Youthful Voices

 Disability, Tech  No Responses »
Jul 262012
 

The NY Times looks at how more genuine-sounding children’s voices are now being included in communication software for kids with disabilities. While the technology still can’t reproduce the countless nuances of human vocalization, it’s still an improvement over the robotic monotone voices that used to be standard on most kids’ talkers. As research on neural computer interfaces advances, perhaps kids and adults with speech impairments will be able to speak with whatever voice they choose at a rate comparable to natural speech. But until that tech arrives, it’s good to see software developers giving some thought to the style as well as the substance of communication.

On The Cheap

 Disability, Tech  No Responses »
Jul 132012
 

Proving yet again that assistive technology doesn’t have to be expensive, a group of researchers are showing off an eye-gaze computer interface using off-the-shelf parts. Total cost: less than $70. If only someone could figure out a way to mass-produce this tech and get it on the eyes of people who could benefit from it. Perhaps this is something that could benefit from a Kickstarter fundraising model, much more so than my idea for an on-screen keyboard. I hope those behind this project are giving some thought to ways to scale up their efforts.

Soon I Will Be Invincible!

 Disability, Tech  No Responses »
Jul 092012
 

New Scientist reports that scientists were able to remotely control a robotic body with brain impulses. It won’t be long now until my giant robot avatar leads my revolutionary forces into battle. My comrades and I will wage the battle from our uncharted island fortress. We just have to hope that the rest of the world doesn’t cut our Internet access until it’s too late.

It might be time to start drafting the blueprints for my giant robot. Let’s see, two laser cannons or three?

Save iGoogle!

 Tech  No Responses »
Jul 062012
 

I’ve used iGoogle as my homepage for the past several years, so I was irritated to learn that that Google will be discontinuing the service next year. I realize this might make me sound crotchety, but why can’t Google leave well enough alone? I like being able to scan my various widgets and newsfeeds in one place. I realize mobile is where it’s at now and that all the kewl kids are using Flipboard and what-not, but iGoogle is plenty functional for me. Surely the costs of maintaining the service are little more than pocket lint for Google.

This is the part where I shake my fist and scream at the proverbial kids to get off my proverbial lawn.

iPad Impressions

 Tech  No Responses »
Jun 262012
 

A few thoughts on the iPad after using it for several days:

  • Magazines look amazing, particularly The New Yorker. Text is crisp and sharp while photos have  astonishing  clarity. I may renew my subscription to National Geographic just to gawk at the pretty pictures on the iPad’s high-resolution display.
  • Comics look great as well, although I still prefer to read them on my desktop widescreen monitor.
  • Streaming old Star Trek episodes while lying in bed is a bit like actually being in a Star Trek episode.
  • One of the first things I did when I brought my new toy home was call my brother on his iPad via FaceTime. He gave me a walking tour of the house he and his partner purchased in San Francisco last year. It’s an older house and not terribly accessible, so it’s unlikely I’ll ever see the interior myself. As he was showing me around, I experienced a momentary touch of vertigo and it puzzled me. And then I realized it was the rush of understanding that I’m living in the future.

My Latest Toy

 Music, Tech  1 Response »
Jun 222012
 

My employer was kind enough to award me a cash achievement award, so I suddenly found myself with a bit of a windfall. I suppose I could have spent it all on hookers and blow, but that seemed excessive. Instead, I decided to pick up an iPad. I know, I know, I’ve said before that I didn’t see the point of owning one given its inaccessibility, but I decided it might be handy to have a portable device with a bigger display than my phone. And reading magazines on the iPad is quite nice. Still, I hope accessibility on the device eventually improves.

I also have a little left over to spend on hookers and/or blow.

Finally, if you haven’t seen this live version of this summer’s earworm “Call Me Maybe”, you owe it to yourself to watch it. It’s bubblegum pop delivered with genuine sweetness and charm. I’ve seen it a few times and a silly grin still spreads across my face whenever I watch it.

Crowdsourcing Accessibility Cont’d.

 Disability, Tech  No Responses »
Jun 212012
 

Thanks to those of you who responded to my half-formed idea to Kickstart an open-source on-screen keyboard. I should have realized that there were already a few options available (especially to Linux users). Still, it may be worth my time doing some additional research. If you or someone you know uses an on-screen keyboard, I’d be interested in hearing what features are important to you or what you think is missing from the currently available options. Or are there other accessibility utilities that could be improved or for which there isn’t an open-source alternative?

Crowdsourcing Accessibility

 Disability, Tech  2 Responses »
Jun 202012
 

I’ve been reading lots of articles about how game designers, fashion designers, musicians, and other creative types are using Kickstarter to crowdfund various project, which got me thinking about how it could be used to fund accessible technology. And then I started thinking about the on-screen keyboard that I use to write things like this. It’s proprietary software that hasn’t been updated in several years and a single-user license costs $350. And then I thought about how many people with disabilities simply don’t have that kind of money to spend on adaptive software.

And then I thought that it would be great if there was an open-source, cross-platform on-screen keyboard with plenty of customization features that anyone could download for free.

And then I wondered if it would be possible to pay a talented programmer or two a few grand (or ten or twenty) to design something like that. And then I wondered if this could be funded via Kickstarter.

Thoughts? Do you think it would get funded? Would I be able to find reputable coders to work on something like this? I wouldn’t keep a dime, so I’m not interested in making a profit. It just seems like a cool project that could help people.

There Once Was An App For That

 Disability, Tech, Wonkery  No Responses »
Jun 142012
 

Ars Technica is running a thoughtful article that examines the intersection of disability, technology, and intellectual property. The story centers on an app called Speak for Yourself, which allows an iPad to be used as a communication device for people with disabilities. Prentke Romich, a company that produces specialty assistive communication devices, took notice of the app and filed a patent infringement suit against the developers. The case has yet to be decided, but Prentke Romich also petitioned Apple to remove Speak for Yourself from the App Store, which Apple eventually did. The article also profiles a family whose young daughter uses the app with much success. The family has disabled Internet access on their iPad to prevent any operating system updates that might break the app and worries about what to do if their child breaks the tablet.

Incidentally, Prentke Romich is the same company that produced the headset I’m using to write this post.

The article doesn’t pick sides and I’m inclined to do the same. The app developers seem genuinely motivated to produce an affordable alternative to expensive communication devices while Prentke Romich may have legitimate concerns about protecting its patents. But the real question concerns Apple’s role in this dispute. We often think of apps as trivial things that we use for amusement or for banal tasks like getting directions or comparison shopping. But as mobile technology becomes more powerful and more critical to our daily lives, certain apps may become indispensable to some users. Should companies like Apple have the power to unilaterally pull an app when another party complains? And if so, do we really own the apps that we purchase? Should a communications app that is essential to daily living for some be subject to the same internal policies as Angry Birds? These are big questions that have so far received little attention.

The Failed Promise Of City Wi-Fi

 Tech, Wonkery  No Responses »
Jun 072012
 

When Minneapolis began building its municipal wi-fi network in 2006, locals like me had high hopes that it would offer a compelling and affordable alternative to broadband offerings from Comcast and Qwest (now CenturyLink). But the network’s success has been underwhelming, suffering from low subscriber numbers and competition from both wired and cellular providers. The wi-fi network couldn’t match the higher speeds offered by Comcast or the ubiquitous coverage offered by the cellular companies. A wi-fi network becomes much less essential when people can get online anywhere with their smartphones.

I still think municipal broadband can be a good idea, but perhaps Minneapolis should paid more heed to other cities that abandoned their plans to build wireless networks when they realized the technology doesn’t provide great coverage or speed. Or perhaps the city should have focused on developing hotspots in public places rather than attempting to ensure access for every resident.

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