Nailed it!
We’ve been thinking a lot lately about designs that would help a couple of clients who have arthritis but are adamant about not giving up their long fingernails. So we’re thrilled to see the TAD, which slips over any finger and provides a pointer that at least makes accessing cellphone buttons and touch screens easier. Comes with three interchangeable tips, available in your choice of three sizes and six fashion colors, and will only set you back about $6.
A whirled of the map
Schmap, which has already established a web presence with interactive maps and guides, has developed an iPhone-savvy version of its site. What we really like is that it takes advantage of the iPhone’s built-in gyro sensors; hold your phone one way to see just the local points of interest, then just tilt it 90 degrees to see these points plotted on a map. Easy for anyone, and likely to be especially welcome by those whose fine motor impairments make them prefer not to fumble with links whenever possible; we’d love to see this implemented for other types of applications.
Adventures in the skin trade
Firmo is a prototype system that uses a weak AC field to transform your skin into a signal transmission system for use with appliances, point-of-sale systems, and so on. Could be great for those with limited dexterity–or even no dexterity; we assume noses and toes would transmit just as well as fingers.
It’s design of the times
What’s better than a mainstream product with accessibility features? Why, a whole Microsoft competition full of promising designs, of course. We particularly like the electronic music stand that allows score pages to be turned via touch screen or foot pedal, the bracelet that wirelessly uploads information, and the neck-worn PC that automatically captures exciting events on tape (audio or video?) whenever the user’s heart rate increases–all of which could be useful to people with various levels of dexterity disabilities. Also submitted was the previously-noted ZEN PC with its tactile interface.
Gizmodo: Next-Gen PC concepts include laser screens, tactile interfaces, glossiness
The way the ball bounces
We don’t usually cover one-off devices here, but this one’s too cool not to mention: an audio-only version of Ping Pong. You tilt your head to “center” the sound of an approaching ball; if you’re successful, game play continues at an increasingly faster rate. Of obvious interest to blind individuals, it’s also totally hands-free so it could be playable by folks with dexterity disabilities, too.
Smarty pants
Many people with repetitive strain injuries are paying lots o’ moolah for trays that let them position their keyboards near their laps. Designer Eric De Nijs has eliminated the need for this extra furniture by prototyping a pair of jeans with the keyboard built right in. Keyboard tilt can be adjusted by bending one or both legs. Speakers are built into de nijs…er, the knees. And we’re so not going to comment on the location of the joystick controller.
New patent Appleication
Apple has submitted a patent for a chat interface that appears to have capabilities for both videoconferencing and transmission of prerecorded video, both of which will be of interest to individuals with hearing impairments. To sweeten the pot, the patent also appears to have more sophisticated word prediction capabilities, which will benefit users with dexterity and cognitive disabilities.