Capacitive touch screens and hook

[David Parker]

I  lost both arms in a accident. Right at shoulder, left below elbow. I work in IT and currently manage a network. Over the years I've seen accessibility built into operating systems like Windows and Linux. It was nice to see much thought and effort go into this ideal of making computers accessible to everyone. But, this has changed with this new generation of portable devices, namely smartphones. Sadly, capacitive touch screens are dominating the market. These screens do not respond to the touch of a prosthetic hook. I've tried contacting many of these device manufacturers but none will even respond acknowledging this lack of accessibility much less any efforts to make their products more accessible. I try posting online, responding to reviews of  smartphones, trying to shed light on this issue but rarely  does anyone respond. Is there any sort of effort being made by anyone here to get the word out? Are the prosthetic device makers aware of  this new huge barrier to technology being imposed on us and or are they making an effort to build in some technology into prosthetic hooks so we can use these new generation of touch screens? Carrying around a capacitive stylus is not a realistic option.

Thanks,

David Parker

[Wolf Schweitzer]

I found that some of my hooks DO activate my iPhone screen already - to the point where holding the phone with a hook touching the screen can make it impossible to tap the screen with a finger elsewhere. So try it out, see what works best. The one that I find works somewhat well is the Aluminum Hosmer 555 model; the hook claw has to touch the screen on a large area (relatively) so best to use the claw sideways. I also have a stylus, to make things easier and it does make things easier. However, already using an iPhone with a human left hand can be hard to impossible at critical points such as unlocking it when it rings - and that per se is probably in violation of US law. I'd sue Apple right away if I'd live in the USA - but first of all we don't have such a law, I can't sue them here. Secondly the iPhone that I use is borrowed not purchased so I cannot claim having spent any money. http://www.swisswuff.ch/tech/?p=276

[Jon Kuniholm]

Interesting to learn that at least in the case of the ADA, that the protections accorded those in Germany lag behind those in the US. This book discusses the use of the ADA as a model for German and Japanese disability activists.

[Jon Kuniholm]

David -

Check out this related discussion.

An idea that we haven't acted on is that of trying to incorporate the features of a capacitive stylus into a composite or polymer hook. This project to design one is inactive right now.

Some thinking about what might be necessary to include in such a design could be informed by this video on Make. Could a battery power the stylus instead? Maybe an electrical connection to the body through the socket? An, of course, as cited in the other thread, there's always the meat stylus...

[David Parker]

I test each capacitive screen with my hook whenever they are on display but none work. I do have the aluminum hook. Occasionally I can get some kind of response if I hit it just right in the area where the rubber and steel meet but not enough to be usable. It would be nice if the hook manufacturers were aware and motivated enough to incorporate a way to trigger responses from capacitive displays. A stylus is not practical, especially when you rely on a single hook.

[David Parker]

There seems to be a real lack of awareness to the accessibility issues caused by capacitive only displays. This is compounded by the fact that when a device is made with a resistive screen, it is immediately given a negative rating just for that reason. I generally try to post comments pointing out the problems with accessibility and capacitive screens but no one else ever comments supporting my position.

There doesn't seem to be a standards body out there for device manufacturers to be guided by on accessibility and mobile devices such as smartphones. Writing the manufacturers rarely illicits any response. Apple is the worst. I've written them on many occasions and have never received any form of acknowledgement whatsoever. I'm not an Apple fan, nor do I own any Apple products, but I've written them because everyone else seems to be trying to make their products just like Apples.

I feel like I'm fighting this battle solo.

[Jon Kuniholm]

David - I've actually mentioned Wolf's point about the left vs. right swipe to someone at the FCC, but have not discussed the capacitive screen issue. As someone missing only one arm, it's more of an inconvenience to me than a serious barrier. In reading this discussion, however, I'm reminded of all of the issues with the iPhone and iPad: there's nowhere to hold it with a hook, and the hook does sometimes inconsistently foul up touching it elsewhere. With the iPad, the holding issue is significant, because it's heavy enough to simply fall out of a hook, unless you use many rubber bands. Using a capacitive stylus in a hook is an option (that doesn't solve the issue of holding it with another hook), but I tend to dislike solutions that involve carrying more equipment with me to solve every problem.

Perhaps this issue of accessibility and electronic devices should be moved over to a forum? I'm also going to invite some more folks to participate.

Jon

[David Parker]

Sounds good.