Smart Canes for People With Low Sight

BlindSpot, a new smart cane developed by Selene Chew of Singapore, is a new device that provides more independence and control for people with visual impairments. Chew developed this device as a project for her senior thesis at the National University of Singapore, in which she focused on using smartphone applications to create an object accessible to the blind. The device communicates via audio notifications, and the user wears a compatible Bluetooth to receive the messages. The track-pad located on the small white cane allows the user to control individual functions of the device.

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Choosing the Right Type of Walker and How to Make the Best Use of It

There are many different styles of walkers on the market, each with its own unique features to assist those with limited mobility. Knowing more about the features of a walker will make their use more efficient for the consumer. The Mayo Clinic has outlined some key things to look for in a walker, from selecting a grip to choosing the most effective accessories for the device to actually using the walker properly.

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Investing in the Future: TOTO Hosts US Architects on UD Professional Education Trip to Japan

TOTO, the world's largest plumbing manufacturer, is a strong proponent of the concept of Socially-Sustainable Design, the confluence of Universal Design and environmental sustainability. In an effort to gain greater support for this philosophy, with the hope of its eventual inclusion among architectural best practices, the company financed a professional education trip for 17 leading American architects to visit its Universal Design Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology in Chigasaki, Japan, the only one of its kind in the world. During this weeklong excursion, TOTO also orchestrated opportunities for the visiting architects to meet with renowned Japanese architects in the field of Universal Design and sustainability and tour key facilities in Tokyo and Yokohama that focus on these initiatives.

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Affordable Kiosks Ensure ADA Compliance in Government Facilities

Kiosk Group, Inc is redesigning their line of iPad kiosks to be compliant under the new Americans with Disabilities Act requirements that will go into effect in March 2012. The company had designed the kiosks to be compliant according to the old requirements, so the process is something they are familiar with.

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Picture Source: KioskGroup.com