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.
You’re so square
We’ve been woefully remiss for the last several months in tracking the exploits of Art Lebedev, developer of the world’s most customizable keyboards. To make it up to him, we’ll note that he’s now turning his attention to building a better traffic light; his design uses extra-bright diodes and a square shape to provide a more visible signal. Given the increasing number of older drivers, this can only be a good thing.
Electronista: Art Lebedev shows Luxofor traffic light design
Siren song
One of the tired arguments against letting Deaf people drive is that they wouldn’t be able to hear ambulances, fire truck, or other siren-emitting vehicles, which we think is probably more of an argument against the folks who drive around with the local alternative rock station cranked to 11 on their amplifiers. Both groups are likely to respond to the types of sirens being installed in ambulances across Oklahoma, which emit not only the traditional squeal but also a very low frequency tone that will make any car in the area vibrate.
OhGizmo: Oklahoma Ambulance Sirens Soon To Be Felt And Heard
Kindle Kaptures Kollege Kash?
Kindle, Amazon’s e-book reader, is poised for a make-over for the education market. It may re-appear in late 2008, full-page size with an improved interface. Duking it out with Apple’s iPod/iTunes (”Axis of Easy”?) will be tough; the textbook market may seem mild, but it’s fiercely competitive. Every university we know of is sensitized to accessibility, so how about both Amazon and Apple give a little more thought about that stuff? Compatibility with DAISY and cooperation with Bookshare might be a good start.
(By the way, here’s an excellent review of Kindle’s accessibility.)
Arstechnica: Amazon may enter college textbook market with new Kindle
I left my car in San Francisco
Good ol’ SF is pioneering wireless technology that can display the whereabouts of currently empty parking spaces on your smartphone or on a street display. While we’re starting with a lot of practical questions–such as: how can you guarantee the space will still be empty when you actually pull up?–we really want to know whether the system can distinguish which spaces are accessible, both to benefit those who need ‘em and to dissuade those who don’t.
New biometric device saves faces
Biometrics keep advancing, in support of security and user authentication applications. There are continuing concerns about accessibility because many of these technologies use characteristics that some folks lack, such as fingers and retinas. But pretty much everyone has a face, right? Bioscrypt does a fast, accurate job of storing and recognizing faces, requiring just a glance from 3 to 6 feet away.
Mulch the vote
As Florida’s election officials move to paper-based optical scanning, what to do about the 29,000 touchscreen machines they have? Well, they’re going to be marketed to other jurisdictions (!) or “de-manufactured”, AKA “taken apart and sold for components and scrap.”
E-Vote: Florida Touch Screen Voting Machines to be Recycled - Government Technology