The
age of technology has altered the way we interact with our world. These
developments had made work easier and more efficient. It is used to make our
lives easier and allowed people with special needs to better integrate
themselves into society. Here are some examples of the latest technological
innovations created to assist those with special needs.
DOT
DOT
is a smartwatch designed for visually impaired people. It is Bluetooth-connected
to your smartphone and can almost instantly translate any text message, tweet,
or Facebook post. It is also an open-source technology that allows more
developers to create more programs and features for it.
The
DOT company sought to remove the high cost that visually challenged individuals
have to pay for if they want e-braille systems. Furthermore, the older
e-braille systems are quite bulky, so they took inspiration from the
smartwatches.
The
device works by using four braille cells, which rise to form up to four letters
a time. It connects to your phone or any other device through Bluetooth. Then
it will translate the letters to braille.
Compared
to other systems with similar functions, it is quite affordable at the starting
price of 250 USD. The company truly aims to help disabled individuals gain a
better foothold in the digital age.
Transcence
It
is quite simple for the deaf to communicate one-on-one with other people
through sign language. However, it is another level of difficulty for them when
it comes to group conversations. This is where Transcence comes in.
Transcence
uses the phonemic to convert the ongoing conversation into speech bubbles, much
like how a text messaging application would work. Besides that, Transcence can
also differentiate the speakers’ voices and display the text with colored
bubbles that correspond to each speaker.
Skyle
Earlier
last year, eye trackers that work with iPads were released. With these
trackers, it is now possible to control your iPad through the use of eye
movies. It is relatively simple to use, allowing independence in usage.
Additionally, these types of devices are recommended for a lot of different
impairments. Especially, conditions impair an individual’s range of motion like
ALS, Rett Syndrome, or Spinal Cord Injuries.
Y-Brush
Some
people have special conditions or disabilities that hinder their ability to
brush their teeth. Inventions like the Y-Brush, a retainer-shaped brush, helps
these individuals clean their oral cavity with ease.
The
brushes come in retainer-like containers, and to use them, you only need simple
gestures. It relies on sonic vibration and thousands of nylon filaments to
remove the dental plaque.
Chord Assist
Joe
Birch, the developer of the device, is a musician diagnosed with retinitis
pigmentosa — a genetic eye disease that gradually steals a person’s vision.
With his software development skills, he developed this guitar to allow himself
and others to play music.
You
can ask the guitar how to play certain chords and it will teach you how to do
so. The device can also be connected to an LCD screen for the deaf and Braille
for the blind.
Takeaway
Although
some devices help disability and special needs persons in their daily chores,
the world does not stop innovating for better lives. NDIS participants looking
to avail themselves of technologies as mentioned above can ask for the
assistance of their plan
management coordinator.
