ADAPTECHGBC: 07/11/12

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Android Accessibility Apps

SNOW has put together a list of accessibility apps for Android devices. The list can be found here.

Source: SNOW

iPhone Apps for Disability and Visual Impairment

Disabled World has put together a list of iPhone apps for disability and visual impairment. It can be found here.

Innovative EnableTalk Smartphone App Wins Microsoft's Imagine Cup

Microsoft announced that Ukraine’s team quadSquad won this year 10th Microsoft Imagine Cup student technology competition with their innovative EnableTalk smartphone application, sensory gloves that can translate sign language gestures into speech.

Team quadSquad from Ukraine celebrated its first-place win in the Software Design category at the Imagine Cup 2012 Worldwide Finals in Sydney, Australia. (Photo credit: Microsoft)

This year’s Imagine Cup’s theme was “Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems” and most teams focused on healthcare and the environment.

This year, more than 350 students from 75 countries traveled to Sydney after competing in local and online events, representing the best and brightest selected to compete in the Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals where Microsoft handed out approximately $175,000 in cash to the winners across eight different categories.

The Imagine Cup finals were carried out over 5 days and featured intense presentations from teams across the world. While the Ukraine team took the top prize, the truth is that everyone who participated in the competition all year long are winners as they are changing the world for the better.'

Next year’s event will take place in St. Petersburg, Russia

WHAT IS ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY?

“Adaptive Technology refers to any item, piece of equipment, or product system, modified or customized, that is used to increase or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities to achieve greater independence. (29 U.S.C. Sec 22202).”

Adaptive Technology truly "opens the door" to life for people with disabilities. Moreover, it helps to compensate for the effects of disability such as loss of speech, paralysis, and visual impairment, cognitive problems, in an active and positive manner. It places the focus not on what is lost but on what is possible...what is constructive...what can be done! (Buning, 2008).”

Individuals with learning disabilities often have difficulty with skills that others take for granted. Reading, listening, organizing information or writing skills may improve significantly from the use of assistive technology.