New Technology
Paralyzed Graffiti Artist Draws Using His Eyes
Monday, July 12 2010 09:34
A group of artists and hackers have crafted a gadget that lets a paralyzed graffiti artist continue making art using only his eyes. And it costs about as much as an iPod shuffle.
Zach Lieberman of the Graffiti Research Lab started working on the EyeWriter with one man in mind: Los Angeles-based graffiti artist Tony Quan. In 2003, Quan was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, leaving virtually every muscle in his body paralyzed except for his eyes. Lieberman and developers from Free Art and Technology, OpenFrameworks and the Ebeling Group were inspired to create low-cost, open-source hardware and software for eye-tracking to help Quan draw again.
From text to braille
Wednesday, March 03 2010 14:33
Point, Shoot and Read Braille!
Educators!
Are you always looking for a way to make more print material available for your students in braille quickly?
Did you know?
The BrailleNote APEX provides you with the flexibility to instantly read content in braille captured from the Intel® Reader by simply connecting the Intel Reader to the APEX. This unique ability transforms your classroom documents from print to braille in an instant. Converting text files or documents into braille with the BrailleNote APEX and Intel Reader combination is as simple as point, shoot and read braille.
December Message from RJ Cooper
Wednesday, December 09 2009 13:38
Hi and Happy Holidays!
So it's RJ Cooper, the special needs tech. guy again. I now offer Gift Certificates. Click on this link for the 'scoop': <http://rjcooper.com/gift-certificate>
Communication is Key: The Tobii CEye Eye Tracker
Tuesday, November 17 2009 10:19
Eye control is an alternative and complementary input method to using a mouse and keyboard. By looking at a screen you control ‘the mouse’ and you click by blinking, dwelling (staring at the screen for a certain length of time) or using a switch.
When talking about eye tracking all components have to be considered – hardware, software, peripherals, service and support – and how well they work together. Designed and built by Tobii, the Tobii CEye eye tracker works flawlessly with compatible Tobii communication devices.
Windows 7: Navigate by Touch Screen
Sunday, July 26 2009 18:26
With Windows 7 and a touch-screen monitor you can just touch your computer screen for a more direct and natural way to work. Use your fingers or a pointing device to scroll, resize windows, play media, and pan and zoom.
Simple Loop Helps Special Needs Kids Control Their Mice
Wednesday, April 29 2009 18:30
Microsoft employee Mike LaManna was surprised to find few adaptive solutions for special needs children who had trouble using computer mice. Using creativity, trial and error, and some helpful coworkers, LaManna set out to change that.
The collaborative effort produced a simple and effective design involving a plastic toy ring fastened near the back of the left button on a small, laptop-sized computer mouse. It allows children with dexterity issues to keep their fingers on the mouse button--and it more easily fits a child-sized hand.
Mobile Device Uses Images to Help Children with Autism Interact
Tuesday, April 21 2009 18:00
Autism spectrum disorder, which affects more than 500,000 U.S. children and millions more worldwide, can make verbal communication a challenge. With support from Microsoft External Research, two U.S. academic researchers are developing mobile device software that can enable individuals with autism to communicate more effectively.
Bluetooth Aids the Blind
Wednesday, September 17 2008 18:35
From: NASA Tech Briefs Insider - 09/23/2008
A Bluetooth system developed at the University of Michigan tells blind or sighted pedestrians about points of interest along their path as they pass them. Called Talking Points, the system is the first known to use Bluetooth, allowing people to operate it entirely with voice commands, and incorporate community-generated content through a website.
The system uses a mobile device to pick up the Bluetooth signals and speak or display information to the user. Bluetooth beacons, or tags, would be located at points of interest where owners wish to give information to Talking Points users. A website would allow beacon owners to program their tags. Once a beacon is added, other community members could add their comments about the point of interest.
"Talking Points can be viewed as a first step in the direction of an audio virtual reality designed for people with blindness and very useful to the sighted community as well," said James Knox, adaptive technology coordinator for the University's Information Technology Central Services and one of the system's developers.
Read the entire article at:
http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=6737
