And so to bed
There are two observations from a New York Times report on the Las Vegas Market furniture show that have potential implications for people with mobility/dexterity disabilities. One is that the public at large is choosing to do more computing in the bedroom, which may well result in more design options and greater comfort becoming available to computer users who have to work from bed. The other is a promising solution to an often pressing problem: how do you get your partner to stop snoring if you don’t have enough gross motor function to nudge them? The answer is the button on a remote that temporarily inclines their side of the bed, tilting them so the cacophony goes away. If the button can be activated with minimal pressure, it could be a relationship saver.
May bear a RFID
We haven’t run across any RFID applications for awhile now, so we were happy to hear the rumors that an RFID reader may be built into the next-gen iPhone. The initial vision is that this would facilitate automatic connection to wireless networks–a laudable goal in itself–but what if it could also read other RFID tags to enable environmental control, information transfer, or…?!
Electronista: Rumor: 4th-gen iPhone to be equipped with RFID reader
Ch-ch-ch charges
Power cords, power cords — will we ever be free of your kinky, retentive ways? The bane of portable electronics — especially for people with impaired dexterity or strength — has been the need to insert chargers into wall outlets, and cables into gadgets. Prototype wireless chargers have come and gone, but now we’ve got Powermat — a real product. Just lay your mobile phone or media player on the mat and come back later to a fully-charged pocket playmate.
People who need PeepHole
Door peepholes are problematic for a lot of folks–from those with low vision to those whose eye level doesn’t line up with the standard installation height. Enter the PeepHole Viewer, which provides an enlarged, digitized view of the BFF or travelling salesman on your stoop at the push of a button. You still need to be within a reasonable distance from the viewer to see it, though; a more remote version would be nice, too.
Mini’s yoo-hoo
Mini USA has released a new iPhone/Blackberry app, free to Mini Cooper owners, that beams personal information and GPS location to Allstate roadside services at the push of a button during emergency situations. How ’bout a version for wheelchair users?
CNET: Mini launches roadside assistance app for iPhone, Blackberry
Thou and thigh
Gizmodo talks about an iPhone holder that straps to your thigh and keeps your phone in an easy-to-reach place, then wonders, “Is this useful?” Hmm, can we think of any category of people who are sitting down all day and might find this convenient?
Gizmodo: Thiphone straps your iPhone to your thigh for some reason
Hold the phone!
Joby’s Gorillapod is an adorable adjustable tripod for stabilizing your camera on uneven surfaces; you can set them on rocks, or wrap them around bicycle handlebars. Now they’ve got Gorillamobile, which has the camera attacher, but also a suction cup and gluable connector. It’s meant to hold your phone or mp3 player for hands-free access. We can imagine it on wheelchair laptrays, desktops, bedside tables, etc. — everywhere that a portable device needs to be firmly positioned and angled for convenience or accessibility; $30.
Engadget: Joby’s Gorillamobile keeps your phone firmly affixed to whatever