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Table of contents
 
September 26 2007

 

1 iPhones and the Disability Divide
2 Seeing a world with sound
3 Code Factory brings Mobile Speak solution to Windows? Mobile 6-based HP iPAQ
4 Sens Time By Touch Clock For The Blind Is Sexy And Round.
5 Lovells wins payout for visually impaired Ryanair passengers
6 Sony Makes TV Compatible for the Blind
7 More Canadians working later in life
8 Artificial cornea is both strong and clear

 

 

 

iPhones and the Disability Divide

 

By Edward J. Heaton

 

August 2007 Column

 

In all the hype about Apple's new and revolutionary iPhone, it seems that
one segment of the population has been ignored.  As usual, it's persons with
disabilities.

 

The most revolutionary feature of the iPhone is supposed to be its user
interface, which consists of a touch screen.  A touch screen interface does
not allow persons with limited mobility in their hands, or persons who are
blind, to use the iPhone.  Early sales estimates say that in the first
weekend of sales (June 29 to July 2), up to 750,000 units were sold.  The
effect of the iPhone is not just limited to Apple products.  According to
Fortune Magazine's David Kirkpatrick, "every other handheld device maker no
doubt will immediately start trying to imitate [the iPhone's touch screen
interface]."

 

If this is true, then PWDs will really be in a hole.  The debate on whether
iPhones should or should not be accessible has already started on Apple user
websites. There are two schools of thought.  The first is that if you are
blind, why would you buy an iPhone?  The second is that one cannot determine
who wants to use the technology.

 

The iPhone was introduced in January by Steve Jobs.  In the six months since
then, I have seen no disabled organization, such as the National Association
of the Blind, or any ADA-related group come up with a position on whether or
not the iPhone should be handicapped accessible.  Given the other serious
issues facing the disability community, I can certainly understand the
oversight.  However, given the early and probably ongoing success of the
iPhone, I think this will become an issue as more companies attempt to
either license or come up with their own version of the Apple technology.

 

According to "Disability and the Digital Divide", a report released in 2006
by RTC Rural, "[t]he most current data (October 2003) show Internet use by
fewer than 30% of those with disabilities over age 15 while more than 60% of
those with no disability used the Internet at
some location."   If people with disabilities are already using the
Internet half as much as people without disabilities, the iPhone will only
continue to swing the pendulum in the wrong direction.

 

What needs to be done?  Organizations, such as National Organization on
Disability, and the American Association of Persons with Disabilities, need
to push for accessibility standards for all devices that will use the iPhone
technology.  Currently, in America, there are approximately 30,000 ATMs that
are accessible to people with low vision by the use of a headphone jack.
Perhaps a similar arrangement can be developed for the iPhone.  This needs
to be done because of the other feature of the iPhone: that it acts as a
true mobile computer that allows consumers to surf the Web as if they were
at home on their own computer.  The digital divide is already wide enough.
We need to ensure that it doesn't become the digital chasm.

 

 

 

Seeing a world with sound
 
 
By Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter
Gulf News - Dubai,United Arab Emirates
Friday, August 03, 2007.
 
 
Dubai: Imagine a world with no colour, a personal world with no boundaries,
a world without any visual inputs.
 
One such world belongs to Dana Nashwati, a 20- year-old who lost her sight
at the age of 13 after a severe bout of flu, which affected the nerves
around her eyes. She can still see a blur of colours and shapes in her
dreams, although it is now gradually turning into only shades and sounds.
 
She can still visualise things by learning to identify the characteristics
of an object. "I still use colours to identify people I haven't seen before
losing my eyesight. I visualise individuals by giving them a colour by the
sound of their voice," said Nashwati.
 
She tries to help visually-impaired people to learn how to match colours to
sounds. She is surrounded by her friends from the Blind Association, who
occasionally escape busy schedules to enjoy a day with nature and good
company.
 
Among the group is Khalfan Bin Daher, who was demonstrating his knowledge of
guessing people's age and skin colour by feeling their hands. In a few
minutes he was able to correctly guess the age of the person next to him. "I
don't know how people look like, but through the sense of touch I can find
out about the person's age and skin colour," said the 18-year-old.
 
"I can see light when it directly hits my eyes. That's the only thing I can
'see', but I would love to learn how to match colours. I would like to know
if red goes well with blue," he said.
 
He explained that he sees things the way his imagination visualises it. "My
dreams are usually shapeless and colourless. But then reality will always be
defined by perception," he said.
 
Composing music
 
Ahmad Al Jafli, 20, enjoys listening and composing music. The media
communications student and radio presenter said he can recognise the mood of
a person by carefully listening to every unconscious movement and sound.
 
"People can control their expressions, but they are usually unconscious of
certain movements due to discomfort, happiness," he said.
 
Nashwati points out that people are increasingly taught to be
visually-driven. "This undermines the significance of their other senses,"
she said.
 
Mona and Sharifa Al Hashemi, they visualise objects by the sound they make.
"I identify objects by listening to the sound they create. I dream with
sounds," said Mona.
 
All the group members were born visually impaired except for Nashwati.
"Losing your eyesight is obviously difficult, but your visual impairment is
not always a restriction. The visual element can be deceptive at times. I
learned to understand matters and people better because I take the time to
listen to their views ... you learn the art of listening," she said.
 
The groups of friends feel the country needs more awareness about the needs
and wants of visually impaired people. Most shopping malls and buildings are
not accessible for the visually impaired, they said.
 
"We still have to depend on someone to get from one place to another. We all
want our independence. We always try to challenge ourselves ... but we need
the resources and means," Bin Daher said.
 
? Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2007.
 
http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Society/10144086.html

 

 

 

 Code Factory brings Mobile Speak solution to Windows? Mobile 6-based HP iPAQ
HP iPAQ 500 series Voice Messenger is compatible with Code Factory's world-class screen reading
software for visually impaired.
Terrassa (Barcelona), August 1st, 2007
Code Factory today announced that Mobile Speak for Windows Mobile Smartphones is now available on
the HP iPAQ 500 series Voice Messenger. As a world class screen reader for Windows Mobile
Smartphones, Mobile Speak offers multilingual text-to-speech and Braille access to blind and
visually impaired business users of the HP iPAQ 500 series Voice Messenger, providing them full
access to the applications and functions of the device.
 
"For the past two years, we have worked with HP to provide the best access solution for visually
impaired users of HP iPAQ products," said Code Factory CEO, Eduard S?nchez. "We are very pleased to
support HP in its first Windows Mobile 6-powered Smartphone. We are sure this will become a popular
device among our customers."
 
Mobile Speak for Windows Mobile Smartphones further enriches the user experience by allowing
customers to:
Install any of more than twenty languages with highly intelligible TTS voices from award-winning
providers such as Acapela, Fonix and Loquendo.
Connect with any of more than fifteen Bluetooth-enabled Braille devices that are currently supported
for input and output in many Braille languages and grades.
Access documents in Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats.
Manage personal data using Outlook Mobile applications including Contacts, Messaging, Calendar, and
Tasks.
Surf the web using Internet Explorer.
Review call logs, hear the caller ID, and continue to have speech feedback when accessing other
functions while on a call.
Listen to sound files and audio streams using Windows Media Player.
Use other built-in applications such as the calculator, Voice Recorder and Windows Live Messenger.
Configure phone settings, profiles, speed dials and voice tags.
Synchronize or backup your data to your PC through ActiveSync.
Access 3rd-party applications like AvantGo, Audible Player and Audible Air, SlovoEd Multilingual
Dictionaries and many more.
Use Bluetooth-enabled headsets and QWERTY keyboards.
Read the date and time, signal strength, battery level, number of unread SMS and missed calls, and
other status details that are visually represented.
Change TTS-specific pronunciations through user dictionary files.
Configure more than 30 verbosity options and use intuitive commands to adjust speech settings on the
fly.
"The HP iPAQ 500 Series was designed with convenient hands-free operation through innovative
features such as its Voice Command and email Voice Reply. By supporting Mobile Speak compatibility,
HP is helping to provide products, services and information that are accessible to everyone,
including those with visual limitations," explained Michael Takemura, HP Accessibility program
director. "We believe that Mobile Speak for Windows Mobile Smartphones provides a comprehensive
speech and Braille solution that makes this the most accessible Smartphone for people with visual
impairment."
 
To learn more about Mobile Speak for Windows Mobile Smartphones, click here. You can also evaluate
the software free of charge by downloading it from here and activating a 30-day trial license. To
view the list of distributors and resellers, click here.
About Code Factory
Code Factory is a software company committed to the development of products designed to remove
barriers to the accessibility of mobile technology for the blind and visually impaired. Noted for
innovation and responsiveness, Code Factory is the leading provider of screen readers, screen
magnifiers, and Braille interfaces for the widest range of mainstream mobile devices including
Symbian-based and Windows Mobile-powered Smartphones as well as Pocket PC phones and PDAs. Further,
Code Factory is the only accessible software provider to support close to two hundred different
phone models working on the GSM, CDMA and WCDMA networks. To learn more about Code Factory and its
mission of bringing complete accessibility to mobile devices, visit http://www.codefactory.es.
 
For more information, feel free to contact Code Factory S.L.:
Code Factory, S.L., Rambla d'Egara 148 2-2, 08221 Terrassa (Barcelona)
Tel. +34 93 733 70 66, info@codefactory.es, www.codefactory.es
Code Factory, S.L. - 2007

 

Gizmodo.com - Budapest,Hungary
SUN AUG 5 2007.
 
Swatch develops some awesome concepts and this is no exception. Designed by
 Arnaud Lapierre, it is a high fashion clock for the blind called Sens Time
by Touch. Though there are many solutions for time keeping for the visually
impaired, this concept goes a long way to push for style and functionality.
 
The clock has a Braille twelve-hour marker on its outermost surface and this
serves as the main calibration point for time keeping. The device consists
in total of three concentric circles; the two closest to the exterior are
ceramic and the furthest inset is clear plastic. The time is revealed by
hedistance the twelve-hour marker is from the second ceramic ring, the
plastic ring is used to set the alarm using the same principal.
 
We love the fact that the design is elegant and not butt ugly-like most time
keeping gadgets for the blind tend to be. In fact, we like the presentation
of it so much we would love to have one of these up on our desk, because if
there is anything we love more than warm, sweet, syrup filled macaroons,
it's enigmatic, ceramic timepieces.
 
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/touch-me/sens-time-by-touch-clock-for-the-blind-is-sexy-and-round-286138.php

 

 

 

Lovells wins payout for visually impaired Ryanair passengers
 
 
Author:  Source: The Lawyer
The Lawyer - London,UK
13-Aug-2007.
 
 
Lovells has won compensation from budget airline Ryanair in a pro bono
appointment on behalf of some visually impaired passengers. The passengers
were refused carriage on the grounds that their flight had already met its
quota of 'mobility-impaired' passengers.
 
The group was travelling to Italy for a walking holiday and had already
boarded the aircraft and taken their seats when on-board staff ordered them
to disembark.
 
The group alleged that Ryanair ground staff then informed them that they had
disembarked voluntarily, meaning that they would not qualify for assistance
or compensation under the European Commission Denied Boarding Regulations.
 
Although the airline did arrange for the group to be booked onto later
flights as a "favour", four of them were forced to sleep on the floor of
Stansted Airport awaiting an early flight the following day, with no offer
of food or accommodation.
 
The six passengers were represented by Lovells litigation associate Richard
Brown, who said: "It struck me that the group had been treated particularly
unfairly so I was keen to help them get a settlement."
 
Ryanair's insistence that the group had not been 'denied boarding' under the
meaning of the Commission's Denied Boarding Regulations surrounded its claim
that the quota of four mobility-impaired passengers per flight was necessary
for safety reasons.
 
The complainants argued that they were not mobility impaired simply because
they were visually impaired, as all of them had sighted guides. Consequently
they should have been paid compensation and, where appropriate, offered
accommodation under the regulations.
 
Ryanair claimed that it was within its rights under its terms and conditions
to refuse carriage, although the airline has subsequently changed its policy
towards the carriage of visually impaired passengers.
 
A settlement was reached before proceedings were issued.
 
 
The Lawyer Group is a division of Centaur Media PLC 2007
TheLawyer.com was built by Sift Group Ltd.
 
 
http://www.thelawyer.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=127863&d=122&h=24&f=46

 

Sony Makes TV Compatible for the Blind
 
 
By JWhite
Associated Content - Denver,CO,USA
 
 
We are all familiar with subtitles, those little captions on TV that
narrates what characters are doing and saying, but what people don't know is
that a similar technology is available for the bBlind. Audio Description is
like subtitles that provides additional soundtrack for blind or visually
impaired people. During a break in a program's dialogue, a voice explains
visual plot points that can help visually impaired people to follow and
understand the plot more fully.
 
Sony is now providing for this technology in all of their Bravia
televisions. Audio description used to be only accessible through the use of
a separate set-top box or a satellite receiver. However, audio description
must also be supported by the broadcaster distributing the TV program. Most
TV manufacturers provide support for Integrated Digital Television (IDTV)
but only few provide audio description access.
 
In Europe, a variety of programs offers audio description but it is only the
United Kingdom that has a law that makes it a requirement for main
broadcasters to provide for audio description. Currently, BBC channels are
required to have 8% of their programs audio described.
 
According to Sony, one of the challenges facing audio description is low
awareness before visually impaired viewers can claim to enjoy the same kind
of service that subtitles provide for the deaf.
 
In 2006, an Ofcom research study said that only 22% of the visually impaired
respondents who have heard of audio description claims to have used it while
63% of those least visually impaired people have never heard of it.
 
Sony is now calling on the Television industry to join its campaign to
provide products and services for the visually impaired people. With Sony's
introduction of the audio description technology in its Bravia series, the
company hopes to put an end to broadcasters and legislator's argument that
there is limited need for channels to feature audio description because of
the lack of products with the technology to play it. Sony is now on a
Europe-wide PR campaign to raise awareness amongst consumers, media,
legislators and manufacturers.
 
A lot of people welcomed Sony's initiative to make blind and partially
sighted people enjoy television. Andreas Ditter, Vice President of Sony's TV
Operations in Europe said, "With the opportunities presented by digital
broadcast channels today, Sony believes that the ability to enjoy a great
televisual experience should not be the preserve of those that can see, but
should also be accessible to blind and partially sighted people."
 
2007 ? Associated Content.
 
SOURCE:
 
Sony press release, Sony Introduces Television For The Blind. URL:
(http://www.sony-europe.com/view/ShowPressRelease.action?section=en_EU_Press&pressrelease=1182234932989&site=odw_en_EU)
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/345877/sony_makes_tv_compatible_for_the_blind.html

 

Increasing number of Canadians working later in life, survey finds; Changing
attitude to aging big reason older people stay in workforce
 
Shannon Proudfoot
Ottawa Citizen , Aug. 25, 2007
 
Canadians are working later in life and that may cushion a potential labour
shortage when baby boomers start to retire, a report shows.
 
An estimated 2.1 million people age 55 to 64 were employed or looking for
jobs in 2006 -- double the number who were working 30 years before,
according to a study released yesterday by Statistics Canada. Most of their
jobs were in the service sector and the vast majority worked full time.
 
Older workers made up 12 per cent of the Canadian labour force last year,
while they comprised 10 per cent in 1976. That reflects an aging population
and the fact that more people are working later.
 
"It's not only more older people -- it's not the same older person as it was
before," says David Cravit, 62, senior vice-president of marketing for the
50Plus Group, the largest Internet portal for baby boomers and seniors in
the country. ''I look and act and think 15 years younger than my
chronological age. I'm not here to be sitting in a rocking chair playing
cribbage for five years waiting for the axe to fall."
 
Three-quarters (76 per cent) of men age 55 to 59 either had a job or were
looking for one last year, as were 62 per cent of women. In the 60 to 64
group, 53 per cent of men were still in the work force and a record-high 37
per cent of women were in the same situation. The data came from the Labour
Force Survey.
 
Baby boomers' strong attachment to work, increased education -- especially
among women -- and the near-elimination of mandatory retirement at 65 are
expected to keep more older workers on the job in the future.
 
"Employment is an important form of validation for this generation. Remember
that the 60-year-olds of today were the yuppies of the 1970s," says Mr.
Cravit.
 
The financial responsibilities of caring for aging parents or grown children
who haven't flown the nest may also be pushing the "sandwich generation" to
work longer, he adds.
 
Others may work to finance luxuries their pensions don't cover, Mr. Cravit
says, citing his favourite example of a Calgary man in his 80s who works
part time at a Tim Hortons outlet so he can spend three months in Mexico
each year.
 
Although his employer recently scrapped mandatory retirement, 60-year-old
University of British Columbia professor David Sanderson plans to leave the
workforce in five years.
 
That will give him and his wife the financial means and the time to enjoy
their retirement years, he says, even though he's not ready for it quite
yet.
 
"I love my job, but I like doing things with my wife, travelling, restoring
cars, running, those kinds of things," Mr. Sanderson says.
 
David Patchell-Evans, founder of GoodLife Fitness Clubs, is about to turn 54
and doesn't foresee himself retiring in the next decade.
 
He has a good role-model in his 87-year-old mother, who still works for the
company full time, attending every meeting and scrutinizing the balance
sheets.
 
"Most people still want to get young, we don't want to get old," he says.
"And old is a very relative thing. I'm convinced it's not a state of age,
it's a state of attitude."

 

TECHNOLOGY: FEATURE.                                             p28
NS070825
 
#34  Artificial cornea is both strong and clear; Ten million
 
         people worldwide suffer from corneal blindness, but
 
         until now there has not been an artificial implant with
 
         just the right combination of properties
 

 

Aria Pearson
 
AN ARTIFICIAL cornea has been created that is as strong and clear
 
as the real thing. It could allow millions of people with damaged
 corneas to see.
 
Corneal blindness can be caused by disease, injury or infection of
the eye's clear surface. It can be cured with a transplant from a
human donor, but donors are scarce. The World Health Organization
estimates that 10 million people worldwide are blind because of
defective corneas, yet only 100,000 receive transplants each year.
 
Artificial corneas made from flexible hydrogels - polymers that
 absorb water - are now available, but they are not permeable
enough to support epithelial cells on their surface. These cells
guard against bacteria and stop natural corneas becoming cloudy,
by preventing proteins from sticking to them. Adding more water
to the hydrogels allows glucose to diffuse through them and
nourish epithelial cells on the surface, but it also weakens
them. So there is a push to develop a synthetic cornea that is
both strong and permeable. "The long-term goal is an
off-the-shelf cornea that looks and acts like donor tissue," says
 
Heather Sheardown of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

 

Now Curtis Frank and colleagues at Stanford University in
California have done just that. They took polyacrylic acid, the
water-absorbing polymer found in diapers, and cross-linked it
with polyethylene glycol, which also absorbs water. The
 cross-links mean that the resulting material is 20 times stronger
than either of the starting polymers on their own, and about the
same strength as a human cornea. Crucially it also has the same
water content as a real cornea, which greatly increases its
ability to transport nutrients to the epithelial cells.
 
After forming the material, which was presented at the American
Chemical Society meeting in Boston on 20 August, into a
6-millimetre-wide disc , the researchers implanted it in rabbits.
They found that glucose from the eye diffused through the
material and fed the epithelial cells growing on the surface,
which had been modified with collagen to promote cell growth.
 
Sheardown is also developing a cornea made from two intertwined
 polymers. But it does not transport glucose as readily as Frank's
and she has not yet tested it on animals.
 
Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information, UK, a division of Reed Elsevier
 Inc.Al
 
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At the business desk, i'm Matt Chadwick wishing you a pleasant afternoon.