MultiTap Accessibility Keypad
The Need:
Logan needs a new means of communication. He is a blind man in his twenties, with nerve damage that limits his motor function within his fingers, and an inability to speak in volumes above the whisper level. His left hand is completely non-functional and he can only use his thumb on his right hand in a non-swiping motion. Thus, he is unable to use any speech recognition as input, he must use a screen-reader and voiceover to know what is displayed on his device, and any input to his device goes through that right thumb. All current means of communication do not meet every one of Logan’s specific needs. He is yet to be exposed to a device that suits his limitations, so our client has recently developed a prototype that is tailored to him. This prototype includes a membrane keypad that utilizes number keys to navigate the screen reader and input text through a multi-tap function. The keypad connects to a microcontroller equipped with Bluetooth, a battery charger, and a piezo speaker, to enable the prototype to be used as a Bluetooth keyboard with auditory feedback.
The Solution:
.The MultiTap Accessibility Device is a wireless, keypad-based communication device that assists individuals that are blind and/or have limited dexterity in their hand movements in communicating with a mobile device. The Bluetooth device will utilize a 12-key, 4-row-by-3-column numeric keypad (as found on many fixed lines or older mobile phones) to facilitate both text input and OS navigation via VoiceOver. The device also features a speaker to provide audio feedback for normal operation (power on, BlueTooth connected, etc.). The two operating modes are detailed below:
Text Entry Mode - Intended for use in situations that have triggered OS to display a keyboard or keypad. Allows entry of letters, punctuation symbols and numbers, through a different number of button presses. Comprised of 2 sub-modes: characters and digits.
VoiceOver - Facilitates navigation of OS applications and content and operation of physical buttons on the device. Maps various VoiceOver gestures to keypad entry commands. Comprised of 2 sub-modes: Basic and Advanced.