Thinking a head
Given that the Internet is the most powerful information tool ever devised, it’s good that someone would come up with a website to let you easily find…a local bathroom. Locations can be added and identified by whether a purchase is required, whether there are baby changing capabilities–and whether they’re wheelchair accessible!
Control version
Designer David Chacon has come up with a small remote for controlling devices all over the house. Besides the convenience for people with mobility disabilities, we particularly like the large, intuitive iconography–no reading capability required–and the potential for creating custom icons for specific products.
Dvice: Universal remote concept reminds us of the all-in-one gadget dream
Tired, and being admired
The Self-Inflating Tire is being shown in prototype form by Czech developers; as you drive, their radials automatically refill with air from the environment. Let’s cross our fingers for upcoming wheelchair models!
Inflated hopes
Designed for motorcycle riders, this wearable air bag system will protect against falls and other high impact events. Many more people could continue to live independently if they felt safer moving around their homes and neighborhoods. Just be sure to de-activate it before doin’ the Bump at the Senior Surgical Sock Hop.
Hot wheels
The Hotdog Temperature Alert System figures out when a car overheats, and responds by opening windows, honking the horn, and sending a pager message. Designed for Fido and Fluffy, but could also be useful for quadriplegics who may not be able to tell when the weather is sizzling hot.
Nerd Approved: Hotdog Temperature Alert System Protects Your Pooch
Plugged product
We couldn’t let the day pass without mentioning at least one green product design: in this case, a powerstrip that lets you eject power cords with a foot press so that people won’t waste energy on products they’re not actually using. Of course someone still has to crawl under the table to plug the cords back in, which may cut down on power consumption even further.
A Pod is as good as a wink
iPod, meet eye-wink. A Japanese developer has a new, tiny device that detects even slight winks by monitoring the temple, to control first your iPod, then the larger world: lights, appliances, robots, wheelchair. The basic idea for such an interface — call it the Twii (but not the wee Wii) — has been in and out of the AT world forever; a reliable, inexpensive mainstream model would be great.
textually.org: Coming soon to Japan: remote control with a wink