NZ keyboard for disabled wins global design award
July 23rd, 2007
From The Herald’s technology section yesterday:
“A unique computer keyboard for the disabled has won its New Zealand designers a coveted gold award at the 2007 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA).
The LOMAK keyboard is operated by a head-mounted or hand-operated laser and allows people with disabilities to navigate the internet, type at 20 words per minute, and achieve or maintain their independence.
…
“LOMAK users develop a whole new outlook on life - they can email friends, remain productive in the workplace, join MySpace, sell things on Trade Me - the things anyone with a computer and an internet connection takes for granted. At school or university, LOMAK means having the same opportunities as other students.”
LOMAK users range in age from 7 to 78 years old and have a range of disabilities including multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, spinal muscular atrophy, cerebral palsy, quadriplegia, arthritis and repetitive strain injury.”
This short article grabbed my attention. I’d have to say that until recently I hadn’t spent a lot of time considering how differently abled people could access ICT, except to say that I thought that it could potentially make things easier. Exactly how things would be made easier I didn’t really know. I have heard of an ICT cluster starting based around meeting the needs of students with a variety of disabilities. This could be a fascinating area to research and be involved in.
Just imagine not being able to watch content on YouTube, or hear podcasts, or contribute easily to your own blog, Facebook page, whatever. It’s fantastic that New Zealand designers are addressing the needs of our community.
Entry Filed under: New Technology, Readings
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed