accessibility – Pro iDoctor

The Monarch could be the next big thing in Braille

By News Curator

For many people around the world, braille is their primary language for reading books and articles, and digital braille readers are an important part of that. The newest and fanciest yet is the Monarch, a multipurpose device that uses the startup Dot’s tactile display technology. The Monarch is a collaboration between HumanWare and the American […]

The Monarch could be the next big thing in Braille by Devin Coldewey originally published on TechCrunch

MrBeast’s blindness video puts systemic ableism on display

By News Curator

Recently, megastar creator MrBeast posted a video to his YouTube in which he spotlights numerous blind and visually impaired people who have undergone a surgical procedure that “cures” their blindness. As of this writing, the video has been viewed more than 76 million times, and the responses have been visceral in both praise and contempt. For…

Sony aims to make PlayStation more accessible with Project Leonardo controller

By News Curator

Sony has been embracing accessibility options in its games for a few years now, but one place it has lagged behind perennial rival Microsoft is in accessible hardware. They aim to change that with Project Leonardo, a new gaming controller aimed to be customizable to the needs of any person. The device was described only […]

Sony aims to make PlayStation more accessible with Project Leonardo controller by Devin Coldewey originally published on TechCrunch

NexStride gadget that helps people with Parkinsons fight ‘freezing’ attracts $2.8M

By News Curator

One of the challenges faced by people with Parkinson’s disease is the possibility of “freezing” during normal movement, causing falls and lack of mobility. Surprisingly, small external cues can help them escape freezes or avoid them altogether — and De Oro has raised $2.8 million to commercialize its NexStride portable gadget, which provides those cues […]

Apple adds live captions to iPhone and Mac, plus more accessibility upgrades to come

By News Curator

Apple has released a bevy of new accessibility features for iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac, including a universal live captioning tool, improved visual and auditory detection modes, and iOS access to WatchOS apps. The new capabilities will arrive “later this year” as updates roll out to various platforms. The most widely applicable tool is probably […]

Microsoft’s PeopleLens project helps blind kids learn social cues in conversation

By News Curator

Among the challenges of growing up with a visual impairment is learning and participating in the social and conversational body language used by sighted people. PeopleLens is a research project at Microsoft that helps the user stay aware of the locations and identities of the people around them, promoting richer and more spontaneous interactions. A […]