Panasonic Introduces Bluetooth-enabled Hearing Aid Device, Connects to Mobile Phones, TVs
Panasonic launches a new Bluetooth hearing aid for people with hearing disabilities. Panasonic’s Healthcare Group introduces the R1-W Series of hearing aid device that feature Bluetooth connectivity.
From http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/01/09/panasonic-introduces-bluetooth-enabled-hearing-aid-connects-to-mobile-phones-tvs/, January 10, 2012
Ghanaian with Disabilities Ask Parliament to Ratify UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The Ghana Society for the Physically Disabled has called on Parliament to ratify without further delay the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Mr Benjamin Amofa, national vice president of the Society, who made the call, noted that the delay in the ratification of the UN Convention had resulted in people’s continued disregard for members’ plight. He was speaking at an annual get-together organized for members of the Dormaa branch of the Society at Dormaa Ahenkro.
From http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/01/06/ghanaian-with-disabilities-ask-parliament-to-ratify-un-convention/, January 10, 2012
Tasmanian Disability Groups Want a Review of Air Access for Travelers with Disabilities
Tasmanian disability groups want a review of air access to the state to also consider the needs of travelers with disabilities, but the government says it is not the panel’s focus. A working group of tourism representatives was formed last year after ash clouds and industrial action isolated the state. Margaret Reynolds from National Disability Services says Tasmania has the highest disability rate in the country and the push for extra flights should include more disabled seating.
From http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/01/09/tasmanian-disability-groups-want-a-review-of-air-access-for-travelers-with-disabilities/, January 10, 2012
Liquipel Unveils Nanotechnology to Protect Smartphones from Water Damage
Materials developer, Liquipel says that it has developed a process that creates a liquid-repellant coating that is 1,000 times thinner than a human hair but will last the life of the device protected. It not only exceeds cell-phone manufacturers' requirements but actually creates a new category for water-safe electronics with a rating of IP-X7 certification (3 feet under water for 30 minutes), making it the highest performing protective coating in the industry.
From http://www.cellular-news.com/story/52534.php, January 09, 2012
Researchers Describe Smartphone Platform to Monitor Elderly Patients with Chronic Conditions
The need for continuous remote health monitoring is growing, especially amongst elderly patients that suffer from chronic diseases and heart conditions. In efforts to address this need, informaticists in Portugal have proposed a system that relies on remote sensor monitoring combined with mobile and wireless computing devices. In this case, they utilized an Android smart phone with Bluetooth capabilities to collect and analyze vital data in real-time, triggering appropriate reactions in case of eminent dangers.
From http://www.imedicalapps.com/2012/01/researchers-smartphone-platform-elderly-patients-chronic-conditions/, January 09, 2012
Canada: Deaf Groups Outraged Over End to Videophone Trial
Deaf people across the country are pleading with Canadian regulators to retain a videophone service that they say has changed their lives. The service uses sign-language operators who relay messages to deaf people via video phones. It has been in use in Canada for 18 months on a trial basis, but the CRTC, which governs the country’s telephone industry, says the experiment will end on Jan. 15 when funding runs out.
From http://www.theprovince.com/life/Deaf+groups+outraged+over+videophone+trial/5964824/story.html#ixzz1iye0ovyA, January 09, 2012
Nuance's Dragon TV Offers Voice Recognition Platform for Connected Televisions
Nuance isn't skipping a beat in Las Vegas, as the speech recognition company is busy launching a brand new platform that focuses on bringing its technology to connected TVs. According to the company, the platform, called Dragon TV, can be used to build customized voice and touch apps that run on televisions, set-top boxes, phones and tablets. Essentially, the technology will allow the viewer to use their voice to conduct searches, send messages and access plenty of other features, and mobile devices can be used to act as a remote to control the TV.
From http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/nuance-dragon-tv/?a_dgi=aolshare_twitter, January 09, 2012
Report: Consumer Media Usage Across TV, Online, Mobile and Social
Almost one in three U.S. TV households – 35.9 million – owns four or more televisions, according to a new report on media usage from Nielsen. Across the ever-changing U.S. media landscape, TV maintains its stronghold as the most popular device, with 290 million Americans and 114.7 households owning at least one. In contrast, 211 million Americans are online and 116 million (ages 13+) access the mobile Web.
From http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/report-consumer-media-usage-across-tv-online-mobile-and-social/, January 06, 2012
Siri Comes Up Short for Deaf and Speech Impaired
Siri is great at some things (fetching the weather), reasonably good at others (setting up reminders), and relatively hopeless at many other things (it’s fallback to anything it doesn’t know how to do is to suggest a Web search). I speak fluidly in an unremarkable Midwestern-American accent, but I still have to take care to enunciate.
From http://abledbody.com/2012/01/05/siri-comes-up-short-for-deaf-and-speech-impaired/, January 05, 2012
USA: NYC Needs to Mellow over Accessible Yellow Cabs
There are 13,000 taxis plying their trade each day in New York City, yet people with disabilities have no “meaningful access” to them: Only around 230 cabs, or 2%, are accessible to people using wheelchairs. So when a U.S. judge ruled in December that the city would need to come up with a way to introduce more accessible vehicles, Mayor Bloomberg and the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission thunk one up. They proposed issuing 6,000 new medallions over 10 years, of which 2,000 would be reserved for wheelchair-accessible yellow cabs.
From http://abledbody.com/2012/01/05/nyc-needs-to-mellow-over-accessible-yellow-cabs/, January 05, 2012
