As a quadriplegic, Keely Horch spent a long time avoiding assistive technology since much of it required the use of her upper limbs. Tomás Vega, the CEO and founder of Augmental, shared her frustration, and out of that, he developed the MouthPad^, the world’s first hands-free touchpad. “Human-computer interaction really has been focused on the […]
Author: ColesStaff
OrCam Hear Offers Conversation Solutions
In a 2023 study of more than 2,800 older adults, 65.3% (about 21.5 million individuals) of those aged 71 years or older had hearing loss, and by age 90 years, 96.2% of adults had hearing loss. However, only 29.2% of those with hearing loss used hearing aids. OrCam offers a more advanced hearing solution. The […]
iOS 17 Accessibility Features: Hearing
The telephone has come a long way since inventor Alexander Graham Bell made the first call nearly a century-and-a-half ago. Now, it’s no longer a communication device glued to our ear but a multipurpose tool for navigating the world. For people with hearing loss or impairment, the iPhone 17’s accessibility features make life run smoothly […]
iOS 17 Accessibility Features: Speech
Communication is vital for all of us, but it can also create barriers, especially for people with disabilities. The new iOS 17 not only offers non-speaking communication, but it also gives literal voice to the voiceless. Speech Is Just a Tap Away With Live Speech, users can type what they want to say or choose […]
Summer Fun for Everyone
With summer in full swing, it’s time to plan for outdoor fun. Of course, we want to make sure Hoosiers can find fun for everyone, including people with disabilities. “Fortunately, Indiana continues to make great strides in inclusion and accessibility,” said Brian Norton, vice president of adult services at Easterseals Crossroads. “From the addition of […]
Digital Accessibility Starts with Literacy
“For some people, an accessible internet literally makes a world of difference.” Web accessibility advocate Joe Devon wrote this statement in a 2011 blog that single-handedly led to what is now the 13th annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), which occurs on the third Thursday of each May. When digital accessibility professional Jennison Ascuncion stumbled […]