Developing "Eyes-Free" Gadgets and Applications

The New York Times is running a story about Google engineer T. V. Raman, who lost his vision at age 14 but didn't let that stand in the way of his interest in technology. In addition to modifying a version of Google's search engine to give preference to pages that were more compliant with accessibility guidelines, Raman is now working on making cell phones easier to use without needing to look at them. "Since he cannot precisely hit a button on a touch screen, Mr. Raman created a dialer that works based on relative positions. It interprets any place where he first touches the screen as a 5, the center of a regular telephone dial pad. To dial any other number, he simply slides his finger in its direction — up and to the left for 1, down and to the right for 9, and so on. If he makes a mistake, he can erase a digit simply by shaking the phone, which can detect motion." Raman and a co-worker, Charles Chen, are also attempting to extend various phones' ability to read back scanned text to include signs that are anywhere in the phone's field of view.

How...

[MrEricSir]

But how does he play Snake?

Brilliant

[Skiron]

"Since he cannot precisely hit a button on a touch screen, Mr. Raman created a dialer that works based on relative positions. It interprets any place where he first touches the screen as a 5, the center of a regular telephone dial pad. To dial any other number, he simply slides his finger in its direction -- up and to the left for 1, down and to the right for 9..."

So simple yet so brilliant. There is so much tripe published about 'innovation' (usually Microsoft), yet I think this is the first time _I_ can use this word properly.

Well done Mr. Raman - truly brilliant.

Re:Brilliant

[Linker3000]

I was coming here to say pretty much the same thing - it's a great and simple idea that would even be of use to people with full sight. I often have problems 'dialling' a number on the touch screen of my HTC TYTN II - 'fat fingers' and all that.

Re:Brilliant

[Linker3000]

Maybe true - but does any touchscreen phone currently on the marker have this damn useful feature?

Re:Brilliant

[mishehu]

Is the whole thing really brilliant, or is what Mr. Raman doing just an elaborate work-around for what was essentially a usability step backwards? One thing that I like about my Treo phone is that it has a combination of a touch screen AND has real buttons that I can feel with my fingers and not have to look at the screen if I don't want to. Hell, I can call into my office phone system, put in my voicemail authentication codes, and listen to my voicemails without ever having to look at the phone...

Re:They should follow the Screenless MP3 Player.

[mac.man25]

While the iPod shuffle is not a particularly powerful device, it does allow the user to use a well supported device that most probably is not going anywhere soon. The iPod shuffle in my mind would be very useful if what you wanted was just music.

However, If was blind, I might not want an MP3 player because I rely so heavily on my sense of hearing to get around. If I encased myself into my own musical world, I might miss something I need to hear.

Re:Brilliant

[tdi65]

I would be interested in this technology even as a person with eye sight. I can't stand blue tooth technology, no matter how much I pay for an earwig I get the "you sound like you are in a tunnel, is everything ok?" and conditions have to be stellar for voice activation to work without me finally just screaming expletives at high volume into my cell phone while driving. And forget about using touch screen phones in direct sunlight outside. As an outside sales person with no choice but to use my company cell phone (touch screen) I constantly find myself trying to duck into shadey spots just to see my phone. I second (or 56th) *brilliant*.