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
Rhythm in your fingers
The BodyBeat is a new type of metronome: instead of having that annoying pendulum and ticker, it sends silent electronic pulses directly to your body. Beethoven would’ve loved it, and we’ll bet the Gallaudet Dance Company will be pretty interested, too.
She deafened me with science
Toshiba is introducing Dolby Volume, which automatically adjusts TV volume that’s too loud–or, presumably, too soft–to a level of the user’s preference. Also works with stereo equipment, for the listening pleasure of the ever-growing Bjork/Metallica fan base.
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.
First peek at a pico-projector
We’ve been posting on pico-projectors for a while, those tiny projectors planned to replace or supplement the screens on mobile products. Now one has actually reached the market, a media player. The relevant concerns? People with impaired dexterity may not be able to hold these products well enough for convenient use. And will the projected image be bright enough? This one is rated at 9 lux (for a 53 inch image), which is less than a footcandle — the brightness of a surface illuminated by a single candle held a foot away. A smaller image may be bright enough to use, depending on ambient lighting conditions. We’d be less worried if we knew there had been some attempt to factor in the needs of users with relevant disabilities.
PMP: Sunvision PMPP, World First Media Player With Pico-Projector
Tête à Tetris
Just when you thought there was no innovation left in the world of arm wrestling, someone comes up with a variation where the object isn’t even smashing your opponent’s hand to the table. Instead, you try to keep enough control of your own arm to press a lever that operates your Tetris board, while preventing your partner from doing the same. A separate button lets you perform the ever-critical piece rotation. A solitaire version could be interesting for gamers with fine-motor dexterity impairments, like those of us with injuries from…well, playing too much Tetris.
Airy page
In this hyperteched world, it does our ex-librarian heart good to see someone thinking about an access solution for the good ol’ hard copy book. Yanko lists a pneumatic bookmark prototype that squeezes air into the portion sticking outside the book. Press down on this portion, and the air transfers to the part inside the book, creating a nice gap for inserting a finger…or a mouthstick? Hmm.