Wireless RERC - Android

2015 Wireless Independence Now! Workshop Presentations Available Online

mz22 — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 14:40:26 +0000

Throughout the summer of 2015, the AT&T Corporate Accessibility Technology Office and the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) conducted workshops for people with disabilities, caregivers, and professionals on how to use accessibility features found on smartphones and tablets. Workshops focused on accessibility features helpful for people who use hearing aids, people who use text and video services, people who have communication difficulties, people who have difficulty seeing, people with cognitive disabilities, or sensory disabilities, people with dexterity or mobile disabilities, caregivers and other professionals who assist people with disabilities. The presentations (links below) include the accessibility features found on smartphones, phablets and tablets that use Apple or Android operating systems (OS); accessibility resources for services, devices and mobile applications; and ways to improve the accessibility of devices and services.

General Disability Presentation

[http://www.wirelessrerc.gatech.edu/node/700]

Cognitive Impairment Presentation

http://www.wirelessrerc.gatech.edu/node/722

Dexterity Impairment Presentation

[http://www.wirelessrerc.gatech.edu/node/720]

Hearing Impairment Presentation

[http://www.wirelessrerc.gatech.edu/node/718 ]

Vision Impairment Presentation

[http://www.wirelessrerc.gatech.edu/node/721]

Discover Wireless Accessibility! How-to Presentations for Consumers with Disabilities

mz22 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 19:59:10 +0000

iOS7

Android

KitKat

General Accessibility Features Presentation

Accessibility Features for People with Cognitive Challenges

Accessibility Features for People with Visual Impairments

Accessibility Features for People with Hearing Impairments

Accessibility Features for People with Mobility and Mobile Dexterity Challenges

August 2014 - The Wireless RERC partnered with AT&T early in 2014 to produce Discover Wireless Accessibility!, a series of outreach workshop for consumers with disabilities. They have traveled to Atlanta, Ga., Austin and Dallas, Texas, Chicago, Ill., and Washington, D.C. educating consumers about the accessibility features available on their mobile devices. Concentrating on iOS 7 and Android 4.4 smartphones and tablets, Discover Wireless Accessibility! produced five presentations that varied in topic from general accessibility features to those specific to consumer ability. To view Discover Wireless Accessibility! presentations, please see the links below.

New Fall/Winter 2014 and 2015 Discover Wireless Accessibility! Workshop Locations and Dates with be announced soon. If you're interested in attending one of the events, hosting an event or have other questions, please contact:

Ben Lippincott
404-894-7034
ben@imtc.gatech.edu

Blind and Deaf Consumer Preferences for Android and iOS Smartphones

mz22 — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 19:15:16 +0000

iPhone

Android

Book Chapter

Inclusive Designing: Joining Usability, Accessibility, and Inclusion

Wireless RERC researchers John Morris, PhD and Jim Mueller authored a book chapter titled Blind and Deaf Consumer Preferences for Android and iOS Smartphones, to be published by Springer London in Inclusive Designing: Joining Usability, Accessibility, and Inclusion. The abstract for their chapter follows: Access to and use of mobile wireless technology has become critical to social and economic participation for people with disabilities. As the technology increases in power and sophistication, these customers increasingly rely on mobile devices and software for functions previously available only through dedicated “assistive technology.” Successfully serving this large and growing population has become a market imperative as well as a legislative mandate for the wireless industry in the US. Competition for this market is especially keen between the Android and Apple’s iOS operating systems. This article presents survey research findings on the relative ease of use, importance, and satisfaction observed by blind and deaf customers using mobile devices on Android or iOS platforms. Focus group research conducted by the authors suggests that blind smartphone users overwhelmingly favor the iPhone, while deaf smartphone users show greater diversity in their device choices. Data collected through the Survey of User Needs (SUN) conducted by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) are presented to test this finding with quantitative data, and to test differences between blind and deaf users in terms of ease of use and satisfaction with iPhone and Android smartphones.

IDEAL Group Reader App Showcased at CES 2013

mz22 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:56:49 +0000

IDEAL Group Reader is now available for free from Android market

For additional information on IDEAL Group Reader

Publication Type:

Presentations

"IDEAL Group Reader" is a fully-accessible eBook reader app that can read text aloud, just like an audio book. It was developed by Apps4Android with support from Wireless RERC's App Factory. The Beta version of this ePub3 reader has been tested by thousands of users in 116 countries.

Apps4Android's CEO Steve Jacobs showcased the IDEAL Group Reader (IGR) at the Consumer Electronics Association's (CEA) International CES 2013 in Las Vegas on January 8-12.

Among its second-year projects, the Wireless RERC's App Factory has also funded the addition of MathML support to IDEAL Group Reader, enabling publishers to convert and publish math texts as ePub3 texts. The App Factory has also supported the addition of foreign language capabilities: With the installation of additional languages, the app can also display and read aloud books in Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, and Welsh.

New App to Identify U.S. Currency

blippincott4 — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:32:28 +0000

October 9, 2012 - The Department of Education announced today the launch of IDEAL Currency Identifier, a free downloadable application (app) designed to assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired to denominate U.S. currency on Android mobile devices. IDEAL Currency Identifier was developed by IDEAL Group, IQ Engines, and the Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center's App Factory. The IDEAL Currency Identifier initiative supports the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) mandate to provide increased access to US currency for persons who are blind and visually impaired.

IDEAL Currency Identifier handles three generations of U.S. currency notes beginning in 1993 and is compatible with Android 4.0 or higher devices with rear-facing cameras.

The app can be downloaded for free to more than 1,250 different wireless devices. Android-based devices are produced by 48 manufacturers and distributed by 60 wireless service providers, in 136 countries. It was developed by Apps4Android, Inc., a subsidiary of IDEAL Group that focuses on developing accessible mobile applications.

Dr. Charlie Lakin, the Director of NIDRR, issued the following statement: “Through our dialogue with the BEP, a special opportunity emerged to fulfill our mission in support of persons who are blind and visually impaired. IDEAL Currency Identifier uses advanced image recognition technology to read a note and, in a matter of seconds, provide users with an audible response indicating the note’s denomination.“

Department of Education Press Release