboard, which has an infinitely configurable touchscreen. Early sketches suggest it can even be used to play video.
Zen PC: sound of all our hands clapping?
The “Z-axis enabled” computer concept has an all-tactile interface: its surface can form a regular keyboard, a piano keyboard, or any set of control shapes you need. You then touch them to operate the software. And they’re already aware of braille and tactile maps! It’d probably be useful for people with impaired dexterity and cognition as well. Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, or just another cockamamie prototype doomed to oblivion?
Touchy subject
In trying to design for one-handed ease of use–which is of course commendable in itself–Mitsumi may have come up with one potential solution to the inaccessibility of touchscreen interfaces to blind folks. They’ve developed a haptic pad that can be installed on the back of mobile phones to provide redundant tactile access to visible icons. Could be a touch of genius!
Far East Gizmos: Mitsumi develops haptic touch pad to be installed on the back of mobile devices
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.
Friendly Cyborg
While we continue to try tempering our Optimusm, here’s the Cyborg, which is another, eminently more affordable keyboard with some keys that can be configured individually for color and brightness. Promising for some people who need visual or cognitive aid–and it’s programmable, too.