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MyWirelessReview is a vision of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies, Wireless RERC.

The Wireless RERC promotes equitable access to and use of wireless technologies by people with disabilities and encourages adoption of universal design in future generations of wireless devices and applications through research, development, and training activities.
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Accessible Apps: Shake To Dial application for the blind

"A Special Phone" is the latest iPhone application to specifically target the disabled consumer. "A Special Phone" is a shake and dial function that allows a person with visual impairments to dial up to 6 contacts without seeing their phone directory or keypad on the screen. Once you download this application, you will be able to add your voice to identify up to six selected contacts of your choosing.

You then will place your contact in an order you can remember and designate a number of shakes (from one to six) to each of your contacts on your iPhone directory. For example, shake once for contact number one, two shakes for contact number two, and so on. After you shake your iPhone, your own voice will vocalize the contact's name and then there will be a two second pause before the contact is dialed.

As stated in the application's description, this is a useful download for the non-disabled as it can help people to keep their eyes on the road instead of looking at their iPhones to call someone. "A Special Phone" is a $2.99 download from iTunes.

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-Pete "Pedro" Collman

Shake to Dial Tested

Posted by peter collman at 2009-05-21 01:38
I was invited to sit in on a meeting at the Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta the other day to listen to students who were blind or had other visual impairments. We talked about mobile devices that may assist them in their needs for daily living. Several students mentioned the needs for a mobile handheld to help in GPS locationing when lost downtown or assistance in basic tasks such as dialing phone numbers. We demonstrated the "Shake to Dial" application on the iPhone and came away with many favorable reviews. Touch handhelds have not typically been sought after tools by the blind community but certain applications have started to change minds.
The "Shake to Dial" vibrating function helped in knowing if the user shook the device properly to shuttle through the 6 pre-programmed phone contacts, but most who tested this application felt that the most productive prompt was audio beep that signaled the handheld's progression to the next contact. The female voice prompting each action also helped the visually impaired user. The version 2 of "Shake to Dial" (updated in Mid-May 2009) also assists people who need voice prompt and number magnification to dial on their own. The creation of this application is a good first step in opening up the world of touch screen handhelds to a specific disabled population not quite sold on the practicality of the iPhone/iPod Touch device.
-Pete "Pedro" Collman

 
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