Assistive Technology Holiday Gift Guide!

Here is just a small sampling of the numerous products available to improve the lives of people

with mobility challenges. Happy shopping and enjoy the holidays!

Tecla Shield DOS

The Tecla Shield DOS by Komodo OpenLab is a wireless device that lets you control smartphones and tablets using  external switches or the driving controls of your powered wheelchair. This locally developed product is a must have for anyone with limited use of hands. A simple out of the box device, takes little time to configure (works with any smart phone), is compact, lasts 4 days per charge and is available with various mounts and accessories. Open up a world of opportunity and independence for a loved one!

Website: Buy It Now!

Price: $349 USD

Tecla Shield DOS

Dragon Naturally Speaking

Dragon, the world’s best-selling speech recognition software, lets you dictate documents, search the web, email and more on your computer — quickly and accurately — just by using your voice. You don’t even have to lift a finger.

NaturallySpeaking uses a minimal user interface. As an example, dictated words appear in a floating tooltip as they are spoken (though there is an option to suppress this display to increase speed), and when the speaker pauses, the program transcribes the words into the active window at the location of the cursor (Dragon does not support dictating to background windows). The software has three primary areas of functionality: dictation, text-to-speech and command input. Dragon is available in Home and Premium versions, in various languages for both Windows and Mac.

Website: Buy It Now!

Price: $99 - $300

Clarity Fortissimo Remote Controlled Speakerphone

Designed for people with limited mobility, The Clarity® Fortissimo™ remote controlled speakerphone offers multiple options for hands-free control. The hands free design allows you to operate the phone by adaptive switches, air switch or by simply using a optional one-button pendant. Additionally, the Fortissimo has 85 dBSPL of amplification and bluetooth connectivity.

Website: Buy It Now!

Price: $550.00

TrackerPro

TrackerPro is a handsfree USB input device that takes the place of a mouse by tracking a small dot that can be placed on your forehead, glasses or the rim of a hat. Simply plug it in and it works just like a mouse (no additional software required). Anything that can be done with a regular hand mouse can be done by using TrackerPro.

Website: Buy It Now!

Price: $995.00

IZ Adaptive Clothing

IZ Adaptive features a line of clothing designed to meet the specific needs of wheelchair users. From formal wear to bath robes, alterations and much more, IZ Adaptive is your one stop shop for Stylish, Functional, Quality clothing.

Website: Buy It Now!

Neater Eater

The Neater Eater by UK's Neater Solutions, Is a electronic device to assist users with limited upper mobility to independently feed themselves. Attached to any table the programable Neater Eater's arm can be controlled with a variety of switches, helping people to regain dignity and independence.

Check out the website for a number of innovative solutions!

Website: Buy It Now!

The Ubi

The Ubi from Toronto based start up Unified Computer Intelligence Corporation is a voice activated environmental control and so much more,  think of it as a hands free personal assistant. Once switched on, connected to a Wi-Fi network and paired with compatible devices, the Ubi (using Google’s speech-to-text software) can change thermostat settings, adjust lighting and control blinds. Want to know the population of Kuala Lumpur? Just say the phrase “OK, Ubi.” and ask away!

Website: Buy It Now!

Price: $299

Xbox One

Ok, I know what your thinking someone wants a new fancy toy... However the Xbox One has many built in accessibility features built around the Kinect motion sensor and camera. Microsoft took the accessory that debuted on the Xbox 360 and revamped it, making it more precise and capable of doing something never before seen in the living room: voice controls. After a brief initial calibration of the Kinect sensor to your voice, you are able to control every feature of the Xbox entirely with your voice. A closer look reveals a robust close captioning menu, that in addition to the voice control goes a long way to dramatically improve the gaming experience for not only disabled gamers but anyone needing hands free control of their entertainment system.

Website: Buy It Now!

Price: $399

The Wheelmap app will take you places

Donald Barrie

Back in October, I (Donald) got to interview Raul Krauthausen, creator and developer of the Wheelmap app. Krauthausen is a 34-year-old social activist and communications specialist from Germany, who, in 2010, released an app that maps out what public places provide accessibility to people who use wheelchairs.

Wheelmap, according to Krauthausen, “is based on the principle of a cooperative community – many people collect and share their information on the wheelchair-accessibility of public places. For this purpose, the map uses a simple traffic light system which is easy to understand for everyone. Wheelmap.org is based on the geo-data of OpenStreetMap.org and works in all parts of the world. It is now available in 22 languages.”

Here are some of the questions I asked him, with his responses.

DB: What led to the creation of this phone app? Has there been anything like this before?

Raul Krauthausen

RK: The idea developed from an actual everyday life situation: A friend complained about having to meet in the same café every time. We both didn’t know in which café it’d be possible for us to meet. In this situation I thought that a map which shows the wheelchair accessibility of places in the surrounding area would be helpful.

There were and still are various local applications of maps which have focussed on the accessibility of a city or a region. However, they are widely lacking the knowledge of the crowd, meaning the data had been collected and administrated by a central institution.

DB: How has your app enabled people with disabilities?

RK: Thanks to Wheelmap, millions of people with mobility impairments have a guide for wheelchair-accessible places now. With Wheelmap it is easier to discover new places in everyday life and to meet other people, impaired or not.

DB: How has Wheelmap impacted Germany?

RK: It would surely be overconfident to claim that Wheelmap.org has triggered a real change in society. However, I hope that people understand Wheelmap as a tool that contributes the perspective of innovation and self-determination to the topic of inclusion. More and more local initiatives in or outside of Germany rely on the possibility to become active themselves and take accessibility into their own hands.

DB: Would you describe Germany as an accessible country for people with disabilities?

RK: The level of accessibility still varies from city to city and region to region in Germany. In Berlin the public transport is quite good for people with disabilities considering the low-floor buses and the ramps that are available on the underground platforms. However, there are still elevators missing – or elevators that don’t work. The latter is also the topic of another project, called brokenlifts.org. (It launched on October 8.)

Last but not least, Berlin is also shaped by a lot of old buildings where sometimes only one step makes a location inaccessible. That’s why we’ve started the initiative “1001 ramps” and the shop wheelramp.de as an easy solution for the amount of only-one-step-places.

DB: Can you tell me how you’ve been able to navigate through the area of the country you live in, as a person with a physical disability?

RK: I use a wheelchair all day and every day. My daily route from my home to work and back is a quite navigable distance of 3 kilometers in each direction. There is only one bus line that I can take to work. But I only take the bus in winter because the bus takes longer than I do with my wheelchair. When I travel to another city I always check the website of the local public transportation provider to see if the train station is wheelchair accessible. If it isn't I have to rethink my route. I don't have a car or a driver's license.

DB: You obviously take an interest in technology. The name of the blogsite I contribute to is called Technology Enables Me. How has technology enabled you as a person with a disability?

RK: Starting with my electrical wheelchair, which affords me a level of independence and mobility that would otherwise not be possible, over my smartphone and my laptop which enable me to carry out my internet based work, technology is omnipresent in my life.

DB: Do you see the app catching on in other countries?

RK: Yes! There are ‘wheelmappers’ everywhere, from Japan to England to Switzerland. It’s great to see that so many people use the app and map places everywhere. And the app is particularly useful when abroad.

DB: What do you like most about Wheelmap?

RK: The app contributes to my personal freedom and happiness by making my everyday life simpler. Mobility is a major aspect of being able to lead a happy life, and the app provides information that allows me to be more mobile and participate in “normal” situations and events.

You can learn more about Wheelmap and download it at http://wheelmap.org/en/.

VAT (Voter Assist Terminal) or Adventures in "Accessible" voting.

On October 27th 2014, as Torontonians headed to the polling stations, I was eager to utilize the new VAT's (Voter Assist Terminal) that first debuted in Toronto's last Municipal election. After some research my adventure began… Every Ward has one VAT available on voting day (and advanced voting days) and luckily for me my assigned polling station and the VAT equipped polling station where close to each other. With my voter card and passport (which is not accepted as Identification in the voting process) in hand off I went. I arrived at the VAT equipped station and i'm immediately was told I had to go to my "assigned" polling station. when I further inquired about the accessible voting (while gesturing to the VAT) I was incorrectly informed "all polling stations have the machine". So back I go to my "assigned" polling station, AKA my home and of course (as I suspected) there was no VAT. I proceed to inquire about the "accessible" voting machine and the clerks (looking at me like I had 2 heads) commented that there was "no such thing only accessible stations that can be accessed by wheelchair" and that I was mistaken. Although they did offer to help me, I opted to go back to the VAT equipped station as I felt that I needed to see this process through because A) I was curious and B) perhaps I could educate people and make things better for future disabled voters…

VAT (Voter Assist Terminal)

So back I go to the VAT equipped polling station, this time I expressed that I wish to use the VAT and was immediately taken to the head clerk, who started into "you have to go to your…" to which I replied "I'm here to use the VAT" after a few minutes I was introduced to the VAT tech, a pleasant fellow whom tells me I need a ballot transfer in order to vote and he needs to "call in for permission". At this point I'm thinking how crazy is this? that the city offers this service then makes it extremely difficult and time consuming to use? After permission was granted, I head to the… wait I know what your thinking, the VAT? Nope! First I need to fill out the Ballot transfer, I'm shown to another table (w/ the tech) where a frustrated and rude woman, blows us off stating "this is not my job". Luckily the head Clerk intervened and after a conference as to weather a "special ballot was needed for the machine" managed to get me a ballot.

Finally I pull up the VAT, I'm handed a wired remote and given a quick overview. easy right? Well no, I push the button and nothing! after a quick scan I noticed the remote was not fully plugged in, then I further notice that the remote was plugged into the headphone port and the headphones plugged into the remote port, at this time i'm now instructing the tech and thinking who do I send a bill to? With all the cabling issues sorted it was finally voting time. a ballot is inserted into the VAT and as I have limited use of my arms, the tech had to follow the prompts in order to activate the remote allowing you to scan with one button and select with another. After 10 minutes and 3 ejected ballots (due to incorrect candidate selections) I had officially exercised my democratic right…

Overall I would say it was a frustrating experience that offered far less independence and confidentiality (because of all the steps involved) than the old way of just asking the clerk for assistance, I was also surprised at the lack of knowledge about the VAT amongst the clerks.

However don't get me wrong, I appreciate the effort put forth but the city, realize the technology is in it's infancy and look forward to future improvements. I also think / hope that all things considered, I helped educate not only myself but others in the process and that to me is all positive!

The Kinova Robotics JACO Robotic Arm System

The Kinova Robotics JACO Robotic Arm System, is a 3 fingered assistive device that can be mounted to a power wheelchair (using any existing controller) giving users the ability to adapt themselves to a world which doesn't adapt to them.

The Basics: The light weight Carbon Fiber JACO weighs just 5kg, with a 1.5 kg payload. It's 90cm reach allows you to easily pick objects off the floor and open doors. Weatherproof and discreet, it's easy to set up and operate opening up a whole new world to many with upper-extremity impairments.

For more info…

Personalized voices crafted for those with speech problems

Very interesting read...