Technology for disabled people is a new term but the basic idea is as old as mankind. It’s very hard to experience our lives without some ability. Some big hearted inventors created many high-tech devices that help numerous disables to fulfill their lives. These gadgets allow them to complete their everyday task and other complex work. They named it adaptive devices that help to improve someone’s lives. Several teams of researchers are now trying to invent more devices for the physically challenged humans. Here are the technological breakthroughs and special gadgets designed for people with different disabilities.
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11. Google Glass
Image Source: wikimedia
Along with the features of a head mounted display gadget, Google Glass is also provided as a best device for physically handicaps. It can translate spoken language into real-time subtitles that completely eliminates the barrier between two people. It also features a face tracking software that helps partially or fully blind people recognize other faces, emotions and facial expressions. It also navigates you anywhere you want to go.
10. Braille Rubik Cube
Image Source: yankodesign
Making a Rubik cube without seeing it, is like a blind person making the cube. When there is already a game available then it’s a good idea to enhance its fun as well as complexity. The braille Rubik cube would be a lot harder than conventional cube because it has different textures in braille language on each panel. You can also make the panels according to your preferences and to test your skills.
9. DEKA Robotic Arm
Image Source: dekaresearch
The DEKA robotic arm is a DARPA funded project to retain the functionality for people having an upper limb amputation. DEKA, US based company is currently on prosthesis with Next Step Orthotics and Prosthetic and Biodesign Inc. The DEKA robotic arm project is sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency and the US Army research. It is less than eight pound prosthetic arm that has precision like a real human body. The wearer can customize it according to their need, whether he requires a hand or the full hand with the shoulder.
8. EDGE 40 Display
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The EDGE 40 is a powerful device that reads data from the computer screen and converts it into braille language. It helps you to manage your daily activities. You can use many applications including Notepad, calculator, alarm and you can do all these activities without connecting to a PC or smartphone. EDGE 40 understands 13 different languages and you can also store thousands of books with external memory cards. It is powered by a rechargeable battery that needs to be charged in every 20 hours. Its current market price is around $3100.
7. Lucy 4 keyboard
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If you are unable to use your hands to operate computer then Lucy is the best option available to control a computer with your head. A woman who has cerebral palsy, created the Lucy and even created the website to sell the product online. Lucy can be operated by a laser pointer (attached to a pair of glasses) that allows you to choose the option on the screen. After connecting it to a PC or laptop, you can run any program you want. You can also surf the internet and write an email and even play games.
Read: Super Stylish PC Keyboards with Amazing Design
6. Sign Language Interpreter
Image Source: yankodesign
Mac Funamizu, a future tech enthusiast created a design of the sign language interpreter. It is small as a candy that features an advanced camera to capture the speaker’s hand motion. Then, it translates it into an oral language. You can also choose what kind of voice you want to listen. Just click the bottom part to turn it on and click it back to turn it off. The wider you open the speaker, the louder will be the volume.
5. Braille Smartphone
Image Source: cio
A designer, Zhenwei You designed a cell phone that allows a blind user to use a phone. It doesn’t have a glossy touchscreen and feature a braille interface. It also features voice and speech recognition, a navigation system and a scanner that reads the text from phrases. It is still a concept and he is working on it. There are many other creators who are currently working on the better design of braille smartphone.
4. DynaVox EyeMax
Image Source: dynavoxtech
DynaVox EyeMax is a system used by the patients with cerebral palsy, stroke and paralysis victims. It uses an eye tracking technology that allows a user to watch television, read online books and do computer works. It tracks the user’s eye movement, even by blinking. It allows them to enter a word and it translates words into spoken language using a complex text to speech mechanism. It also offers many other applications and tools for people who need it. The company’s motive is to educate mentally disabled children who are unable to grab languages.
3. Kenguru Electric Car
Kenguru is the world’s first electrically powered car which is specially designed for wheelchair persons. It was designed by Hungary based company Kenguru and now available only in the USA. It allows the user to control it from the wheelchair and easy access through the back door. It is controlled via a motorcycle like handle. Kenguru has the capacity of only one person and has the maximum speed of 45 km/h. Kenguru struggled with other powerful cars and now popular within wheelchair users.
2. Anti-Shake Spoon
Image Source: techliveinfo
Liftware, a design company recently launched an anti-shake spoon for people having Parkinson disease. Google funded them to design this gadget. Parkinson’s patients have difficulties to complete their manual tasks without assistance. This magic spoon detects hand movements and reduces it by 70%. It is very easy to use and you can change attachments according to the meal. You can also use this device in other motion disorders.
1. Stephen Hawking’s Wheelchair
Image Source: Wikimedia
Stephen William Hawking is one of the popular scientists who is using the wheelchair since early 1990s. He is almost entirely paralyzed and communicates through a speech generating device mounted on his wheelchair. It was specially designed for him as he has to do some research on quantum physics. It is the world’s smartest wheelchair that has an advanced interface to predict words, what a user wants to say. You can also call it a thought controlled wheelchair. All the communication system parts are provided by Intel Corporation and it configures an Intel core i7 processor with Windows 7 operating system.
