Access on Main Street

Hooking up a usable world, one mainstream product at a time.

Control version

Posted by Jane Berliss-Vincent 12 May 2008

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

Microsoft Surfaces at AT&T Stores

Posted by Jim Tobias 17 April 2008

We heard about AT&T’s plans to use Microsoft’s Surface touch-and-show table in its retail locations; now 5 stores have it, with 50 more expected. Early reviews are positive: many people can use it at once, and the display is easy to read and highly effective. We understand it can be read when seated.

The interface is intuitive: put two phones down on it and immediately a comparison chart appears. You can get plan information, and see models with colors, options, and accessories. Lots of cognitive benefit there, and some people with communication disabilities may prefer the automated info service over interacting with sales staff. (Hey, that’s us!)

No word on getting the info in audio form (table readers?); we’re doubtful but love surprises.

Multi-grope: Interacting with Microsoft Surface at the AT&T Store

First swipe’s club

Posted by Jim Tobias 15 April 2008

Nokia is first-to-market with a mobile phone with built-in short-range wireless technology: near-field communication (NFC).  (Note that we just used up this month’s allotment of hyphens.) NFC will let you buy stuff just by passing the product and your phone near a checkout scanner, eliminating the credit card gymnastics that are difficult for some folks with reduced dexterity, and the signature pads that vex blind customers.  Some security scenarios (Caution: sibilant account balance near zero) may complicate this a bit, but in most cases it’ll be a net gain in ease and convenience.  Just watch those dollars drain away!

Nokia’s 6212 with Bluetooth NFC: Let the pairing revolution begin! - Engadget Mobile

Curds and way cool

Posted by Jane Berliss-Vincent 9 April 2008

A Danish company called Eva Solo has built a better cheese grater: it’s bucket-shaped and closed at the bottom, so it can hold what you shred. If it’s weighted on the bottom, or if a little Velcro were applied, it could be terrific for one-handed gourmets. Sometimes it’s the simple innovations that make our day…

Beth Stevens Ltd.: Eva Solo grating bucket

Microsoft Surface not as superficial as it seems

Posted by Jim Tobias 2 April 2008

“Surface” is Microsoft’s intelligent table with built-in sensors and a projecting display that lets you interact with objects you put on it.  AT&T is getting ready to harness Surface at its wireless retail stores.  You’ll be able to put a handset model on the table and see info on coverage, features, and accessories, all without having to deal with a sullen, undertrained salesclone.

We’re hoping that AT&T remembers to include info about hearing aid compatibility and other accessibility features.  And that Surface can be seen easily from a wheelchair, has a large print mode, and a screen reader … and a pony!  Seriously, this is a great opportunity to advance accessible retail.

Gizmodo: AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn’t Suck

Where there’s smell, there’s fire

Posted by Jim Tobias 9 March 2008

Japanese researchers have developed a fire alarm that sprays the aroma of horseradish, awakening 13 out of 14 subjects rapidly.  Deaf subjects were especially responsive.

Horseradish smell fire-alarm for waking up deaf people - Boing Boing

A Pod is as good as a wink

Posted by Jim Tobias 3 March 2008

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

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