Stanford researchers using Google Glass to help children with autism
Google Glass’ software learns to identify people’s faces and their emotional expressions — what project founder Catalin Voss calls “action units” — and then classifies them with specific words. This in turn helps the user recognize other people’s emotions. Autism, which affects one in 68 children, is characterized by the inability to recognize emotions in […]
THE 17-YEAR-OLD WHO MAKES WALKING SAFER
Mary Hood was worried that her 85-year-old grandmother, who walks with a cane, could fall and get hurt. So she developed a smart cane that vibrates in its users’ hands when it detects obstacles. Other functions include a flashlight, pulse monitor, and smartphone-connected medication reminder. “What’s so cool about our generation,” she says, “is that […]
Shepherd Center Tests Wearable Technologies to Help with Memory Problems and Stress Reduction
There’s no doubt that wearable technologies, such as smartglasses and smartwatches, are cool. But can they be useful to people with serious medical challenges, such as acquired brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? Researchers at Shepherd Center are testing this idea with two applications – EyeRemember and Breathe Well – they have developed for […]
UB IDeA Center receives $4.6 million federal grant
The University at Buffalo’s Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDeA Center) has received a fourth round of federal funding to continue its work on a wide range of universal design projects. Read More >>
Viewpoint: Is it time to stop using the word “disability”?
After running a campaign to urge toy manufacturers to include disabled characters in their collections, Rebecca Atkinson started to wonder if the word “disability” might also need a positive makeover.
Silverware For People With Dementia By Eatwell Is Tailor Made For Impairments Caused By The Disease
Although many people associate dementia primarily with memory loss, those who have lost loved ones to the condition know that dementia can transform everyday tasks into major hurdles. Inspired by her own grandmother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, designer Sha Yao created Eatwell, atableware set designed for people with dementia and other impairments. Ingeniously designed to […]
Fashion-able: Innovators tackle clothing challenges for people with disabilities
“Your clothing vocabulary shouldn’t be limited just because you have a certain physical condition.” That is the mantra that Grace Teo and Alice Tin choose to live by after creating the OpenStyleLab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
From Canes To Closures, Designing With Style For People With Disabilities
Think of all the accessibility amenities you’ve gotten used to seeing since July 26, 1990, the day the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law: Wheelchair ramps leading into government buildings; Support rails in restroom stalls; ATM keypads and elevator buttons in Braille.
Smartwatches and apps can make life easier for children with autism or ADHD
Researchers believe that children with autism or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can benefit from technologies originally developed for older people. Welfare technology has long been associated with helping older people cope at home for as much of their lives as possible.SINTEF researchers are now investigating whether technologies such as digital calendars and smartwatches can also […]
To appeal to baby boomers, make sure your product selections reflect universal, not institutional, design principles
Style is often the first consideration when it comes to selecting fixtures for the bathroom, but for the aging-in-place population, safety and convenience are also critical concerns. Fortunately, a renewed focus on the importance of universal design features means developers don’t have to choose between appearance and functionality.