Exquisite control
Oh my, we do like the Sony RM-KZ1 universal remote. Originally designed for kids, its main buttons are all distinct shapes (easy to distinguish by touch for blind folks) and have high-contrast labeling. Plus, it prevents volume from being changed too much too fast. It’ll set you back all of $18 at Target.
Primp up the volume!
No one buys a laptop or netbook for audio quality, but lots of people use their portable devices for audio-intensive apps like playing music, watching movies, and talking on VoIP. Now people with mild to moderate hearing loss can improve their audio with a USB device. The X-Tube DTS looks like an old electronic tube, and glows blue when operating. Beyond the classy optics are some impressive acoustics: simulated surround sound, better frequency response, and on-screen sliders for bass enhancement and “voice clarification”. As always, your mileage may vary, but the review at the link below is pretty positive, except for suggesting that you use better headphones than the bundled ones. Only $45 dollars once it arrives.
No iPad jokes from us, no sir
We were going to wait until some of the hype died down before considering the accessibility side of the iPad–but fortunately our friend Ricky Buchanan has already started the process. Looks promising!
Voluptuous volume
You wouldn’t dream of doing a PowerPoint presentation without bringing a projector to maximize visibility, right? However, if the presentation has an audio component, at most you might stuff a couple of cheap speakers into your carry-on and figure that’ll take care of amplification. SMK-Link is aiming to change that by selling the GoSpeak! amplification system, which weighs less than 5 lbs., costs about $400, and “delivers quality voice and music amplification in smaller to mid-size venues.” Given the likelihood that a significant percentage of any audience these days will have some hearing issues, due to the natural effects of age or the not-so-natural effects of iPods, we hope this type of technology becomes a must-have.
BusinessWire: Announcing GoSpeak!™ Pro Ultra-Portable Amplification System
Sound, downed
Kids, don’t let all the hype about being able to design your own inserts for the shell caps on the new $30 Griffin MyPhones fool you. Their real purpose is to make sure you can’t turn the volume up above 85 decibels. Apple has had a free iPod volume limiting app for some time, but we’re hoping the MyPhones will work with any device that accepts a 3.5 mm plug, and that they also get used by the over-17 set.
ipodnn: Griffin announces volume-limiting headphones for kids
The beat goes on
The 3M Littman Electronic Stethoscope, like other stethoscopes we’ve covered before, has obvious advantages for doctors who are hard-of-hearing–including ambient noise reduction, acoustic seal earpieces, and amplification options. But we’re also interested in its recording and Bluetooth capabilities, which allow body noises to be captured and transferred hands-free to a nearby computer for later analysis, accommodating at least medical professionals with dexterity impairments, and possibly other disabilities as well.
Pill pager prompts Pop to pop
We’ve seen many medicine reminders, high and low tech. Now we’ve got one that does text messaging! This compact, attractive prototype pill dispenser can receive SMS (wireless text) messages that remind the user to take a pill. The message and timing are pre-programmed in the network (we’ve set ours to 4:20); the dispenser stores the time that the user opens it up so a pharmacist can check it later.