I like devices that rely on touch-based interfaces because the gestures that we use to operate them seem so natural and effortless. And I’ve seen old folks and children (barely the age of 4) take to them easily as well.
However, until we develop input devices that let us operate computers simply by just thinking, tactile input seems here to stay. And why not?
When I visited the AMD Learning Centre at the Rainbow Centre Yishun Park School, Mr B N Krishnamurthy, a speech language therapist at the school, demonstrated the myriad devices that help the students learn with computers despite their physical disabilities. It was an eye-opener for me naturally and quite a heartening experience to see basic concepts of tactile-based inputs being applied to enable these kids to develop spatial, communication and social skills just by using specialised learning software with their computers.
Here’s Mr Krishnamurthy demo-ing the various devices:
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Kua Cheng Hock from Adaptive Instruments while I was covering the launch of the iPhone 3GS here. He’s also from the Guide Dogs Association of the Blind and is the only blind person in Singapore who owns a guide dog as well – he’s working on getting funding so more visually-handicapped people can get one for themselves.
So why was he at the launch anyway? This might surprise you. According to Mr Kua, the iPhone is one of the few phones that’s made to be friendly for the blind right out of the box (you simply need to tweak a few settings to switch on its accessibility features). Apart from verbally relaying what’s onscreen to him so that he can operate it, the smartphone’s built-in GPS and digital compass can help him find his way. Currently, he has to carry multiple devices just to do the same thing. The all-in-one device is much cheaper too and can help him with his email and other work-related activities as well. I’ll let him do the talking:
Oh, by the way, this was shot on location with an iPhone 3GS too.
