The Titans & The Start-Ups

Assitive technology is sometimes developed in corporate R&D labs and then marketed to the general public. The Intel Reader, a new device that scans printed text and converts it into speech for users with visual impairments, is a good example. Intel probably spent a considerable amount of time and money developing this device, but a list price of $1,500 is still out of reach for a lot of people.

That’s why it’s encouraging to see development of homebrew, low-cost assistive technology like the EyeWriter. The EyeWriter uses off-the-shelf parts and open-source software to enable artists with physical disabilities to draw and sketch using only eye movement. Here’s a video showing the Eyewriter being used by Tony Quan, a graffiti artist with ALS:

It would be great to see big corporations like Intel supporting some of these community efforts to produce affordable assistive technology that can dramatically improve lives. As I’ve said before, proprietary devices will always be needed, but I think the market is big enough to accommodate options at both the high and low end.

Thanks to BoingBoing for the tip on the EyeWriter.