How a Smart Home Empowers People with Disabilities

… While advances in personal technology continue at a rapid pace, at times their designers seem to forget about the population that could perhaps benefit from it the most. Stabelfeldt says just the ability to charge a phone with a wheelchair didn’t even exist until a few years ago. But features like Apple’s “Home” app

A shape-shifting navigation device for both the sighted and visually impaired (w/ Video)

Without doubt, this concept has to be the most lateral thinking piece of technology I’ve seen recently. Just think what it would be capable of if it had GPS built in and a route could be preprogrammed in it from a map. Or a phone providing real time navigation information from a pocket and the cube

Don’t let a disability stop you from using your smartphone

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isSlim=1 Watch video from usatoday Apple CEO Tim Cook recently tweeted, “Accessibility rights are human rights. Celebrating 25yrs of the ADA we’re humbled to improve lives with our products. #ADA25.”Apple and Google have baked strong accessibility tools into the iOS and Android ecosystem, respectively. While some tools are meant to complement third-party devices, from hearing aids

Robot-building twins enable themselves through 3D printing technology

  The ABC runs a article on two brothers with advanced muscular dystrophy in Melbourne who are using 3D printing tools to build things they need. The brilliant thing about 3D printing is that you don’t need your own. You can design your own things and send the file to others who have a 3D

Measure with Measure-It! Adhesive Tape

Ever tried holding a conventional, metal tape measure horizontal by yourself? This is a low-tack tape that will allow you to do all of your home decorating, renovation, and craft projects. The low-tack backing makes it easy to re-position or re-use. via source: http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20141224/measure-home-projects-accurately-measureit-adhesive-tape/

Eye phone: How a app could help restore sight to millions

Around 39 million people in the world are affected by blindness — 80% of which could be avoided if people had timely access to diagnosis and proper treatment. Ted blog reports on Peek — an app and adapter that turn a smartphone into a comprehensive, easy-to-use, accurate eye-exam tool. Peek makes eye tests affordable and easy to administer, bypassing the need for expensive,

7 iPad Apps to Help Students With Dyslexia – Mashable

Dyslexia is a language-based disorder that makes reading, recognizing words, spelling and decoding especially difficult…. Mashable round up a list of seven apps that students, parents and teachers may find useful covering a range of abilities and ages. via source: http://mashable.com/2014/07/28/apps-for-dyslexia/

DIY door lock for smartphone accessibility by Sony

sony’s DIY ‘qrio’ smart lock clips onto door for smartphone accessibility via source: http://www.designboom.com/technology/sony-qrio-smart-lock-12-14-2014/

Communicate Using Only Your Breath

Huff post report on invention by 16yo Arsh Shah Dilbagi who has found a way to convert human breath into speech via – 16-Year-Old Invents A New Way To Communicate — Using Only Your Breath.

Apple’s App Review Should Test Accessibility – Marco.org

Marco has a great post outlining why Apple (among others) should require accessibility of an app before releasing it. The closer to the design end of the development curve that accessibility is included, the better. Poor or broken accessibility is exactly the sort of problem that Apple’s App Review team should check for: many developers