ABC television will broadcast the presidential inauguration on Friday January 20 with audio description that has been sponsored by the ACB audio description project. Coverage runs from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST. Audio description headsets will also be provided for those attending the inauguration parade.
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Introducing IBM MERA: IBM’s Multi-Purpose Eldercare Robot Assistant.
Working with Rice University in Texas, IBM has developed a prototype robot that can serve as a personal assistant to the elderly. This will potentially give millions of people the opportunity to live independent lives without having to go to a care facility or cause their loved ones to worry so much about them.
Watch this video on IBM’s MERA project, and read the press release below.
You Can Finally Download and Play Podcasts on Your Apple Watch!
Have you ever wanted to do more with your Apple Watch without having to bring your iPhone along for the ride? Now you can go for a walk or run and listen to your favorite podcasts without having to have your iPhone. The app is called WatchPlayer, and it allows you to transfer podcasts from an iOS device on to your watch. Another cool feature is that you don’t need wireless earbuds either. You can use the watch’s built-in speakers to play your favorite podcasts from Cool
Blind Tech. Here is a description of the app from the developer.
You Can Request an Uber Ride While in Google Maps: But is it Accessible?
Google Maps will now allow you to request an Uber ride while in the app, but I was curious about how useful and accessible it is. I will leave the determination of how useful it is to you, but it is accessible in both iOS and Android. Below I will give step by step instructions on how to use this feature on both platforms.
Introducing Olli: The World’s Most Accessible, Self-Driving Vehicle.
Almost everyone is involved in producing self-driving cars, but did you know that most of them are not accessible? The funny thing is; these companies are marketing autonomous cars as a life changer for people with disabilities without making them accessible. Olli could be a game changer for people with disabilities who are expecting self-driving cars to be a part of their lives. Checkout this video, and read the press release from CES 2017.
What if You Had an Intelligent Assistant for Photo Editing?
Adobe has announced a voice assistant that helps edit your photos and post them to social media. This could be a very helpful tool for blind people, because you just tell the assistant what to do, and it does it. Of course, the only problem is that you still can’t see if you like the way it looks before posting, but it is still better than what was available before.
Watch this demonstration of Adobe’s voice assistant in action.
Nvidia Shield TV Adds the Google Assistant to your TV and Extends Google Home Throughout Your House.
One of the most exciting releases that was announced at CES 2017, was the new Nvidia Shield. This device is about the size of a cell phone. It has an Ethernet connection, HDMI port, and a USB port. It comes with a standard controller and a gaming controller. It runs Android TV along was some features that are exclusive to Nvidia.
Just like Google Home, Nvidia’s Google Assistant is always listening, but this assistant supports conversation mode. That means if you have a follow-up question, you do not have to say OK Google before asking the next question in the conversation thread.
To extend Google Assistant throughout your home at an affordable price, you can purchase Nvidia Spot. Nvidia Spot is a device that you can plug into any outlet. It has a speaker and a microphone. The Spot connects back to the NVidia Shield, which serves as a central hub.
You can pre-order the Nvidia Shield here for $199.00. Google Assistant is currently not available, but will be added to Shield in a few months.
Accessibility Improvements in Windows 10 Build 15002.
Windows 10 Build 15002 was released today, and per Dona Sarkar, here is a list of the accessibility features to be found in this new release.
Eye Tracker for the Disabled Wins Award at CES 2017.
The annual CES Innovation Awards celebrate outstanding product design and engineering in brand-new consumer technology products. The prestigious Innovation Awards program recognizes top honorees among 28 award categories, including “Tech for A Better World,” which honors products that provide positive societal and/or global impact.
The Tobii Dynavox PCEye Mini is the smallest and most robust eye tracker on the market for assistive technology. Optimized for individuals that do not have use of their hands-due in part to disabilities such as Spinal Cord Injuries, ALS, Stroke, Cerebral Palsy, Rett Syndrome, or other degenerative conditions-the device enables users to control a computer, laptop or tablet using only their eyes.
“We are incredibly grateful and humbled to receive this honor,” said Fredrik Ruben, President of Tobii Dynavox. “For individuals who are non-verbal and have mobility challenges, this product is life-changing. Mere decades ago, living with conditions that restricted voice and movement meant living with the inability to communicate-beyond a blink for ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ Today, we are revolutionizing access to technology and making it possible for individuals to not only find their voice and be heard, but also gain life-changing independence.”
With the PCEye Mini, individuals with disabilities that inhibit the use of their hands or arms can remain in the workplace longer or even return to work because the device allows for completely hands-free computing. The PCEye Mini allows users to communicate and stay in touch online by effortlessly connecting with others via email, text messaging, Skype (News – Alert), Facebook®and other social media. Enabling users to surf the web, connect with friends online, play games, turn on the lights or TV, or even make spreadsheets and documents using only their eyes ultimately gives the user greater personal freedom and independence.
“Our users are playing competitive chess, performing stand-up comedy, directing internationally recognized films, working professionally as artists, and even going before Congress with the aid of their technology. We’re opening up a new realm of possibilities for individuals with physical challenges,” added Ruben.
The PCEye Mini featuring IS4 eye tracker will be displayed January 5-8, 2017 at CES 2017 in the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 2, Booth 26602. To learn more about PCEye Mini featuring IS4 eye tracker, visit here.
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Best of Innovation Award for Accessible Tech Goes to ReSound ENZO at CES 2017.
Intelligent audio solutions provider, especially hearables, med-tech and intelligent audio, The GN Group, has won the CES Best of Innovation Award for Accessible Tech for its ReSound ENZO smart hearing aid. This award recognizes ReSound ENZO as the highest rated technology/product in the Accessible Technology category.
Resound ENZO is a smart, super power, hearing aid which is designed for people who have severe to profound hearing loss. It is also the first ReSound product to have won the Best of Innovation award from CES.
“ReSound has had a great experience exhibiting at CES for the past three years, and we are excited to return in 2017 to share our comprehensive portfolio of Smart Hearing technologies,” says Kim Lody, President & Senior Vice President, GN Hearing, North America. “At ReSound, we are committed to innovation and always prioritize users as the company develops its breakthrough design and technological capabilities. We are excited to share how ReSound is driving the hearing industry forward and transforming the user experience through new developments in audiology, connectivity, design and apps.”
The GN Group has also launched ReSound LiNX which is a collection of hearing aids Made for iPhone, which allows users a revolutionary way to personalize the settings of the hearing aid, apart from direct sound streaming capabilities. It also includes the ReSound Smart app.
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