Send in the clowns…don’t bother, we won’t see ‘em
To the list of disabilities that technology use emulates–like ADD–we can now add “inattentional blindness,” which causes cell phone users to miss blatant changes in their visual field, such as the appearance of a brightly-dressed clown on a unicycle. In lieu of requiring that all cell phone use occur inattent, maybe some more concerted compliance with architectural regs about reducing environmental hazards for blind folks could lower accident rates among walking talkers as well.
Great XPectations
So why is our attention piqued by Windows 7 XP Mode, which will let “small and medium-sized businesses running Windows 7 Professional or higher leverage their existing investments in Windows XP applications”? Well, some assistive technology products never came out in a Vista version, and many others will take awhile to release Win7-native versions. If XP Mode is a way for businesses to upgrade to Win7 without interrupting accessibility, it will prevent a lot of migraines.
A waste of money
Here’s the dark side of accessibility features in mainstream products: Insurance companies may refuse to pay for, say, a communication aid if it’s implemented as part of a standard computer or cell phone, or may insist that all features unrelated to the communication function be deactivated. Unfortunately, this isn’t news to anyone who’s ever provided direct service to clients, but this is the first time we’ve seen the issues laid out this clearly in the mainstream press.
Pill pager prompts Pop to pop
We’ve seen many medicine reminders, high and low tech. Now we’ve got one that does text messaging! This compact, attractive prototype pill dispenser can receive SMS (wireless text) messages that remind the user to take a pill. The message and timing are pre-programmed in the network (we’ve set ours to 4:20); the dispenser stores the time that the user opens it up so a pharmacist can check it later.
I’m Ghana make you see
Literacy Bridge, a Seattle non-profit, is piloting a $10 device that plays audio files, with initial dissemination in Ghana. One purpose is to spread information, so this will be a usable strategy for people with visual disabilities, especially since the primary control buttons should be easy to distinguish by touch. Another is to improve literacy, so some audio files will be redundant with textbooks, allowing individuals to accommodate their most effective learning style–visual, audio, or both simultaneously. If transcripts are also available for the informational audio, people with hearing disabilities will be accommodated as well. And if people can record their own files, this could even serve as a basic communication device. Given that the World Health Organization estimates a 10% rate of disability in Ghana, we applaud Literacy Bridge for this thoughtful design.
Slashgear: Literacy Bridge sub-$10 audio computer starts education trail
‘Word to your ‘puter
Passwords, by their nature, present a dilemma: the more secure they are, the more difficult they can be for the owner to remember. Add a plethora of different passwords for all your computer needs, and things get trickier; add a memory impairment and you near unmanageability. Atek has come up with a possible solution in the form of a small device that stores up to 200 passwords (user-specified or randomly generated) that can be automatically retrieved upon entry of a single master password. Besides passwords, the owner can store other personal information such as frequent flyer numbers or PIN codes. It’s not foolproof–you can’t reset the master password or retrieve it if you forget it–but it’s likely to improve life for many people, at a cost around $30.
TechNewsWorld: Portable Password Protector Locks Your Secrets Tight
Estonia and then they’ll say “good luck”
Starting in 2011, citizens of Estonia will be able to vote via any cell phone equipped with an ID chip. Will the interface follow WAI guidelines for designing for mobile devices? Will it be friendly for, say, both voice-output and voice-input users? Stay tuned.