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.
Debate continues on Universal Service Fund
Hearings in the US Senate raised several options for maintaining the Universal Service Fund (USF). The USF, which delivers $5 billion a year for rural and underserved telecom users, has been undercut by VoIP and reduced long distance charges. Two options, either of which may be implemented in a new Communications Act, are to tax broadband the way regular phone lines are taxed, or to tax “phone numbers”, whatever those become as services evolve.
The USF has been proposed as a logical home for all accessibility-related programs, such as TRS and equipment distribution.
Canadians establish fund to improve telecom access
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is establshing a fund of approximately $650 million to improve access to telecom both for people with disabilities and rural citizens. Advocacy groups will play a role in deciding how the fund will be disbursed.
UN backs worldwide distribution of low-cost laptops
The United Nations Development Program will support the “$100 laptop” unveiled in late 2005. Designed for schools in developing countries, the laptop features open source software and a power crank. Does it feature accessibility? We’d be willing to pay $100 to get into the design lab to check….
Economic benefit of broadband adoption
The New Millenium Research Council released a report that estimates the potential advantages of broadband for elders and people with disabilities. It’s a staggering $927 billion in healthcare and institutional living savings, plus increased labor participation.
Broadband Use for Elderly, Disabled a Key to Reducing U.S. Health Care Costs? - Dec 12, 2005