Twittering away
We have yet to quite see the point of Twitter, the online service that lets you keep the world posted on the most minute details of your day (”Retrieved bellybutton lint, 5:04 PM”). But at least now there’s TwitterFone, a hands- and cost-free option for creating Twitter posts via speech recognition of phoned-in updates. As the article points out, this could also be used to create to-do lists for yourself, so maybe there’s a purpose after all.
Gadgetell.com: Twitterfone: why type when you can call in your tweets?
I don’t see what you’re saying
One of the problems for some would-be speech output users is that most speech output strategies require tricky or intense use of the keyboard, mouse, or both; this can be a particular problem for seniors. Some German researchers have come up with a pretty cool solution involving use of facial recognition technology: just close your eyes, and Microsoft Word reads back the “current” sentence (presumably the one where the cursor is located). Ein guter Start; we’d love to see additional features, such as the ability to blink slowly to have the speech output move to and read the next line.
ACM Digital Library: Spoken words: activating text-to-speech through eye closure (summary)
New patent Appleication
Apple has submitted a patent for a chat interface that appears to have capabilities for both videoconferencing and transmission of prerecorded video, both of which will be of interest to individuals with hearing impairments. To sweeten the pot, the patent also appears to have more sophisticated word prediction capabilities, which will benefit users with dexterity and cognitive disabilities.
Quickies at MIT
Quickies combine the best features of Post-It Notes and software. An RFID tag is attached to each Post-It, enabling heretofore unrealized capabilities, via computer, such as tracking where you left a note (great cognitive aid!) and pulling up a list of all notes that contain a specific word. Just a gleam in MIT researchers’ eyes for now.
Android deserves augmented reality
Android, Google’s mobile development platform, has attracted a really useful app. Enkin takes your location, camera input, and other info, and renders a customized meaningful overlay: where your car is in the lot, where the nearest noodle shop is, etc. This kind of personal guidance would be tremendously valuable for those with cognitive disabilities, permitting independent living and travel. Add audio output and you have a wayfinding device for blind users.
Take me there
Nuance voice recognition technology and TeleNav GPS systems are teaming up to create smart navigation systems. Just say the type of location you want to reach (e.g., “airport” or “gas station”) and the new unit will provide directions, presumably to the nearest relevant location.
You can tell everybody this is MySong
Microsoft Research is developing software that listens to you sing and automatically creates a piano accompaniment. The suggested chords can then be adjusted by two incremental variables: happiness (presumably percentage of major vs. minor chords) and jazziness (traditional vs. experimental choices). The interface looks simple enough to be accessible to people with a variety of disabilities, with or without use of assistive technology. Can the waterproof version for the shower be far behind?
Gizmodo: Microsoft Research’s MySong makes musical accompaniment for your singing