gadgets
Gadget review - food grabber
17/July/2010 01:32 PM Filed in: Independent
living
Here is another gadget - this time from Japan.
If you can't grip things (like grabbing crisps from a bowl or picking popcorn etc) because of weakness in you hands, joint mobility etc then you may be missing out on getting obese like the rest of the nation..
In the interests of equality (I have the right to eat tons of popcorn at the cinema and put on weight like everyone else, right?) this Japanese gizmo might work for you if you can operate it.
If you can't see it - think six inch stick with two pincers at one end and three at the other that pinch together when a slider button is pushed in bright yellow and black. I'd want a small electronic version of course for the complete cyber look.
The video clip commentary is in jest - but crank up the price and show it at Naidex.... sell out.
If you can't grip things (like grabbing crisps from a bowl or picking popcorn etc) because of weakness in you hands, joint mobility etc then you may be missing out on getting obese like the rest of the nation..
In the interests of equality (I have the right to eat tons of popcorn at the cinema and put on weight like everyone else, right?) this Japanese gizmo might work for you if you can operate it.
If you can't see it - think six inch stick with two pincers at one end and three at the other that pinch together when a slider button is pushed in bright yellow and black. I'd want a small electronic version of course for the complete cyber look.
The video clip commentary is in jest - but crank up the price and show it at Naidex.... sell out.
Gadget review - grab a lolly
15/July/2010 05:38 PM Filed in: Independent
living
I came across this today
Basically, you put the box in the freezer and once removed you have about 30 minutes to make your own ice lollies.
Now, I don't know about you, but I find holding a conventional ice lolly virtually impossible because of the small stick to grab onto that is flat and difficult to grasp. Result - your Magnum drips all over you or you drop the whole thing on your lap. Cue the Cornetto as the solution or one of those ice lollies in a paper tube that freezes your fingers off or shoots out of the packet as you squeeze it....
Anyway, this appealed to me because the sturdy unit means you just pour in your mix (i.e. water and juice or a recipe to make frozen yogurt or frozen smoothies) and drop one of the inserts (sticks) which has a reasonable area to grasp and is a nice round shape to make holding it a lot easier. Away with the mess of the 80's and in with some tech! Your lolly is ready in 7-9 minutes and making them yourself of course helps if you have particular dietary requirements.
It's available from firefox and Lakeland and costs around £39.99 (I never said accessible lollies were going to be cheap!)
Basically, you put the box in the freezer and once removed you have about 30 minutes to make your own ice lollies.
Now, I don't know about you, but I find holding a conventional ice lolly virtually impossible because of the small stick to grab onto that is flat and difficult to grasp. Result - your Magnum drips all over you or you drop the whole thing on your lap. Cue the Cornetto as the solution or one of those ice lollies in a paper tube that freezes your fingers off or shoots out of the packet as you squeeze it....
Anyway, this appealed to me because the sturdy unit means you just pour in your mix (i.e. water and juice or a recipe to make frozen yogurt or frozen smoothies) and drop one of the inserts (sticks) which has a reasonable area to grasp and is a nice round shape to make holding it a lot easier. Away with the mess of the 80's and in with some tech! Your lolly is ready in 7-9 minutes and making them yourself of course helps if you have particular dietary requirements.
It's available from firefox and Lakeland and costs around £39.99 (I never said accessible lollies were going to be cheap!)
When is a sex gadget not a sex gadget?
14/May/2010 06:43 PM Filed in: Independent
living
I have blogged before about the price of equipment
once it is given a disability label. Now I have found
another layer - the sex gadget. It seems to work as
so:
Product without a disability label = £X
Same product 'for disabled people' = £X + 50% at times.
Same product for sexual intimacy £X + less than the above!
Here is an interesting example:
A Shower Locking Foot Rest with suction cup. It is basically a foot print sized contoured foot rest that can be stuck on a shower wall. So if you need to rest your feet on a ledge to shave, wash or do whatever it becomes easier with this little gadget (assuming you don't lean too heavy, slip and kill yourself in the shower that is).
So onto the price:
Amazon appears to sell it as a 'Safe-er-Grip' with a slight disability angle on the marketing for £12.99.
bekinky.co.uk are selling it at £9.18 as an aid to having sex in the shower (and packed as such) Other sex shops sell it up to £13.45 according to Shopwiki.
So the moral of the tale is - try a sex shop or two for a bargain on useful disability gadgets and watch your PAs face as they open it for you!
Product without a disability label = £X
Same product 'for disabled people' = £X + 50% at times.
Same product for sexual intimacy £X + less than the above!
Here is an interesting example:
A Shower Locking Foot Rest with suction cup. It is basically a foot print sized contoured foot rest that can be stuck on a shower wall. So if you need to rest your feet on a ledge to shave, wash or do whatever it becomes easier with this little gadget (assuming you don't lean too heavy, slip and kill yourself in the shower that is).
So onto the price:
Amazon appears to sell it as a 'Safe-er-Grip' with a slight disability angle on the marketing for £12.99.
bekinky.co.uk are selling it at £9.18 as an aid to having sex in the shower (and packed as such) Other sex shops sell it up to £13.45 according to Shopwiki.
So the moral of the tale is - try a sex shop or two for a bargain on useful disability gadgets and watch your PAs face as they open it for you!
Cashing in on impairment
The company has a web site called Healthful Apps.
Basically, they are Apps that you pay for which list other 'useful Apps' and review them (with user reviews invited).
It's Medical Model in that their site appsforall.net tells carers about Apps so that they can improve the quality of life for those who they care about and for.
Now I appreciate that some people with Alzheimer's may not be able to choose Apps and most of the software is used as 'tools' by care works and therapeutic staff - so aiming the App at health and social care workers may be appropriate.
However, they also make Apps for other people and this is where I felt uneasy.
I am sure that most people on dialysis can choose for themselves which Apps they might find useful - but here you will find one 'for them' called 'Dialysis Apps. It promises to be a 'gift' for those in dialysis and expresses how dialysis is a gruelling experience. Clearly it plays on the tragedy and charity model where disabled people are portrayed as pityful, needy and dependent on the 'gifts' bestowed upon them by the caring none-disabled members of society.
I was not Appy to say the least
Not only is the language quite sickening and disempowering but I had to ask myself is this another sign of cashing in on impairment? Granted it's only a couple of dollars (some individual ones for the equivalent of 59p) but there are lot's of review sites where you can find reviews for free and chat about them on disability forums etc as many people indeed do. Let's not forget the actual Apple App Store review and search functions where quite a lot of disabled people post a review from their own perspective.
The Alzheimer's App talks about Apps to calm and lift the spirit and another on Apps that improve memory.
I have heard of many people using Apps in this way and reaping the benefits - what I dislike is that these just sound so commercial. They are devoid of social model thinking, user engagement/input, empowerment etc and are clearly aimed at giving carers control of Apps they think disabled people should be using.
It gets worse
The Autism App claims to be relevant for people with Down's Syndrome, MS and Traumatic Brain Injury - just to lump people together and maximise profits.
This is cashing in on impairment at it's worse.
Naidex - the alternative review.
April 2006 - An alternative view to the value of
Naidex.
This week is Naidex week. For all you none-disabled sorts - that's the NEC Birmingham Show for all things related to disability equipment.... or at least that was my memory of it.
It used to be the 'try it and see' for health and social care staff and of course 'we' the great public. - Everything from accessible kitchens and bathroom equipment to the latest in colostomy bags and leisure things (my favourite being the wheelchair accessible roundabout and swing for children - I wish they had them for big kids as well!!).
Some things you thought - never in a million years will disabled people want one of them in their homes because it looks horrible, uncomfortable and only comes in 'medical green' as a colour option .... only to overheard an OT place an order for 500. Do they ever learn... no I think NOT.
I happened to be browsing the list of exhibitors last nights and the latest inventions that are up for 'an award'. Oh how things have changed over the years.
Fantastic NEW products include....... The Great John. Of course this can only be one thing - a reinforced toilet for obese people which boasts a 200% larger seat and - you guessed it is an American invention. A new commode and large wheelchair ... for Bariatric patients (obese people)... and so on. Can you see a theme here.
The UK is now benefitting from more disabled people (to balance the demise of our people due to genetic testing LOL) and of course there needs to be appropriate adjustment in the equipment field.
Also in the past years there has been a rise in the number of stands devoted to discrimination (yes the DRC are there) and organisations of disabled people - now we are getting somewhere - life isn't always about trying to 'fix us' in some way with a bit of equipment.
What does make me angry - the cost of these 'liberating' gizmos.... see my other posts.
This week is Naidex week. For all you none-disabled sorts - that's the NEC Birmingham Show for all things related to disability equipment.... or at least that was my memory of it.
It used to be the 'try it and see' for health and social care staff and of course 'we' the great public. - Everything from accessible kitchens and bathroom equipment to the latest in colostomy bags and leisure things (my favourite being the wheelchair accessible roundabout and swing for children - I wish they had them for big kids as well!!).
Some things you thought - never in a million years will disabled people want one of them in their homes because it looks horrible, uncomfortable and only comes in 'medical green' as a colour option .... only to overheard an OT place an order for 500. Do they ever learn... no I think NOT.
I happened to be browsing the list of exhibitors last nights and the latest inventions that are up for 'an award'. Oh how things have changed over the years.
Fantastic NEW products include....... The Great John. Of course this can only be one thing - a reinforced toilet for obese people which boasts a 200% larger seat and - you guessed it is an American invention. A new commode and large wheelchair ... for Bariatric patients (obese people)... and so on. Can you see a theme here.
The UK is now benefitting from more disabled people (to balance the demise of our people due to genetic testing LOL) and of course there needs to be appropriate adjustment in the equipment field.
Also in the past years there has been a rise in the number of stands devoted to discrimination (yes the DRC are there) and organisations of disabled people - now we are getting somewhere - life isn't always about trying to 'fix us' in some way with a bit of equipment.
What does make me angry - the cost of these 'liberating' gizmos.... see my other posts.
Apps, PAs and shopping
16/October/2009 06:36 PM Filed in: Other
This App caught my eye today. Basically, you
can locate not only a Tesco store but also use their
database to tell you exactly where the product is.
Hmm, with the marvels of technology and loads of minutes to use up on my phone... what if I send my PA off to Tesco’s ‘Treasure Hunt’ style as my own personal shopper. I joke of course but there are times when this could work. I would like to be able to send my PA in to pick up something and be sure of getting the right thing - so showing her a picture could be quite useful. Someone I knew sent her PA into a shop to buy a fuse bar (chocolate bar) and her PA came back with a pack of electrical fuses! Needles to say her chocolate craving was far from satisfied.
How I wish I had this App when I was at Uni and trying to tell my none-English speaking volunteer PAs what I was looking for - a picture book wouldn’t have looked quite so cool!
I am sure this sort of technology could be quite useful if supermarkets offered free wifi or internet connections to aid shoppers.
Also, if the supermarket is crowded it can be harder for people who’s eye level is only 4 foot off the ground to see the signs. Clear labels like in a library (lower down) and to be able to look at your phone to tell you where to go would be great. In fact, I want full sat nav to find the shortest distance to travel around the store in order to complete my shopping list. I am sure supermarkets could make the experience easier for everyone.
Apparently it uses the same database of products from on-line ordering - and when we looked into this a while ago, half of what we have wasn’t showing up..... but I think personalised shopping and using technology has real future potential for disabled people.
People are already using Direct Payments to purchase computers and broadband subscriptions to get on-line and go shopping (amongst other uses) - so in a basic form, technology and creative use of funds can really work for people.
Love to hear from twitter folk who are using tech for shopping assistance.
Tesco - if you’re reading this, I’m always available to try out a new bit of tech :-)
PA potential?
Hmm, with the marvels of technology and loads of minutes to use up on my phone... what if I send my PA off to Tesco’s ‘Treasure Hunt’ style as my own personal shopper. I joke of course but there are times when this could work. I would like to be able to send my PA in to pick up something and be sure of getting the right thing - so showing her a picture could be quite useful. Someone I knew sent her PA into a shop to buy a fuse bar (chocolate bar) and her PA came back with a pack of electrical fuses! Needles to say her chocolate craving was far from satisfied.
How I wish I had this App when I was at Uni and trying to tell my none-English speaking volunteer PAs what I was looking for - a picture book wouldn’t have looked quite so cool!
I am sure this sort of technology could be quite useful if supermarkets offered free wifi or internet connections to aid shoppers.
Also, if the supermarket is crowded it can be harder for people who’s eye level is only 4 foot off the ground to see the signs. Clear labels like in a library (lower down) and to be able to look at your phone to tell you where to go would be great. In fact, I want full sat nav to find the shortest distance to travel around the store in order to complete my shopping list. I am sure supermarkets could make the experience easier for everyone.
Apparently it uses the same database of products from on-line ordering - and when we looked into this a while ago, half of what we have wasn’t showing up..... but I think personalised shopping and using technology has real future potential for disabled people.
People are already using Direct Payments to purchase computers and broadband subscriptions to get on-line and go shopping (amongst other uses) - so in a basic form, technology and creative use of funds can really work for people.
Love to hear from twitter folk who are using tech for shopping assistance.
Tesco - if you’re reading this, I’m always available to try out a new bit of tech :-)
A historic day in history - what a week
12/June/2009 02:17 PM Filed in: Equality
Monday the 8th of June 2009 - remember that day.
Why?
Two amazing things happend.
1) Firstly Apple showcased a thunderous new iphone - iphone 3Gs with additional accessibility features and
2) Disabled people in the UK finally have rights to equality under the new UN treaty.
Wait - shouldn’t the second one be at the number one slot?
Seriously though, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability is a landmark piece of legislation.
On Monday it was adopted by the UK government and could lead to better daily lives for all of us in the UK who have impairments. Sadly, and true to form, the signing of this has made few headlines. If disabled people are not aware of their rights - then how can we know when to challenge common breaches of equality and dignity?
Disabled people need to know about it and use the legislation to challenge inequality. We want to be treated with dignity, respect, fairness and equality.
Why?
Two amazing things happend.
1) Firstly Apple showcased a thunderous new iphone - iphone 3Gs with additional accessibility features and
2) Disabled people in the UK finally have rights to equality under the new UN treaty.
Wait - shouldn’t the second one be at the number one slot?
Seriously though, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability is a landmark piece of legislation.
On Monday it was adopted by the UK government and could lead to better daily lives for all of us in the UK who have impairments. Sadly, and true to form, the signing of this has made few headlines. If disabled people are not aware of their rights - then how can we know when to challenge common breaches of equality and dignity?
Disabled people need to know about it and use the legislation to challenge inequality. We want to be treated with dignity, respect, fairness and equality.
Life giving gadgets
It’s blogging against disablism day and my topic this
year was going to be entitled life enhancing gadgets
and techno wizardry. However, thinking about it -
gadgets haven’t enhanced my life - they have GIVEN me
life.
I might post a few entries today - and do pop onto facebook if you have a disability gadget question - I might know something that could help!!
I am a gadget nut - I read about new gadgets more than once a day and I’m counting down the days until an iPhone finds its way into my hand.
So what have amazing feats of technology done for me. Well, if you know me it;s pretty easy to spot that I have little strength in my limbs (think floppy rag doll). I have MD and it’s a progressive type of impairment - so each day I’m a bit worse than the last. Thankfully - technology has kept up with my needs.
Here’s some examples
Taking exams in the 90’s. Laptops were like telephone directories in weight and cost an absolute fortune. However, I couldn’t take notes in class and my dictation skills were useless (and disturbed other people to be honest). It also meant they had to pay a nursery nurse (yes that;s what they called educational personal assistants) to take notes. So, education would have been a nightmare - had it not been that laptops were just about in existence and my local education authority sent a geek in glasses and a beard to deliver one to my school. So I became fluent in touch typing, got rid of the nurse and kept up with lessons alongside everyone else. I was starting to become gadget kid to the envy of everyone. Within a year, apple computers were installed at my school - about 15 of the old apple II series cubed, black and white, small screens. I spent many hours in the free to enter room drawing and typing - and my love for all things Apple introduced a range of inclusive software.
Going to Uni was different
- the laptop was confiscated and I was told to
go and raise funds if I wanted one. It wasn’t a
case of wanting one, I NEEDED one. Disabled
people had no legal right to one like they do
now under civil law. A few calls to a local
newspaper about this injustice got them to cough
up - so I gained my first degree.
Whilst at Uni - the invention of the mobile phone meant that I could trundle around in my elecy wheelchair - safe in the knowledge that my brick would just about have enough power to call for assistance should I get stuck or need general assistance. It was a life line and eventually I hooked it up to my wheelchair battery to ensure maximum power. Nowadays, micro life-line pendants, pagers, telecare and similar support millions of people to make life saving connections with carers, assistants and others.
Later, I was unable to use my arms and lift a phone to my ear - and low and behold they got lighter and easier to hold - so I dumped the Erikson brick for a small Nokia - and life continued.
Then I couldn’t hold anything up to my ear - so hands free and bluetooth became the way to go.
Now I can’t press buttons so well - so my iPhone will be fantastic because with just a tap I can get texting again. An when I can’t tap - well brain wave power is coming on line for controlling things - so thought controlled apps - here I come.
With the right technology I’m not disabled - I can keep in touch with people and even control my home environment and get around as much as anyone.
1) Better electric wheelchair design - they have had 4 wheels and a clunky, bulky, inaccessible design for many years. Although we have seen a few more functions (raise, tilt in space, stair climbing and use of gyroscopes) the overall functionality has not really improved with the technology available.
If you could see what the NHS offered me you would think we were in the year 1908 - it was only an electronic step up from a basket.
I might post a few entries today - and do pop onto facebook if you have a disability gadget question - I might know something that could help!!
I am a gadget nut - I read about new gadgets more than once a day and I’m counting down the days until an iPhone finds its way into my hand.
So what have amazing feats of technology done for me. Well, if you know me it;s pretty easy to spot that I have little strength in my limbs (think floppy rag doll). I have MD and it’s a progressive type of impairment - so each day I’m a bit worse than the last. Thankfully - technology has kept up with my needs.
Here’s some examples
Gaining an education
Taking exams in the 90’s. Laptops were like telephone directories in weight and cost an absolute fortune. However, I couldn’t take notes in class and my dictation skills were useless (and disturbed other people to be honest). It also meant they had to pay a nursery nurse (yes that;s what they called educational personal assistants) to take notes. So, education would have been a nightmare - had it not been that laptops were just about in existence and my local education authority sent a geek in glasses and a beard to deliver one to my school. So I became fluent in touch typing, got rid of the nurse and kept up with lessons alongside everyone else. I was starting to become gadget kid to the envy of everyone. Within a year, apple computers were installed at my school - about 15 of the old apple II series cubed, black and white, small screens. I spent many hours in the free to enter room drawing and typing - and my love for all things Apple introduced a range of inclusive software.
Mobile phones
Whilst at Uni - the invention of the mobile phone meant that I could trundle around in my elecy wheelchair - safe in the knowledge that my brick would just about have enough power to call for assistance should I get stuck or need general assistance. It was a life line and eventually I hooked it up to my wheelchair battery to ensure maximum power. Nowadays, micro life-line pendants, pagers, telecare and similar support millions of people to make life saving connections with carers, assistants and others.
Later, I was unable to use my arms and lift a phone to my ear - and low and behold they got lighter and easier to hold - so I dumped the Erikson brick for a small Nokia - and life continued.
Then I couldn’t hold anything up to my ear - so hands free and bluetooth became the way to go.
Now I can’t press buttons so well - so my iPhone will be fantastic because with just a tap I can get texting again. An when I can’t tap - well brain wave power is coming on line for controlling things - so thought controlled apps - here I come.
With the right technology I’m not disabled - I can keep in touch with people and even control my home environment and get around as much as anyone.
What I’d like to see bring us into the 21st century
1) Better electric wheelchair design - they have had 4 wheels and a clunky, bulky, inaccessible design for many years. Although we have seen a few more functions (raise, tilt in space, stair climbing and use of gyroscopes) the overall functionality has not really improved with the technology available.
If you could see what the NHS offered me you would think we were in the year 1908 - it was only an electronic step up from a basket.
Gadgets and innovation
It’s blogging against disablism day and here is my
round up of top gadgets and innovative products that,
in my opinion, are not to be missed.
Just the other day I was Oooo-ing at an iPhone that a BSL interpreter had on one of my courses. Now there’s a phone that I can’t wait to get my hands on. But wait, I hear your cry. What about blind people - how are they going to manage in a world that is going touch screen? To which I replied, well actually... did you know that people with visual impairments CAN access a whole range of apple products with some interesting innovations and built in design
It’s true, technology can be life enhancing and access features for disabled people are at risk of being left out of the top ten things to include in new devices.
Being a total tech head I’m always on the lookout for the next gizmo and gadget that I can’t possibly live without - and many of them are offering life enhancing capabilities and good accessibility.
Innovation:
1) Lip-reading computers developed at the Unversity of East Anglia. Many disabled people lose their voices but retain lip movement so this would be perfect. Think of the business applications - especially when it can read several different languages. More about lip-reading computers
2) Phones. Other useful tech includes the ability to translate sign language to audio for mobile phones. If you have no vision then this concept case for the iPhone is interesting.
Moving on - you can now control your light switches from your iPhone! I have so many remotes for switching plugs and lights that to have one cool gadget as a universal control - now that’s progress.
So, my next one is home automation (environmental controls).
3) Home automation is now affordable outside of ‘special disabled equipment’ from the NHS. In my dream world, one command would open the curtains, bring the lights up from dim, set the radio going with soothing sounds whilst my coffee and breakfast was being made for me in the kitchen by yet more fab gadgetry. Oh wait, actually I suppose I do have this in the form of a PA... hmmm.
4) Brain waves for blogging and tweeting. Yes if you can’t move a muscle then use your noggin to keep up with your bloggin (I always knew I was a poet???) and use of Twitter (if you don’t mind wearing a mad cap full of electrodes - hey I’d try it).
5) Brain waves for controlling wheelchairs. Yes working prototypes are available. You programme your chair to move left or right according to thinking about a particular object. What happens when you’re weaving about the newsagents thinking Left Left Left and your distracted by a top shelf magazine I don’t know - perhaps you start spinning round or something!
6) Gadget web-sites - I’ve found many a useful invention on these sites.
http://www.coolest-gadgets.com
is my favourite one but there are lots on the web - go and see if you can find something that could change your life!
Just the other day I was Oooo-ing at an iPhone that a BSL interpreter had on one of my courses. Now there’s a phone that I can’t wait to get my hands on. But wait, I hear your cry. What about blind people - how are they going to manage in a world that is going touch screen? To which I replied, well actually... did you know that people with visual impairments CAN access a whole range of apple products with some interesting innovations and built in design
It’s true, technology can be life enhancing and access features for disabled people are at risk of being left out of the top ten things to include in new devices.
Being a total tech head I’m always on the lookout for the next gizmo and gadget that I can’t possibly live without - and many of them are offering life enhancing capabilities and good accessibility.
Innovation:
1) Lip-reading computers developed at the Unversity of East Anglia. Many disabled people lose their voices but retain lip movement so this would be perfect. Think of the business applications - especially when it can read several different languages. More about lip-reading computers
2) Phones. Other useful tech includes the ability to translate sign language to audio for mobile phones. If you have no vision then this concept case for the iPhone is interesting.
Moving on - you can now control your light switches from your iPhone! I have so many remotes for switching plugs and lights that to have one cool gadget as a universal control - now that’s progress.
So, my next one is home automation (environmental controls).
3) Home automation is now affordable outside of ‘special disabled equipment’ from the NHS. In my dream world, one command would open the curtains, bring the lights up from dim, set the radio going with soothing sounds whilst my coffee and breakfast was being made for me in the kitchen by yet more fab gadgetry. Oh wait, actually I suppose I do have this in the form of a PA... hmmm.
4) Brain waves for blogging and tweeting. Yes if you can’t move a muscle then use your noggin to keep up with your bloggin (I always knew I was a poet???) and use of Twitter (if you don’t mind wearing a mad cap full of electrodes - hey I’d try it).
5) Brain waves for controlling wheelchairs. Yes working prototypes are available. You programme your chair to move left or right according to thinking about a particular object. What happens when you’re weaving about the newsagents thinking Left Left Left and your distracted by a top shelf magazine I don’t know - perhaps you start spinning round or something!
6) Gadget web-sites - I’ve found many a useful invention on these sites.
http://www.coolest-gadgets.com
is my favourite one but there are lots on the web - go and see if you can find something that could change your life!
