Mobile Future headed over to Apps 4 Access last
week to check out the latest in mobile disability applications. The event hosted by Disability Power & Pride in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Troy Cross from Vlingo demos audio-to-text messaging on his mobile phone:
Larry Lewis from Flying Blind, LLC shows off an alpha braille controller:
David Pohelman shows off an iPhone that speaks back to the user:
Lisa and Jeffrey Johnson from Grembe Inc. show off iCommunicate:
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 — landmark legislation that ensures equal opportunity and accessibility for the 54 million, or one out of five, Americans living with some form of a disability. We have seen terrific progress over the past twenty years and there is still much work to be done.
One bright spot where new tools are being developed to help increase opportunity and independence for those with disabilities is in wireless. With technology leaping forward at warp speed, mobile innovators are developing new products, services and applications to both anticipate and meet evolving consumer demands and particularly the needs of those with disabilities.
Mobile Future's recently released white paper titled, "Mobile Ability: The Transformational Impact of Wireless Innovation for People with Disabilities" takes a closer look at how wireless technology can improve the quality of life and enhance inclusiveness for individuals with disabilities. The report explores how important the intersection of mobile innovation and broadband technology is for people with disabilities in the areas of employment, health care, education and emergency response.
Mobile technology has revolutionized communications worldwide, and in doing so, has reshaped the way society functions as a whole. Robust investment in wireless has allowed innovators to dream big and invent affordable and accessible technologies that provide consumers with advancements and opportunities never dreamed possible.
The ADA was a beacon of hope for millions of Americans and led to countless opportunities. But while we celebrate this monumental legislation this week, we must not forget that there is still more policymakers can do.
To help spur even more potential mobile solutions for those with disabilities, we must free up more spectrum to accommodate the looming mobile data crunch. We also need to remove barriers to technology like high taxes and fees on communications services. We must continue to encourage the strong collaboration between innovators and the disability community on mobile technologies. And, finally, policymakers must support efforts to modernize local 911 infrastructures.
As the FCC and Congress move forward to implement the National Broadband Plan, policymakers must strive to keep the goals of the ADA in mind and continue to uphold the wise regulatory policies that fuel innovation, competition and a consumer-driven mobile future for all.
If you're in the area, Mobile Future highly encourages you to stop by Apps 4 Access, an event hosted by Disability Power & Pride in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Apps 4 Access will showcase a variety of disability applications, and Mobile Future will be in attendance with two booths featuring a mobile demonstration at each. The event is from 9:30AM-11:30AM in the Capitol Visitor Center's Congressional Meeting Room South. Hope to see you there!
"High speed Internet empowers people with disabilities to become more independent. [It] can remove barriers that keep people with disabilities from participating in everyday activities such as employment, education, civic responsibilities and social connection."
From a joint statement by: The American Association of People with Disabilities and The Communications Workers of America
For America's 54 million people with disabilities, two important events happen this summer. First, there's Memorial Day, when disabled veterans will proudly lead ceremonies and officials will emphasize the need to help those injured in conflict.
Second, July 26th is the 20th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA was a long time in coming and is probably the single most empowering law during the past generation. But while the ADA has been instrumental in providing legal help for Americans with disabilities, something else is doing an important job in improving basic living standards.
It's your mobile phone.
That's the conclusion of a new research paper that Mobile Future issued today. For all the talk about texting, streaming video, gaming and other apps, one of the most heartening mobile developments involve affordable, life-changing improvements for those with disabilities. The FCC also recognizes this development and hosted a workshop to explore ways in which new technologies can offer opportunities to meet the communications access needs of people with disabilities.
Take the hearing impaired. In 2006, according to the CDC, 37 million adults in the United States had trouble hearing (ranging from a little trouble to being deaf). That's an increase of more than five million since 2000.
As described in Mobile Future's paper, a new wireless system developed at the Georgia Tech Research Institute offers those with hearing difficulties the ability to caption events in real-time. The device translates spoken words into text and displays it on a screen.
Meanwhile, according to Scientific American, researchers at the University of Washington (Seattle) are developing software that lets mobile phone users communicate through sign language and real-time video instead of being limited to text messaging.
But what about those who can't see? Some of the same technology that lets you save money while shopping is also turning the phone into an electronic seeing-eye companion.
As we discovered, mobile apps can use smartphone cameras to scan labels and announce the contents of grocery items, their nutrition labels, and even pill bottles. When merged with GPS technology, these apps can assist the visually impaired by giving them step-by-step directions through their smartphone.
Know someone with a speaking disability? An estimated 6 to 8 million Americans have this challenge. Many, if not most, can now take advantage of low- or no-cost communications apps on their cell phone. There's voice output software that conveys typed messages; downloadable text-to-speech software can be an effective, less-costly alternative to speech devices covered by private insurance and Medicare.
Also, some experts say that children with speech impairments often prefer using "mainstream" technology which is less stigmatizing.
Mobile Future's research paper is meant to be both an assessment and a celebration of the key innovations that are helping those with disabilities. It is also a "look-ahead" at the next phase wireless technologies in the pipeline which promise even more transformational impacts for the one in five Americans who live with disabilities.
This column was originally posted on Huffington Post on May 13, 2010.
Yesterday, Mobile Future released a white paper assessing the role of mobile and wireless technologies in creating opportunities for the 54 million Americans with disabilities.
The white paper, entitled "Mobile Ability: The Transformational Impact of Wireless Innovation for People with Disabilities," examines the advancements in mobile devices and services that enhance quality of life and inclusiveness for Americans with disabilities. For this population especially, the personal customization wireless devices offer unleashes new opportunities in employment, health care, education, and emergency response that can be tailored to meet an individual’s unique needs and preferences.
The paper also explores next generation technologies and the future of mobile innovation in this arena, pointing to several key areas where policymakers can make a difference.
Also happening yesterday, the FCC held a workshop on Expanding Disability Access with Wireless Technologies, demonstrating the pertinence of the white paper in today’s telecommunications landscape. The workshop—which focused on consumer-based components of the National Broadband Plan geared toward maximizing adoption among Americans with disabilities—is one of many laudable examples of the FCC’s commitment to increasing broadband capabilities among the disability community.
We are excited to offer this paper at a time that can complement the FCC’s agenda outlined in the National Broadband Plan, while simultaneously informing beneficial products and meaningful policy moving forward.
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Tags: Applications, Disability community, Mobile Applications, Mobile Future, Smartphone, DC, Mobile Ability