[Athen] iPhone accessible to visually impaired users? Maybe...

[Sean J Keegan]

Hello all,

Saw this on Engadget.com last night and thought it was interesting.  Basically, it is a sleeve that fits over the iPhone and has tactile buttons for controlling custom iPhone applications.  While totally conceptual right now and extremely limited in its actual functionality (i.e., apps would need to be customized), it would be interesting if the basic interface could change by enabling an "access mode" such that the tactile sleeve could be functional.

A similar concept was presented in an episode of Star Trek: Voyager for a computer terminal that adapted to a visually impaired crew member....not that I ever WATCHED the show.

Anyway, check out the link for some additional information:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/01/silicon-touch-an-iphone-case-for-the-visually-impaired/

or 

http://tinyurl.com/6oefsg

Take care,
Sean

Sean Keegan
Associate Director, Assistive Technology
Office of Accessible Education
Stanford University