Gear Diary » Accessibility

You Got iTunes–Deaf People Need an “ASLTunes”

Douglas Moran — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:00:54 +0000

I know we've mentioned the Kickstarter idea funding-and-donation web site--I won't belabor it, but I think it's a fab idea, and you should check it out in general when you have some time. (There's the usual proportion of zany ideas too, of course.) The idea/proposal we want to tell you about now is actually based on a pretty straight-forward idea: deaf folks like music, too. I mean, jeez, didn't you see Mister Holland's Opus?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Us hearing folks got iTunes (and plenty of other sources like Amazon) to feed our music jones; the deaf, not so much. So this group has proposed ASLTunes--visually-oriented music videos for the deaf to enjoy. One of Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The Amplicom Induction Neckloop (NL100) Review

Judie Stanford — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:00:14 +0000

photos by Kevin

My mother has sensorineural hearing loss, and she has worn hearing aids in each ear ever since she was 36. My husband has hearing loss from working with loud machinery, and although he doesn't wear hearing aids, he misses some tones and quiet speech is sometimes garbled. My friend Angie's daughter caught a virus several years ago that wasn't treated quickly enough; the result was that she went profoundly deaf in both ears and has since been fitted with two Cochlear Implants. My point is that hearing loss and forms of deafness are much more common than you might think. According to Gaudelet University, "the world's only university in which Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Holiday Gift Guide: For Those Who Need Better Voice Recognition

Dan Cohen — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:24 +0000

From the Editorial Staff of Gear Diary: Is there someone in your life who would benefit from speaking their text rather than typing it? If so, here are five gifts with which you can't go wrong. The key to accurate voice recognition is wearing the right headphones. Andrea Electronics SuperBeam Phones are just the thing. We'll be reviewing the headphones over the next few days but they are already impressive. As the company explains

SuperBeam headsets deliver Hi-Definition sound for all your social media and multimedia applications. The unique integrated array microphone system is designed for use with Andrea’s patented beam forming and digital noise reduction audio software, providing “Boom freed” convenience. SuperBeam also provides 3D

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Andrea’s SuperBeam Phones On-Ear Headphones Go “Boom-less”

Dan Cohen — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:15:49 +0000

I've used a number of Andrea headphones for voice recognition in the past, and I've always been impressed. The company's SuperBeam Phones are a departure from previous models, and I'm really loving the design choices that went into creating them. They are sleek on-ear headphones that drop the microphone boom, but still offer great voice quality. Here's what the company has to say about them:

SuperBeam headsets deliver Hi-Definition sound. Our unique integrated array microphone system is designed for use with Andrea’s patented beam forming and digital noise reduction audio software, providing “The Freedom of Voice”. SuperBeam also provides a new audio

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Diary’s Back to School Gift Guide and an ARCHOS 70 Android Internet Tablet for You to Win!

Judie Stanford — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:40:17 +0000

Update: The giveaway is now closed, and the winner is darktweak! We appreciate everyone who entered, and we'd like to remind you to keep an eye out for many more great Gear Diary giveaways! =)

It's time to start thinking about the supplies you are going to send your kids back to school with, and we are here to help! We've gathered together a collection of goodies that any student would like, and while there are plenty of practical items, we didn't forget the gear that helps makes time off from studying even better. Whether you are on a limited budget or the sky is the limit, there is something here for everyone ... including an Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Intel’s “Upgrade Your Life” Event

Judie Stanford — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 19:00:11 +0000

Along with 12 other site owners, I was invited to attend the Intel "Upgrade Your Life" experience in Santa Clara, California on July 13th. I went into this event with no itinerary and no idea of what we were going to see, but I figured it had to be more than "just" processor chips. Sure enough, I was in for an eye-opening day ... After a greeting by Intel's Social Media guru Alison Wesley and an ice-breaking game of 'guess the tweet' game, we were on to the first speaker ...

Suzanne Fallender - Director, Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy and Communications - "Green is the New Black"

Suzanne Fallender has more than 15 years of experience

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

First Look! Nuance Ushers in the Next Era of Mobile Search with Dragon Go!

Dan Cohen — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 05:05:54 +0000

Nuance's Dragon Dictation is one of my "must have" apps for iOS devices. Their Dragon Search app is also a mainstay on my iPhone. Actually it WAS a mainstay… until now. For the past few weeks it has lost its place on my home screen. In its place has been a Beta version of Nuance's new Dragon Go! app. Dragon Go! is the next step in the evolution of mobile search and it is coming to the US App Store today. With the new app:

...people simply speak a query, and the app automatically determines and then delivers the best content destinations via the newly optimized Dragon CarouselTM. Gone are the days of endless

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

New Panasonic Phone Accommodates Hearing Loss, Low Vision, Arthritis

Douglas Moran — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:00:53 +0000

As a guy pushing 50, I have to say that I appreciate the fact that the Boomers are right ahead of me, since the very size of their generational group forces the consumer market to make adjustments for the fact that a huge percentage of their buying audience is, well, getting up there in years. (And following right behind, I get to reap the benefits.) For example, when I was growing up, one of the big advances in helping old folks park their mondo-sized Caddys were "curb feelers", those springy things that scraped against the curb before your tires could. But this is the 21st century, and now we have cars with rear and side-facing cameras Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Origin Instruments Announces Kindle Accessibility Accessories

Carly Z — Fri, 13 May 2011 13:35:59 +0000

One of the greatest things about eBook readers is how accessibility is in their nature. When I worked at Borders, people were always seeking large-print titles, but relatively speaking we carried far fewer large prints than regular titles. With an eBook reader like the Kindle, any book is a large print thanks to adjustable font sizes! However, a Kindle can be tough to hold if you have any dexterity or coordination problems. It's thin, the page turn buttons require some force to activate, and while it doesn't weigh much it can still be a strain over a long period of time. That's what makes Origin Instruments new devices so great. They're not cheap, and they're not designed Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Giveaway: Amplicom Alarm Clock

Carly Z — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:00:20 +0000

Recently I reviewed the Amplicom TCL200 alarm clock, designed to assist hearing and visually impaired individuals by vibrating and talking to wake you/tell you the time. Now, thanks the generosity of the folks at Amplicom, we're giving away one of these amazing alarm clocks to one lucky reader! All you need to do to enter is leave a comment below and tell us why this clock would help you or a loved one. Pretty simple! You have until Monday, February 6th, so get your entries in now! Here's the fine print: You MUST leave a comment explaining why the clock would help you (or someone you love). A comment that just says Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Automotive Technology Déjà Vu

David Goodspeed — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:00:43 +0000

I love new technology when it hits the automotive market, but sometimes I just cannot help wonder if someone else did not think of this first. Two releases I spotted this morning jumped out at me, and I was overcome by a strong sense of déjà vu. First, Ford Motor Company:

Ford is aggressively accelerating its commitment to wirelessly connected intelligent vehicles – known as vehicle-to-vehicle communications – becoming the first automaker to build prototype vehicles for demonstrations across the U.S., doubling its intelligent vehicle investment in 2011 and dedicating even more scientists to developing this technology. “Ford believes intelligent vehicles that talk to each other through advanced Wi-Fi are the next frontier of collision

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Review: Amplicom Alarm Clock

Carly Z — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 23:00:40 +0000

Every morning it's the same routine. You're sound asleep, and then your iPhone/Droid/alarm clock/dog starts going off and announcing WAKE UP TIME! Basically, something blares in or around your head and you start moving. What if you were hearing impaired, though? How do you make sure the alarm wakes you up? That's where the Amplicom alarm clock comes in. Amplicom makes a number of accessibility devices, and they sent me the TCL200 to test. This is an alarm clock that offers a number of hearing and visually impaired aids, including a vibrating pad (for the hearing impaired), a speaker that announces the date and time (for the visually impaired), and even the ability to hook the clock Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

CES: Nuance’s Technology Is EVERYWHERE! (And That’s a Good Thing)

Dan Cohen — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 21:15:16 +0000

A while we were at CES last week I had a chance to meet with a number of the people who I email and speak with regularly from Nuance. Nuance is the leading company developing voice to text technology; they're the company that has given us of Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Dragon Dictation for iOS devices and Dragon for Mac (the application I'm using to write this post). There were a few bits of important news that came out from Nuance over the course of the week. Nuance T9 Trace + Android = Happy Samsung Galaxy Tab User Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Smartfish Engage: the Cure for Aching Wrists?

Carly Z — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 18:30:19 +0000

If you sit in front of a computer all day you know how uncomfortable keyboards can get. Your wrists hurt, your elbows hurt, your hands cramp up...so you go for a "natural" keyboard, or you invest in one of those smooshy gel things, but it doesn't ever quite get better. Smartfish thinks they have a solution! Rather than change your wrists (tough without very uncomfortable surgery that probably isn't covered by your HMO), Smartfish thinks the answer is to change your keyboard! Their "Engage" keyboard actually adjusts as you work on it, learning how long you keep your hands in one spot and subtly moving apart/together so your hands and wrists change position. It looks very cool Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Digit-Eyes Announces iPhone App For The Visually Impaired

Carly Z — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:00:40 +0000

(image courtesy Digit-eyes)

Smartphones really can change people's lives. I've written before about the resources available if you are visually impaired and use a smartphone, but this is a constantly evolving experience. One of the newest resources is an app called "Digit-Eyes". Essentially this app lets you scan your food and create large scannable labels for it. Then you can use your iPhone to scan the special label and have your phone "read" to you what the item is. An app like this can make you a great deal more independent and really give someone a boost in cooking and shopping for themselves! If you don't have a smartphone, or if you need Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

American Foundation for the Blind Looks At Smartphone Accessibility

Carly Z — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:10:27 +0000

Smartphones have become nearly indispensable productivity tools. Businesses issue them to employees, and people use them constantly to keep up with their personal lives. But what do you if you are blind or visually impaired? Tiny keyboards and 3-4 inch screens aren't always great if your eyesight is wonderful, let alone if you have vision issues. Luckily, the American Foundation for the Blind puts out an online magazine called AccessWorld, and several articles this month covered smartphones and visual impairment. For the corporate-types, they looked at an app called Oratio for Blackberries. This is what's called a "screen reader", or essentially a device that reads what's onscreen for the benefit of someone with a visual Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Microsoft Gives Senior Citizens the Gift of Those Newfangled Interwebs

Carly Z — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:00:34 +0000

Businessweek recently ran a story about a side of Microsoft we do not hear nearly enough about. Apparently they have been working with various cities to bring computers to senior citizens. With the dependence on computers today, it has become tough for homebound elderly people to remain connected to society without them. Microsoft is pushing ways to make it easy for these people to have computers, internet connections and email without it being overwhelming and impossible. New York City is piloting this program in Queens, but Microsoft has already successfully been running it in Miami. What is really incredible is that this program is not just "here's a Windows 7 PC, have fun." This program is taking into account the special issues that come with working with the elderly, such as eyesight problems and unfamiliarity with computer navigation. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Plantronics .Audio 476 DSP Headset- A Gear Diary First Look

Dan Cohen — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 03:40:39 +0000

As I've written numerous times here on the site, I am a huge user of voice recognition software. I'm blown away by Dragon Dictation on the iPhone, use Dragon NaturallySpeaking on my Windows 7 machine, and I have MacSpeech Dictate on both my iMac and my MacBook Pro. When I upgraded to the current version of MacSpeech Dictate I discovered that it isn't configured to allow you to use the built-in microphone for dictation. Turns out there is a reason for this for as good as the microphone is, it isn't ideal for voice recording. Without a proper headset, there will be more errors than normal. That isn't good for the company making the voice recognition software since, if people go to use the software and it doesn't offer the proper accuracy, they will blame the software... even if the lack of a proper microphone is at fault. The company knew there would be a loss of accuracy without a headset and therefore made sure that the software would require one. Fortunately there is a workaround that I have been using that lets me use my MacBook Pro without a headset. I have found the accuracy to be "good enough", but after last night I now realize the wisdom of MacSpeech's ways. A proper microphone makes ALL the difference in the world. Thats where the Plantronics .Audio 467 DSP headset comes into play. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

MobileHelp Can Track and Assist Your Loved Ones

Carly Z — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:30:07 +0000

We've covered various forms of GPS and wifi tracking devices that can be used for elderly family members before, but they've all had very tight ranges and are mostly for use inside the home. But what about a system that can work outside the home, leveraging cellular and GPS connectivity to provide tracking and emergency services to anyone who may need it? That's where a company called MobileHelp comes in. I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with their CEO, Elias Janetis, about MobileHelp, the reasons why he started the company, and what makes his product superior and unique compared to similar options. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Is Text to Speech Copyright Infringement or Accessibility?

Carly Z — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:23:31 +0000

(image courtesy audiobooks for everyone)

Famously, the Kindle 2 debuted with Text to Speech enabled, only to see it yanked for many books after the publishing companies complained it violated audiobook copyrights. This debate is becoming an issue all over again because of devices like Intel's Reader for the blind, which uses a scanner and text to speech to allow a visually impaired individual to "read" a written passage. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

TabSafe Medicine Dispenser Announced

Carly Z — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:18:34 +0000

(image courtesy of MSNBC)

Growing old, and caring for someone who is growing older, is not easy. It is a balancing act, especially for caregivers; how much freedom do you offer your loved one, and when do you monitor them closely for their own safety? Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Stop Worrying- Start Speaking: Dragon Dictation Update Resolves Privacy Concerns

Dan Cohen — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:50:02 +0000

I have made no secret of my excitement that Dragon Dictation is now out and available for US iPhone users. The app has transformed my iPhone usage and continues to be one of my most-used apps. The transcription process is fast, accurate and, currently, free. When the app was first released last week however some folks expressed concern that the app uploaded your contact list to Dragon's servers when starting it for the first time. Well worry not! A new update makes the contact upload process optional. It also allows you to delete contact names that were previously uploaded. Dragon Dictation isn't for everyone but for many of us it is already a home run Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The Voice Recognition Hits Keep Coming – Vlingo 4.0 Out Now

Dan Cohen — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:58:08 +0000

The voice recognition hits are continuing to flow with Vlingo releasing version 4.0 of their application. Not only does the new version run on the new BlackBerry Bold 9700 (YEAH!!!!!), but it includes an awesome new feature- "Vlingo Everywhere". As the company explains-

With Vlingo Plus 4.0 you'll be able to use your voice with virtually every app on your phone (and you will continue to have SMS and email capabilities as before). Using your BlackBerry has never been faster and easier!

Setup was simple and the application walked me through the process. From there I was good to go. No training necessary. For more information visit the Vlingo website Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

USB Fever’s iHandstick for iPhone 3G / 3Gs / iPod Touch 2 Gen / 3rd Gen

Judie Stanford — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:30:28 +0000

There's no doubt that the game selection for Apple iPhone and touch devices is only getting larger and better, but the actual gameplay experience can sometimes leave much to be desired because iPhones and touches are slick devices with no handles or grips. What if you could take the iPhone or touch, and pop it into a device that would make it easier to grip and easier to use for two handled play? For $16.99 at USB Fever, you can. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

“Free 4 Kids” Holiday Safety Giveaway from Brickhouse Security

Carly Z — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:04:34 +0000

Concerned about keeping track of your kids in busy locations? According to Brickhouse Security, 2,185 kids go missing every day. So they created a solution: The Brickhouse Child Locator. GPS tagging your children may seem a bit odd, but Brickhouse makes it an easy and customizable experience. Small wristbands and keyrings house the GPS unit, and the "safety range" can be adjusted by the parent. And it's not just for kids. A system like this can be used to track an elderly relative who may have dementia or similar problems; being able to track them down means giving someone more freedom to be independent, without worrying that it might come Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Chevy Volt Aims to Help the Blind

Carly Z — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:05:42 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

I bought a Prius over the summer. Halfway through the test drive my fiancee asked the salesman if he was aware that electric cars have caused issues for blind pedestrians, since they don't hear the cars coming. His response (after an awkward silence where he no doubt considered whether his answer would lose him the sale) was "Well, it comes with a horn." Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Groundbreaking New iPhone Application – And We Have A Sneak Peek

Dan Cohen — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:44:08 +0000

There is an application that I have been using on my iPhone for the past five or six weeks that has transformed the way I use the device. It has already become one of my "must have, can't live without" applications. The thing is, it was a "must-have, can't live without" application within about a day of my starting to use it. And it's only becoming increasingly important to my use of the iPhone as the weeks have gone on. When I first started using the application the company that provided the beta version asked that I not speak about it until they were ready to roll it out. Earlier today, however, I received a letter from them thanking me for my participation. It ended with the words "If you have friends who you think would be interested in [the application] please spread the word." Well, as we head into Thanksgiving that is just what we are going to do. All I can say is, "It's about time!" I've been waiting to talk about this particular application for a while. A video demo of the app follows... Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Intel Announces a Reader for the Blind

Carly Z — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:34:51 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Last week, the big news was that several universities decided not to support the Kindle (or similar e-readers, presumably) because they are not accessible or friendly to blind and visually impaired students. Intel has stepped up this week though with an innovative device to help those with visual impairments read and hear the written word easier! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Moshi Voice Response Alarm Clock – Contest Winner Announced

Dan Cohen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:27:22 +0000

We reviewed the Moshi Voice Response Alarm Clock. We liked it a lot. Then we had one to give away. Nice! To enter it was quite simple... you just had to ask Moshi a question. We got some good ones. Questions like "Is it really Monday again?" and "Should I even get out of bed today?" Questions like the one our reader Augie Asked...

Hello Moshi, I’m wondering… will you’ll answer my question with another question?

We aren't quite sure what Augie's next question was but we have a guess... He probably would have asked... Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Using Dragon NaturallySpeaking On A Netbook

Dan Cohen — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:45:26 +0000

(This is the third installment of "Look Ma No Hands- Voice Recognition Technology Today". Once again there is a video at the end of the post showing the process of writing it prior to the physical clean-up that took place after. The video is truly boring but it does give a good sense of the speed, or lack there-of on a netbook.)

Yesterday I did a quick post on setting up Dragon NaturallySpeaking Version 10. It's a relatively easy process but it does take some time. It was done on a MacBook Pro with a 2.4 or 2.5 GHz processor and 4 GB of RAM. While that wasn't able to use all of the resources since it was a virtual machine and the computer was also running Mac OSx it still was quite speedy. Better still, because the microphone is as good as it is I didn't need to use a headset. This is a quick post simply to show how well you can use Dragon NaturallySpeaking Version 10 on a netbook. I'm actually recording this post using a Toshiba NB205. Even better, once again I'm not using a headset. I'm sitting in front of the computer and speaking. And while I am speaking slower than I normally would and I'm articulating more clearly than I normally do it isn't totally unnatural for me to speak this way and as you can see it's capturing all the words quickly and with almost 100% accuracy. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...