hmmm, interesting idea Greg. My biggest gripe would be that you'd probably need 2 hands to use a device this way. In any case it appeals to me a lot more than something like an overlay, but probably not as much as being able to make certain jestures to jump to the next item on screen in a given direction and have what's focused read out to me, maybe with Alex. Although, your braille input idea would be a definite winner for inputting numbers and letters for me - my braille sucks, but it'd come back with a bit of practice, and I can't think of a quicker way of writing texts on a touch screen for example.
On 9/10/08, John Panarese <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Conceptually, as a Braille user, this idea makes sense and, to > me, would be attractive. My only two other thoughts are, firstly, > there are many blind folks who either don't know Braille at all or who > are not comfortable using it. Secondly, there are other devices that > utilize a touch screen and blind people can work them. However, in > the second case, I don't know how something like mobile speaks method > would translate into something like an iPhone. > > Take Care > > John Panarese > > On Sep 10, 2008, at 11:13 AM, Greg Kearney wrote: > >> Let me try this idea for accessible touch systems on you. How to >> make the touch screens accessible is a big issue with no clear >> solution. As more devices adopt this interface something will have >> to be done however. Here is one approach to the issue: >> >> Braille input for touch screen devices >> >> Braille is the international standard for reading, and in this case, >> writing employed by the blind. Braille offers a possible method of >> interacting with and controlling touch screen devices such as the >> iPod Touch and the iPhone. Braille is a corded entry system made up >> of six positions of the fingers. >> >> Touch screens could be programed to detect the various combinations >> of finger presses and their relationship to each other and then act >> accordingly. This combined with text to speech output would permit >> the blind user to control a touch screen device. >> >> When in "braille input mode" the user would enter in grade one >> braille commands to which the devices would respond with speech. For >> example consider the task of choosing music to play. >> >> The use would enter the word "play" in braille on the screen >> followed by taping the "space bar" in this case the double press of >> two thumbs at the bottom of the screen to activate the command. The >> system would respond by announcing the first song of the cover flow >> selections. The user would then do a "N" and a double tap of the >> space bar to move forward and a "B" to move backwards through the >> list. When the use found the song he wanted a double tap of the >> space bar would activate the choice. >> >> The use could limit the listing by providing the play command a name >> for example "play haydn" would limit the search to music by Haydn. >> >> Similar interfaces could be done for phone calls in the iPhone. A >> user could issue a command "call bob" the unit would respond with a >> list of users with bob in the name the user would then use the "N" >> and "B' commands to move through the lists until he finds the one he >> wants to call and then issue a double tap of the space bar to place >> the call or a "info" command to read the information about that >> person. >> >> By using grade one braille we can avoid the issue of expanding >> contraction and make the system easy to use even for blind users who >> might not otherwise be braille users. Braille would permit the blind >> user to enter information into the phone. An added benefit is that >> braille entry would permit even sighted users to type quickly into a >> touch device much as if they had a keyboard attached to the device. >> >> With the addition of Braille Apple would be offering the least >> expensive and most capable braille device ont eh market today when >> you consider that similar devices for the blind have costs well in >> excess of $1000. In addition it would offer a fast data input method >> for the sighted as well. >> >> Well that is all for now. >> >> Greg Kearney >> Curtin University Centre for Accessible Technology >> www.cucat.org >> > > >
