Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2013 AOL Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Access4Kids input device allows disabled children to control touch-centric tablets (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/11/access4kids-input-device-tablet-control-disabled-video/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/11/access4kids-input-device-tablet-control-disabled-video/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/11/access4kids-input-device-tablet-control-disabled-video/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Access4Kids input device enables disabled children to control touchenabled tablets video

The innovation world at large has been crafting ways for handicapped individuals to interact with computers for years on end, but the issue of tablets has created another predicament entirely. How do you enable someone to masterfully control a touch-centric device, when the mere act of touching is a challenge? Ayanna Howard, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Georgia Tech, and graduate student Hae Won Park have created Access4Kids, which is described as a "wireless input device that uses a sensor system to translate physical movements into fine-motor gestures to control a tablet."

In essence, it enables individuals with limited mobility to pinch and swipe, and the group has had success thus far with providing greater accessibility to flagship programs like Facebook and YouTube. Moreover, custom-built apps for therapy and science education are cropping up, with the existing prototype utilizing a trio of force-sensitive resistors that measure pressure and convert it into a signal that instructs the tablet. A child can wear the device around the forearm or place it on the arm of a wheelchair and hit the sensors or swipe across the sensors with his or her fist, providing an entirely new level of interaction for those with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, spina bifida and muscular dystrophy. The goal? Once it's honed, to get it out of the lab and made "into a commercial product." Head on past the break for a video look.

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Source: Georgia Tech

]]> childrendisabilitydisabledgeorgia techGeorgiaTechresearchstudytabletuniversityvideo Tue, 11 Dec 2012 01:40:00 -0500 21|20399120 <![CDATA[Toyota builds assistive robot to help the disabled around the home]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/24/toyota-hsr/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/24/toyota-hsr/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/24/toyota-hsr/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Toyota

Toyota has built the Human Support Robot, a 70 pound 'droid designed to help the elderly and less-able around the home. The tablet-and-voice-controlled unit can open your curtains, fetch items and even pick up after you, thanks to its single telescopic arm that stretches up to 2.5 feet. A tablet slot on top of its head lets you use the hardware as a telepresence device, although we're more interested in teaching it some attitude so we can live out our "sassy housekeeper" sitcom fantasies in peace.

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Via: The Verge, Gizmag

Source: Toyota (Translated), Zaikei

]]> CareDisabledElderlyHSRHuman Support RobotHumanSupportRobotRobopocalypserobotToyotaToyota HSRtoyota partner robotToyotaHsrToyotaPartnerRobot Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:33:00 -0400 21|20331145 <![CDATA[Ben Heck creates hands-free wheelchair attachment for expectant father]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/20/ben-heck-creates-hands-free-wheelchair-attachment-for-expectant/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/20/ben-heck-creates-hands-free-wheelchair-attachment-for-expectant/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/20/ben-heck-creates-hands-free-wheelchair-attachment-for-expectant/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Image

Ben Heck may have cut his teeth on hacked gaming consoles, but these days, the modder-turned-show-host has turned a good deal of his focus to projects aimed at improving accessibility and mobility for the disabled. The latest episode of the Ben Heck Show offers up the perfect example of this noble pursuit, built when an expectant father came to him requesting a wheelchair that could be controlled while caring for his newborn. Heck designed a motor assembly add-on for Josh Benhart's chair with a foot-controlled joystick that lives under a 3D printed dome. Given a short amount of lead, Heck, sadly, wasn't able to complete the project in time, though you can check out his progress in the video embedded after the break.

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]]> ben heckben heck showBen HeckendornBenHeckBenHeckendornBenHeckShowdisabilitydisabledJosh BenhartJoshBenhartminipostmodvideowheelchair Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:00:00 -0400 21|20304815 <![CDATA[Researchers use off-the-shelf parts to let you write emails with your eyes (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/13/eye-tracking-research/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/13/eye-tracking-research/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/13/eye-tracking-research/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Researchers use offtheshelf parts to let you write emails with your eye movements, play Pong

There's a lot of research to help the spinal cord or stroke-injured become more self-sufficient, but it often takes some exotic paraphernalia. To buck that trend, scientists from Imperial College London showed that subjects could perform relatively hard tasks like writing messages and playing Pong using eye movement -- with a mere $35-worth of parts. They even showed how well the system worked, with subjects scoring within 20 percent of an able-bodied person after a scant 10 minutes of practice. The tracker works with two video console cameras and a pair of eyeglasses that, after calibration, can precisely track the pupils -- allowing them to control a cursor or move a paddle. The researchers also figured out how to "click" the eye-mouse by winking, and can even use more precise adjustments to calculate gaze depth -- meaning subjects will be able to perform more complex tasks in the future, like guide a motorized wheelchair. While by no means the first eye-tracking system we've seen, it's by far the most economical. Check the video after the break to see how it works.

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]]> cameradisabilitydisabledeye trackingeye-trackingEyeTrackinggaze trackingGazeTrackingimpairedImperial College LondonImperialCollegeLondonmedicalmedicinepongresearchvideovideo console cameraVideoConsoleCamera Fri, 13 Jul 2012 08:52:00 -0400 21|20277324 <![CDATA[Blindsquare uses Foursquare data to guide the visually impaired]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/05/blindsquare-guides-blind-with-foursquare-data/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/05/blindsquare-guides-blind-with-foursquare-data/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/05/blindsquare-guides-blind-with-foursquare-data/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Blindsquare uses Foursquare data to guide the visually impaired

Blindsquare is giving guidance systems for the visually disabled a new twist with user-generated Foursquare data, text-to-speech, GPS and some OpenStreetMap mojo. While users are out and about, the app narrates their trip via headphones with information about nearby places, intersections or guidance to their destination. One shake of the iPhone or iPad gives users their current location and a second shake checks them in on Foursquare. The app can also be controlled via a Bluetooth remote while the device sits in a pocket or backpack. After going from concept to completion in six months, it's now out of beta and available on the App Store for $14.99. Sonar gauntlets won't let you check-in to your haunts? Hit the source link to step up that location-based social networking.

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]]> accessibilityaccessibleaidappapplicationapplicationsappsassistanceblindBlindSquaredisabilitydisabledFourSquareGPSgps navigationGpsNavigationiPadiPhoneLocationlocation based serviceslocation-basedLocationBasedServicesmobilepostminiOpenStreetMapvisually impairedVisuallyImpaired Tue, 05 Jun 2012 07:01:00 -0400 21|20251228 <![CDATA[Water-damaged Fujifilm X100 torn apart for fun and education (but mostly fun)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/water-damaged-fujifilm-x100-torn-apart-for-fun-and-education/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/water-damaged-fujifilm-x100-torn-apart-for-fun-and-education/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/water-damaged-fujifilm-x100-torn-apart-for-fun-and-education/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Water-damaged Fujifilm X100 torn apart for fun and education (but mostly fun)

James Maher had the unfortunate luck of placing his bag and prized Fujifilm X100 in a "dry" container on a fishing trip that didn't keep its contents very dry. Maher survived his harrowing voyage on the SS Hit 'em Hard, but his camera did not. Thankfully, the photographer didn't let his shooter die in vain. He spent precious time dissecting it and disassembling it, piece by piece. Inside was a densely packed puzzle of 130 screws, 50 pieces of tape and over 152 individual parts. Best of all, Maher documented his adventure inside the X100 and posted it online for all of us to enjoy. It's not the first glimpse under the hood, but it's certainly the most thoroughly documented. So hit up the source link and take a peek at what the inside of a sophisticated digital camera looks like.

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]]> cameradisabledfujifujifilmfujifilm x100FujifilmX100james maherJamesMahertear downTearDownx100 Fri, 18 May 2012 04:26:00 -0400 21|20240329 <![CDATA[EyeRing finger-mounted connected cam captures signs and dollar bills, identifies them with OCR (hands-on)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-eyering-camera-hands-on/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-eyering-camera-hands-on/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-eyering-camera-hands-on/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Image

Ready to swap that diamond for a finger-mounted camera with a built-in trigger and Bluetooth connectivity? If it could help identify otherwise indistinguishable objects, you might just consider it. The MIT Media Lab's EyeRing project was designed with an assistive focus in mind, helping visually disabled persons read signs or identify currency, for example, while also serving to assist children during the tedious process of learning to read. Instead of hunting for a grownup to translate text into speech, a young student could direct EyeRing at words on a page, hit the shutter release, and receive a verbal response from a Bluetooth-connected device, such as a smartphone or tablet. EyeRing could be useful for other individuals as well, serving as an ever-ready imaging device that enables you to capture pictures or documents with ease, transmitting them automatically to a smartphone, then on to a media sharing site or a server.

We peeked at EyeRing during our visit to the MIT Media Lab this week, and while the device is buggy at best in its current state, we can definitely see how it could fit into the lives of people unable to read posted signs, text on a page or the monetary value of a currency note. We had an opportunity to see several iterations of the device, which has come quite a long way in recent months, as you'll notice in the gallery below. The demo, which like many at the Lab includes a Samsung Epic 4G, transmits images from the ring to the smartphone, where text is highlighted and read aloud using a custom app. Snapping the text "ring," it took a dozen or so attempts before the rig correctly read the word aloud, but considering that we've seen much more accurate OCR implementations, it's reasonable to expect a more advanced version of the software to make its way out once the hardware is a bit more polished -- at this stage, EyeRing is more about the device itself, which had some issues of its own maintaining a link to the phone. You can get a feel for how the whole package works in the video after the break, which required quite a few takes before we were able to capture an accurate reading.

Gallery: MIT Media Lab: EyeRing

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]]> assistiveassistive techassistive technologyAssistiveTechAssistiveTechnologycameracamerasdisabilitydisabledeyeringhands-onlabmedia labMediaLabmitmit media labMitMediaLabmobilepostcrossocrprojectprototypeprototypesreadreadingrecognitionspeechtext to speechTextToSpeechvideo Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:53:00 -0400 21|20223762 <![CDATA[Magnetic retainer lets you operate machinery with your tongue, gives linguistics new meaning]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/magnetic-retainer-lets-you-operate-machinery-with-your-tongue-g/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/magnetic-retainer-lets-you-operate-machinery-with-your-tongue-g/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/magnetic-retainer-lets-you-operate-machinery-with-your-tongue-g/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Many people with debilitating conditions rely on sip and puff technology to get around, which is relatively lo-fi by some standards. Now, a special retainer with magnetic sensors could bring mobility into the smartphone age. Developed at Georgia Tech, the Tongue Drive System uses a magnetic piercing to track lingual gestures. The sensors then transmit data to an iOS app that translates it to on-screen or a joystick movement. Earlier versions used a headset, but the prototype revealed at the International Solid State Circuits Conference in San Francisco, is hoped to be more comfortable and discreet. The system is currently being trialled by 11 participants with high-level spinal-cord injuries, with larger trials planned.

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]]> appledisabilitydisabledhandicaphandicappedinventioniosiphoneipodlinguisticsmagneticmobilityresearchretainertonguetongue controltongue piercingTongueControlTonguePiercingwheelchair Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:36:00 -0500 21|20177277 <![CDATA[Ekso Bionics' exoskeleton used to let paraplegics walk (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/ekso-bionics-exoskeleton-used-to-let-paraplegics-walk-video/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/ekso-bionics-exoskeleton-used-to-let-paraplegics-walk-video/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/ekso-bionics-exoskeleton-used-to-let-paraplegics-walk-video/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments It's not just nuclear-powered super soldiers who will use exoskeletons -- it can also be used to help those with physical disabilities. The Kessler Foundation grabbed one of Ekso Bionics' Ekso units and gave six people with severe spinal injuries, including a tetraplegic, the chance to walk. It's part of a trial study to examine the effects of walking for wheelchair-users, to see if it's better for their overall health or if it could contribute to their rehabilitation. A wider study will begin early next year with the hope of expanding use of the gear to domestic situations in the future. After the break we've got video of the people walking for the first time since their injuries and it's hard not to find yourself feeling a little emotional at the sight of it.

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]]> DisabilitiesDisabilityDisabledEksoEkso BionicsEksoBionicsExoskeletonExoskeletonsHULCParaplegicTetraplegicvideoWheelchair Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:31:00 -0500 21|20130749 <![CDATA[Switchblade Adroit controller for gamers with disabilities]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/29/switchblade-adroit-controller-for-gamers-with-disabilities/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/29/switchblade-adroit-controller-for-gamers-with-disabilities/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/29/switchblade-adroit-controller-for-gamers-with-disabilities/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments The Razer-sharp "Switchblade" was first pulled on us at CES, and since then we've been prodded by a new product under the same sharp name from Evil Controllers and AbleGamers. Released as part of the "Adroit" line for gamers with disabilities, the 19-port controller comes standard with two joysticks and allows for personal positioning of sticks, buttons and rumble packs dependent on individual need. Originally designed for Xbox 360, it can be adapted for playing on PCs and PS3s, as well. Although there's no official launch date or price, Thrifty Nerd says the device will set you back "a few hundred dollars" -- probably a value compared to calling Hack-King Ben Heck.

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]]> ablegamersadroitben heckBenHeckcontrollercontrollersdisabilitydisabledevil controllersEvilControllersgamergamersgamingPCPS3switchbladeXbox360 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:44:00 -0400 21|20029551 <![CDATA[Ben Heck splits and condenses a pair of Xbox 360 controllers for the disabled]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/ben-heck-splits-and-condenses-a-pair-of-xbox-360-controllers-for/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/ben-heck-splits-and-condenses-a-pair-of-xbox-360-controllers-for/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/ben-heck-splits-and-condenses-a-pair-of-xbox-360-controllers-for/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Ben Heck That crafty Ben Heck is always up to something, like whipping up an Xbox 360 disk changer for the laziest of gamers. But, on the latest episode of his hacking and modding show, Mr. Heck is back to helping those in need and crafting accessible controllers for the disabled. During the 15-minute hackathon, the modder extraordinaire creates two different Xbox 360 remotes -- a split model for those with limited arm motion, and a one-handed version for people with use of only one set of digits. If you've got a smidgen of soldering experience (and ideally access to a CNC) these projects are probably even simple enough to tackle yourself. Check out the entire episode and full PR after the break.

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]]> accessibilityaccessibility controllerAccessibilityControllerben heckBenHeckcontroller modControllerModdisableddiygame controllerGameControllergaminghackmodthe ben heck showTheBenHeckShowvideoxboxxbox 360xbox 360 controllerXbox360Xbox360Controller Tue, 09 Aug 2011 04:04:00 -0400 21|20011867 <![CDATA[Robots for Humanity help around the house, scratch your itch (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/robots-for-humanity-help-around-the-house-scratch-your-itch-vi/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/robots-for-humanity-help-around-the-house-scratch-your-itch-vi/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/robots-for-humanity-help-around-the-house-scratch-your-itch-vi/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Robots for Humanity? That certainly doesn't jibe with our notion of the upcoming cyborg apocalypse. And it shouldn't, considering this joint effort's noble aim is to assist the disabled with the everyday household chores most of us take for granted. The project, a collaboration between Willow Garage and Georgia Tech's Healthcare Robotics Lab, has been working with stroke victim Henry Evans to develop custom UIs that give him mastery of the human-assistive PR2 robot. These tailor-made, head-tracking interfaces have allowed the mute quadriplegic to partially shave his face and even scratch a previously unreachable ten-year itch -- all with the helping claw of the friendly bot. It's a compassionate use of cybernetic tech we're used to seeing come out of Japan, and a welcome assist for disabled communities everywhere. Click past the break for a video demo of Henry and his robotic pal.

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]]> disabledGeorgia TechGeorgiaTechHealthcare Robotics LabHealthcareRoboticsLabHenry EvansHenryEvanshuman assistive robotHumanAssistiveRobotparalyzedPR2robotvideoWillow GarageWillow Garage PR2WillowGarageWillowGaragePr2 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:59:00 -0400 21|19991504 <![CDATA[HAL exosuit takes a Cybernic approach to disabled tourism]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/hal-exosuit-takes-a-cybernic-approach-to-disabled-tourism/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/hal-exosuit-takes-a-cybernic-approach-to-disabled-tourism/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/hal-exosuit-takes-a-cybernic-approach-to-disabled-tourism/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Cybernics -- it's not a typo, it's a completely new field that mixes cybernetics, mechatronics, and informatics with an all-human core. Pioneered by University of Tsukuba Professor Yoshiyuki Sankai, the Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) exosuit originally created to aid Japan's eldery has now found an even nobler mission -- assisting disabled tourists. Through detection of weak muscular bioelectrical impulses in the legs, this RoboCop-like lower body suit boosts its wearer's load-bearing abilities by a whopping 176 pounds. The exoskeleton tech first helped paralyzed Seiji Uchida nearly tackle Switzerland's Breithorn peak in 2006 and is now getting another go at the disabled traveler's bucket list. This time 'round, Uchida hopes his ride atop a HAL-outfitted human will successfully carry him to the top of Normandy's rugged Mont Saint-Michel, paving the way for other similarly handicapped travelers to do the same. Although the robotics in question here is more mech suit than say, dental training real doll, it's still a huge leg up for the nascent research industry that got its kick-start making a wish come true.

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]]> CyberdyneCybernicsdisabledexosuitHALHAL exoskeletonHAL exosuitHalExoskeletonHalExosuitHybrid Assistive LimbHybridAssistiveLimbJapanJapan HALJapanHalparalyzedroboticsSeiji UchidaSeijiUchidatsukuba universityTsukuba University CybernicsTsukubaUniversityTsukubaUniversityCybernics Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:31:00 -0400 21|19981457 <![CDATA[Utechzone Spring eye-tracking system hands-on (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/utechzone-spring-eye-tracking-system-hands-on-video/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/utechzone-spring-eye-tracking-system-hands-on-video/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/utechzone-spring-eye-tracking-system-hands-on-video/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments In the midst of fiddling with tablets and laptops at Computex, we haven't been thinking much of eye-tracking technologies until we saw Utechzone's booth. What we have here is the Spring, a TW$240,000 (US$8,380) eye-tracking rig that was launched in March 2010 and is aimed at users with limited mobility. The package consists of an LCD monitor, a computer, and an external sensor that utilizes infrared to track our pupils. Also included is an eye-friendly software suite that lets users play games, browse the web and media files, send emails, communicate with caretakers, and read PDF or TXT files.

We had a go on the Spring and quickly learned how to control it with our eyes: much like the Xbox Kinect, in order to make a click we had to hover the cursor over (or fix our eyes on) a desired button until the former completes a spin. The tracking was surprisingly accurate, except we had to take off our glasses for it to work; that said, the other glasses didn't exhibit the same issue, so the culprit could be just some coating on our lenses. Another problem we found was that it only took a quick jiggle with our eyes to cancel the spinning countdown, so full concentration is required to use the Spring. This shouldn't be a problem outside a noisy event like Computex, anyway, and if you need more convincing, we were told that a disabled Taiwanese professor managed to hit 100,000 Chinese characters within three months using phonetic input on the the same rig -- he's planning on releasing a new book soon. Have a look at our eyes-on video after the break for a better idea on how the Spring works.

Gallery: Utechzone Spring eye-tracking system hands-on

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]]> assistancecomputexcomputex 2011Computex2011disabledeyeeye trackingeyeTouchEyeTrackingfeaturedfeatureshands-oninfraredinfrared sensorInfraredSensorpupilpupil trackingPupilTrackingspringtypingUtechzonevideo Mon, 06 Jun 2011 08:52:00 -0400 21|19958615 <![CDATA[New Zealand paralympian buys first Rex Bionics exoskeleton, takes robot walking legs for a spin]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/new-zealand-paralympian-buys-first-rex-bionics-exoskeleton-take/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/new-zealand-paralympian-buys-first-rex-bionics-exoskeleton-take/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/new-zealand-paralympian-buys-first-rex-bionics-exoskeleton-take/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Surely we weren't the only ones to wonder aloud who would be the first come up with $150,000 for a Rex Bionics robotic exoskeleton when the Auckland-based company introduced it last summer. Of course, no price seems too high for the ability to walk again, but that's still a lot scratch to get together -- and the space has been getting a lot more competitive as of late. The honor went to fellow Kiwi Dave MacCalman, a multiple medal-winning paralympian, who lost the use of his legs after sustaining a spinal cord injury while diving into a river. The 6-foot, 4-inch athlete took his first steps in over 30 years with the use of his newly-purchased robot legs -- and from the look on his face, he definitely got his New Zealand dollar's worth. If you need a quick refresher on exactly what this thing can do, check out the video after the break.

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]]> assistanceaucklandbionicbionic legsBionicLegsbionicsDave MacCalmanDaveMaccalmandisabledexoskeletonhandicappedkiwilegsmobilitynew zealandNewZealandparalympianparalympicsparaplegicpersonal mobilityPersonalMobilityrexrex bionicsRexBionicsrobotroboticrobotic exoskeletonRoboticExoskeletonvideo Mon, 02 May 2011 11:10:00 -0400 21|19929223 <![CDATA[Researchers take one step closer to neural-controlled bionic legs for safer mobility]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/26/researchers-take-one-step-closer-to-neural-controlled-bionic-leg/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/26/researchers-take-one-step-closer-to-neural-controlled-bionic-leg/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/26/researchers-take-one-step-closer-to-neural-controlled-bionic-leg/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Mind-controlled prosthetic legWe've seen our fair share of prosthetic arms and computer interfaces operated with little more than the firing of a synapse, but legs? They're a different story: balancing and propelling a sack of (mostly) flesh and bone is a much more complicated task than simply picking up a sandwich. Thankfully, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's Center for Bionic Medicine is now one step closer to thought-controlled lower-limb prosthetics. As pictured here, the researchers' early simulations showed that amputees could control a virtual knee and ankle with 91-percent accuracy, by way of pattern recognition software to interpret electrical signals delivered through nine different muscles in the thigh -- patients think about moving, thus lighting up the nerves in varying patterns to indicate different motions. The ultimate goal is to hook up bionic legs through the same way, which would offer a greater range of motion than existing prosthetics, making tasks like walking up and down stairs safer. Now all we need is a quadruple amputee willing to pick up a badge and slap on an eye-tracking microdisplay.

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]]> ALTamputeebionicbionic legBionicLegCenter for Bionic MedicineCenterForBionicMedicinecruracrusdisabilitydisabledlegmuscleneuralneural controlNeuralControlneuroscienceprostheticprostheticsRehabilitation Institute of ChicagoRehabilitationInstituteOfChicagoRICscience Tue, 26 Apr 2011 10:59:00 -0400 21|19922010 <![CDATA[Students create affordable eye-tracking tablet for the disabled]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/15/students-create-affordable-eye-tracking-tablet-for-the-disabled/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/15/students-create-affordable-eye-tracking-tablet-for-the-disabled/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/15/students-create-affordable-eye-tracking-tablet-for-the-disabled/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Eye-Tracking Tablet Disabled users have long been able to control computers with just the flick of an eye, but those hardware and software packages are prohibitively expensive. Heck, the surprisingly accurate Tobii PCEye is a veritable steal at $6,900. And, while we can't vouch for its usability, engineering students at Brigham Young University have managed an impressive feat, by whipping up an eye-tracking Windows 7 tablet that costs under $1,500. The system was created as part of a partnership with EyeTech Digital Systems, which plans to market the devices in parts of the world where other eye-tracking solutions are unaffordable -- like just about anywhere the roads aren't paved with gold. We could even see a few able-bodied (but incredibly lazy) bloggers getting some use out of this -- mornings around here would be a lot easier if we could double-fist piping hot coffee mugs while typing with our eyeballs.

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]]> Brigham YoungBrigham Young UniversityBrighamYoungBrighamYoungUniversitydisabilitydisabledeyeeye controlledeye trackingeye-controlledeye-trackingEyeControlledeyetecheyetech digital systemsEyetechDigitalSystemsEyeTrackinggazegaze trackingGazeTrackingimpairedmedicalmedicinetablet Fri, 15 Apr 2011 08:18:00 -0400 21|19913659 <![CDATA[Tobii PCEye brings hands-free control to any PC, can't see eye-to-eye with Macs (update)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/07/tobii-pceye-brings-eye-control-to-any-pc-cant-see-eye-to-eye-w/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/07/tobii-pceye-brings-eye-control-to-any-pc-cant-see-eye-to-eye-w/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/07/tobii-pceye-brings-eye-control-to-any-pc-cant-see-eye-to-eye-w/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Tobii PCEye brings eye control to any PC, can't see eye-to-eye with Macs We were kind of shocked at just how well the Lenovo prototype laptop with Tobii eye tracking worked at CEBIT this year. It was, frankly, really good, and we're happy to say you no longer have to break into Lenovo HQ to try it for yourself. Tobii has released its PCEye, a USB device that uses a VESA mount to hang below LCDs sized between 15- to 20-inches. After a little calibration, it enables full eye control -- on Windows. Mac users will have to keep buying batteries for their Magic Mice because there's sadly no compatibility there. The main idea here is to help those who, due to stroke or other impairment, have lost some or all motor control, enabling them to compute just as well as anybody. However, we who are lucky enough to still have full control over all appendages can't wait to get one of these and play through every level in World of Goo without reaching for the mouse once. We will, however, have to reach for our wallets -- Tobii doesn't quote a price for the PCEye, which is rarely a good sign.

Update: We just heard back from the company, and the price of the PCEye itself is $6,900, "with packages available for software and monitors."

Gallery: Tobii PCEye

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]]> disabilitydisabledeyeeye controlEyeControlimpairedimpairmentpceyetobiiusbvesa Thu, 07 Apr 2011 08:36:00 -0400 21|19905713 <![CDATA[UK charity opens gaming visitor center / gaming gadget incubator for the disabled]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/uk-charity-opens-gaming-visitor-center-handicapped-gaming-gadg/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/uk-charity-opens-gaming-visitor-center-handicapped-gaming-gadg/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/uk-charity-opens-gaming-visitor-center-handicapped-gaming-gadg/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Disabled gamers currently form a small, but growing portion of the gaming community, and the folks from the UK's SpecialEffect video games charity are seeking to get a lot more of them gaming. SpecialEffect -- with an assist from UK Prime Minister David Cameron -- just opened a Video Games Visitor Centre to give those with disabilities a place to experience cutting-edge gaming tech designed for the disabled, like eye-controllers, in its GamesRoom. The Centre also has a GamesLab where "games and hardware are tested for accessibility" so game devs can adjust their wares to get even more people dishing out pwnage than ever before -- bring it on!

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]]> david cameronDavidCamerondisabilitydisabledgamegamersgamesGamesLabGamesRoomgaminghandicaphandicappedSpecialEffectukvideo gamesVideoGamesVisitor CenterVisitorCenter Mon, 14 Mar 2011 05:27:00 -0400 21|19878095 <![CDATA[Intel Turbo Boost is MIA on new 13-inch MacBook Pro? (update: negatory)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/intel-turbo-boost-is-mia-on-new-13-inch-macbook-pro/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/intel-turbo-boost-is-mia-on-new-13-inch-macbook-pro/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/intel-turbo-boost-is-mia-on-new-13-inch-macbook-pro/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments If you were expecting your new 13-inch MacBook Pro's Core i7 CPU to Turbo Boost its way north of that default 2.7GHz clock speed, we might suggest discontinuing your anticipation. Two separate reviews of the laptop are reporting the curious case of its Core i7-2620M processor failing to automatically overclock itself the way it should. Intel's dual-core chip is capable of a maximum speed of 3.4GHz, but reviewers weren't able to get it any higher than its stock setting while testing Apple's latest 13-incher. High temperatures were identified (north of 90C / 194F) as the likely culprit, with Notebook Journal also finding its machine throttled down to 798MHz due to heat dissipation issues. PC Pro theorizes that Apple intentionally disabled the Turbo Boost functionality on this particular MBP model in order to preserve your lap and your pride from being scalded by melting components. That would make sense to us, and hey, it's still a fast machine, just not Turbo fast.

[Thanks, Markus]

Update: AnandTech's findings contradict the above, with Anand asserting that "there's absolutely no funny business going on here, the dual-core 2.7 is allowed to hit its maximum frequencies." Seems like we'll need to keep digging to get to the bottom of this one.

Update 2: We've confirmed with Apple that there are no specific hardware or software limits to block the Turbo Boost function, however we've also discovered, through less direct sources, that the company is providing new low level software tools to diagnose cooling issues with the 2011 batch of laptops. Ergo, the speed limits that PC Pro and Notebook Journal encountered might have been caused by inadequate heat dissipation, which arguably is no less troubling than an Apple-mandated de-Turbo-fication.

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]]> 13-inchapplecore 2011core i7core i7-2620mCore2011CoreI7CoreI7-2620mdisabledheatintelmacbookmacbook proMacbookPromissingsandy bridgeSandyBridgeturboturbo boostTurboBoost Fri, 11 Mar 2011 05:10:00 -0500 21|19876276 <![CDATA[TankChair deemed too heavy to use on UK streets, disabled man becomes marketing boon (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/tankchair-deemed-too-heavy-to-use-on-uk-streets-disabled-man-be/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/tankchair-deemed-too-heavy-to-use-on-uk-streets-disabled-man-be/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/tankchair-deemed-too-heavy-to-use-on-uk-streets-disabled-man-be/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments While we figure that giant, tread-wielding wheelchairs have no trouble selling themselves, a disabled man named Jim Starr is helping them along their merry way -- a story about his TankChair being rejected for street use by UK authorities is giving the company plenty of free advertising. That's not to say that we don't feel for the disabled father of two, and hope he gets to use his snow-crushing, beach-mashing wheelchair in peace -- it's just not particularly surprising that a non-standard vehicle would be illegal to use on public roadways, and as you'll see in the video after the break (at roughly 5:30) the law doesn't seem to be restraining him any.

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]]> disabilitydisabledDLVADriver and Vehicle Licensing AgencyDriverAndVehicleLicensingAgencyJim StarrJimStarrmotor vehicleMotorVehicletankTank ChairTankChairtreadsUKvehiclevehiclesvideowheelchairwheelchairs Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:37:00 -0500 21|19811994 <![CDATA[Rowheel: the wheelchair you row to go]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/10/rowheel-the-wheelchair-you-row-to-go/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/10/rowheel-the-wheelchair-you-row-to-go/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/10/rowheel-the-wheelchair-you-row-to-go/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments We like to joke about reinventing the wheel, but that's kind of what NASA engineer Salim Nasser has done -- he won a $20,000 innovation prize earlier this month for designing a wheelchair where the occupant can pull, thus avoiding repetitive stress injuries associated with pushing by using the (typically) stronger biceps and upper back muscles. The prototype uses a planetary gear system to drive the specially-designed wheels, which Nasser claims can be easily attached to existing wheelchair frames. There's no telling whether it'll see the mass market, but we wouldn't be surprised given the simplicity of the design, unlike some of the robotic models we've seen. So... how's that for a new spin on things?

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]]> designdisabilitydisabledgearsmechanicalplanetary gearsPlanetaryGearsRowheelrowingSalim NasserSalimNasserwheelchair Sun, 10 Oct 2010 06:06:00 -0400 21|19667891 <![CDATA[Berkeley Bionics reveals eLEGS exoskeleton, aims to help paraplegics walk in 2011 (update: eyes-on and video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/07/berkeley-bionics-reveals-elegs-exoskeleton-aims-to-help-paraple/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/07/berkeley-bionics-reveals-elegs-exoskeleton-aims-to-help-paraple/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/07/berkeley-bionics-reveals-elegs-exoskeleton-aims-to-help-paraple/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Wondering where you've heard of Berkeley Bionics before? These are the same whiz-kids who produced the HULC exoskeleton in mid-2008, and now they're back with a far more ambitious effort. Announced just moments ago in San Francisco, the eLEGS exoskeleton is a bionic device engineered to help paraplegics stand up and walk on their own. It's hailed as a "wearable, artificially intelligent, bionic device," and it's expected to help out within the hospital, at home and elsewhere in this wild, wild place we call Earth. Initially, the device will be offered to rehabilitation centers for use under medical supervision, and can be adjusted to fit most people between 5'2" and 6'4" (and weighing 220 pounds or less) in a matter of minutes. We're told that the device provides "unprecedented knee flexion," and it's also fairly quiet in operation; under ideal circumstances, speeds of up to 2MPH can be attained, and it employs a gesture-based human-machine interface that relies on legions of sensors to determine a user's intentions and act accordingly. Clinical trials are going on as we speak about to begin, and there's a limited release planned for the second half of 2011. We're still waiting to hear back on a price, so keep it locked for more as we get it live from the event.

Update: We just got to see the eLEGS walk across stage, and you'll find a gallery full of close-up pics immediately below. We also spoke to Berkeley Bionics CEO Eythor Bender, who detailed the system a bit more -- it's presently made of steel and carbon fiber with lithium-ion battery packs, weighs 45 pounds, and has enough juice to run for six hours of continuous walking. While he wouldn't give us an exact price, he said they're shooting for $100,000, and will be "very competitive" with other devices on the market. Following clinical trials, the exoskeleton will be available to select medical centers in July or August, though Bender also said the company's also working on a streamlined commercial version for all-day use, tentatively slated for 2013.

Gallery: Berkeley Bionics' eLEGS exoskeleton, eyes-on

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]]> Berkeley BionicsBerkeleyBionicsdisabilitydisabledeLEGSEXOSKELETONhands-onhealthmedicalPARAPLEGICSrobotrobotsvideowalking Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:44:00 -0400 21|19665259 <![CDATA[Rat controls vehicle with its brain, Pinky and The Brain apply for 'one last run']]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/06/rat-controls-vehicle-with-its-brain-pinky-and-the-brain-apply-f/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/06/rat-controls-vehicle-with-its-brain-pinky-and-the-brain-apply-f/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/06/rat-controls-vehicle-with-its-brain-pinky-and-the-brain-apply-f/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments So, let's paint the picture, shall we? There's a rat, a bundle of electrodes, more wiring than an electrician would know what to do with and some sort of wheeled apparatus. In the background stands a team of crazed Japanese scientists, intent on never sleeping again until said rat controls said vehicle entirely with his mind. Nah, it's not a re-run of a WB classic -- it's real life, and it's happening now in a dark, shadowy corner at the University of Tokyo. The RatCar is a newly developed rat-vehicle experiment that researchers hope will open new doors for those with mobility issues; we've seen brain-machine interfaces change the lives of the disabled before, but giving them the ability to control their wheelchair with their mind (for instance) would be taking things to an entirely new level. As of now, the team still has to figure out how to accurately determine how much movement is coming from the rat's feet and how much is coming from its mind, but there's no question that the research shows promise -- just don't let the humanoids learn of our findings, okay folks?

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]]> BMIbrainbrain-machine interfaceBrain-machineInterfacedisabilitydisabledEEGelectrodeshealthmentalratresearchtokyouniversityUniversity of TokyoUniversityOfTokyo Wed, 06 Oct 2010 21:45:00 -0400 21|19662930 <![CDATA[iPhone 4 hits UAE and Qatar, but without FaceTime installed]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/26/iphone-4-hits-uae-and-qatar-but-without-facetime-installed/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/26/iphone-4-hits-uae-and-qatar-but-without-facetime-installed/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/26/iphone-4-hits-uae-and-qatar-but-without-facetime-installed/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments The iPhone 4 launched this weekend in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, but buyers wound up with a surprise -- their handset's front-facing cameras couldn't do FaceTime. The National reports that the video chat feature is missing from phones sold at UAE carriers Etisalat and du, as well as those from Vodafone Qatar. Carriers are blaming Apple for the missing feature, and spokespersons from both Etisalat and Vodafone say they're speaking to Cupertino about reinstating FaceTime post-haste; It was reportedly advertised on Middle Eastern versions of Apple's iPhone website until around September 20th, when all references to FaceTime were removed. TUAW reports that some UAE denizens have actually tested FaceTime on phones bought abroad and found it working just fine, but that the functionality disappears after installing the local version of the iOS 4.1 update.

RIM's Mike Lazaridis famously warned that countries threatening to ban the BlackBerry might thumb their nose at other forms of internet transmission too, but if's far too early to tell if Apple was pressured into removing FaceTime or chose to for another reason entirely. It's worth noting that both the UAE and Egypt (also missing FaceTime website ads) have banned certain VoIP services in the past.

[Thanks, Mohammed]

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]]> AppleApple iPhone 4AppleIphone4disabledFaceTimeiPhoneiPhone 4Iphone4missing featuresMissingFeaturesQatarUAEunited arab emiratesUnitedArabEmiratesvideo chatVideoChatvoip Sun, 26 Sep 2010 13:24:00 -0400 21|19648954