#assistive-technology

#assistive-technology

Smashing Library expands again! We're so happy to announce our newest book, Accessible UX Research, is now available for download in eBook formats. Michele A. Williams takes us for a deep dive into the real world of UX testing, and provides a road map for including users with different abilities and needs in every phase of testing. But the truth is, you don't need to be conducting UX testing or even be a UX professional to get a lot out of this book. Michele gives in-depth descriptions of the assistive technology we should all be familiar with, in addition to disability etiquette, common pitfalls when creating accessible prototypes, and so much more.

Digital equity in education ensures every student has access to the same digital resources and opportunities. Inclusive smart classroom technology embodies this principle by accommodating diverse learning needs. These tools enable all students, regardless of ability or background, to benefit from technology. Smart boards, for instance, can serve as assistive classroom technology, allowing students with disabilities to engage more fully.

Ghiotto is a boccia ramp designed to support social interaction among children with and without disabilities in environments. Developed by Diego Reggiani as a university project within a design laboratory at Politecnico di Milano, it was selected for the shortlist of the iF Design Student Award. Rooted in the principles of universal design, the project addresses a crucial challenge: enabling children who use wheelchairs to build meaningful relationships from a young age.

Mobile shopping has been growing steadily for years, but this season marks a significant shift: For many shoppers, especially younger consumers, the phone is now the primary way they browse, compare prices, and make purchases. Retailers that rely heavily on desktop experiences or assume customers will switch devices to complete a purchase may find themselves falling behind. Yet, even as mobile traffic rises, many mobile websites and apps still present barriers that prevent people from completing a purchase.

Essesi Design Studio designs Nimble, a concept have lost. It uses a modular 3D printed prosthetic fin that can help athletic amputees swim again. An attachable technology, the assistive object replaces the foot and lower leg that userscarbon fiber for the shell, and inside this main body sits a lattice structure made of rubber material. This part bends during movement, so in this case, when the swimmer kicks, the lattice structure flexes, creating thrust that moves them forward through water.

In Australia, the federal government currently commits around about a $100 billion per year to disability and aging. And we know that we're only just scratching the surface of what is way in excess of a $13 trillion global opportunity around innovation in this space,

The 'Dogosophy Button' allows your pooch to control household appliances with a press of a paw. Developed by scientists at The Open University's Animal-Computer Interaction Laboratory, this button is designed to let dogs help their owners with more household tasks. And, according to its inventors, that includes letting your dog pop the kettle on to make you a cuppa. However, recreating your favourite scenes from Wallace and Gromit won't be cheap, with each Dogosophy Button currently costing £96.

Nike reinvents movement with powered footwear, aiming to do for running what e-bikes did for urban mobility. The sports giant unveiled Project Amplify, the world's first powered footwear system designed to make running and walking accessible to millions who previously found sustained movement intimidating or physically out of reach. Unlike elite performance gear designed to shave seconds off race times, Project Amplify targets everyday athletes who want to move more, go farther, and actually enjoy the experience.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and Khanmigo are rapidly proliferating and becoming integrated into nearly every aspect of life, including education. Although critics argue that these tools may replace traditional education, when used appropriately, they can complement teachers by serving as powerful educational partners. The diversity among learners often necessitates levels of support that a teacher alone cannot provide, underscoring the potential role of Gen AI in offering such assistance.

For decades, walking frames have been a case study in stagnation. They've remained almost unchanged since their invention, functional, yes, but limited in how they adapt to real-world conditions. Traditional frames can be awkward to maneuver on slopes, unstable on rough terrain, and visually uninspiring. More importantly, they often carry a stigma, subtly signaling frailty rather than empowerment. US-based startup Mobilate saw this as a glaring opportunity.

The onset of motor neurone disease (MND) left Sarah without a voice and the use of her hands at the age of 34. It was within months of her becoming a mum for the second time. As they were growing up, her children Aviva and Eric only ever heard her speak through a machine with an emotionless robotic voice. But 25 years on, artificial intelligence (AI) has recreated their mum's real voice from just eight seconds of audio on a scratchy VHS tape.

Any audio that automatically plays for more than 3 seconds must include a mechanism to pause or control the audio's volume without affecting system volume.

"Our main goal is creating a flexible speech neuroprosthesis that enables a patient with paralysis to speak as fluently as possible, managing their own cadence, and be more expressive by letting them modulate their intonation," says Maitreyee Wairagkar, a neuroprosthetics researcher at UC Davis who led the study.

Starting today, we're introducing the ability to customize Meta AI to provide detailed responses on Ray-Ban Meta glasses based on what's in front of you.

"In the wake of a long-haul injury, the importance of outside design perspectives cannot be overstated, as they may highlight overlooked problems and reveal useful solutions."