Aging and the Internet of Caring Things
We’re getting old and living longer. Most Americans, in fact, want to live to be 100. In many countries, there are more elderly people than children for the first time in history. This is creating a societal crisis as many countries face the challenge of supporting an aging population with increasing costs of healthcare and […]
Making technology that helps empower everyone to do more
Chris Schlechty remembers a high school friend struggling to use his computer the way most other kids did, typing away at a conventional keyboard to chat with other teens. Like Schlechty, the friend had a disability that limited the dexterity of his hands.
‘Eye Conductor’ Helps the Physically Disabled Write Music With Facial Movements
A physical disability can make it difficult to participate in creative activities many of us take for granted, especially when you don’t have full use of your arms and hands. But now a design student has created a way for the physically handicapped to express themselves through music using only their eye movements, and the […]
How 3D-Printed Maps Are Helping the Blind and Visually Impaired
Engineers and designers are just starting to explore the potential of 3D-printed maps for the visually impaired.
New Technology and the evolution of accessibility
Back in September I was speaking at a conference in Madrid. I was asked about the future and my thoughts as to what trends would have the greatest impact upon people with a disability. My answer was a little complex, firstly that we are seeing a wave of innovation, often described as “disruptive technologies” that […]
Mobilizing the Human Experience
Mobile is the lifeline to the world we live in today. We wake up in the morning and addictively check our devices. Before falling asleep, we cuddle up next to them. When experiencing some uncomfortable moment or loneliness during the day, we find solace in our mobile surrogate. By 2020, 70 percent of the world […]
Website helps those with physical disabilities find accessible buildings
People with physical disabilities have a new tool to avoid the frequent frustration of inaccessible buildings. “Imagine going to a location, trying to show up to an event or a job interview, and there’s a step,” says Access Now founder Maayan Ziv, who uses a mobility device. “That’s the situation I’ve been in countless times.”
Empathy in Design and Accessibility
I am an accessibility tester & consultant at IBM, and I also happen to be a person with low-vision (I can see some, but not much) who uses technology. I am also all-too familiar with the “pain” of getting mostly through an online order, only to discover a “submit” button that’s not visible.
How Technology Is Helping the Blind Navigate the Physical World
Developers of assistive technologies for the blind are commandeering increasingly cheap and ubiquitous personal gadgets for their research aims. Just a decade ago, the options were an array of expensive, cumbersome specialty equipment. Now the blind rely on devices that are preexisting, affordable, and often already integrated into daily life.
The tech giving people power to deal with disability
Worldwide, around a billion people have a disability, says the World Health Organisation. In Europe and America, this is one in five people. And since they are less likely to be in work, their poverty rate is about twice as high.