24 July 2017 | ElEctronics For you http://www.EFymag.com
biotech
by the user on forehead, glasses or even a hat. With
HeadMouse Nano’s high tracking resolution, users can
perform such tasks as drawing, photo editing, graphic
illustration and computer-aided design.
Bionics. Advances in 3D printing and bio-electron-
ics are allowing replacement of lost limbs with pros-
thetics, giving specially abled people extra functional-
ity. Bionics enables prosthetic limbs such as hands that
can be controlled via a mobile app.
DEKA robotic arm. This highly sophisticated and
highly functional prosthetic arm for injured people
has such precision and control that the user can peel
a grape. The arm supports a number of customisable
controls and modular components, making it easy to
tailor to users’ individual needs, whether they require
only a hand or an entire arm and shoulder socket.
Another promising feature of the arm is its sensory
feedback system.
RoboDesk. It is a special sensor device for people in
wheelchairs who face the problem of ‘pressure sores.’
Pressure sores are caused by sitting or lying in the
same position for too long. This decreases blood circu-
lation to the area under pressure, eventually leading to
a breakdown of the skin in that area.
The RoboDesk sensor device fits snugly on a
wheelchair seat and connects to a smartphone app via
Bluetooth. If the app notices that the pressure over an
area of the skin hasn’t changed over a certain period
of time, it will notify the user as a reminder to move.
Developers of the device are contemplating a version
for hospitals, where critical care patients are at an
increased risk of developing bedsores.
HeadMouse Extreme. It replaces the standard key-
board for those who can’t move their hands. It translates
the head movements into proportional mouse pointer
movements, performing the respective operation.
Gesture Search. This Google app for Android helps
users to find something quickly on their Android
device. Users need to draw a single initial character to
get a quick list of matching items on their device. The
app helps users to quickly navigate through contacts,
applications, settings, bookmarks and much more with
utmost ease.Key to success
People with disabilities often benefit from technology
developed for regular consumers, but it also works the
other way around. It has been found that when manu-
facturers design with special needs in mind, their prod-
ucts get better for everybody. While it’s a great news for
specially abled people that tech companies are taking
interest in making products for them, there’s still a long
way to go as high cost of these products remains the big-
gest barrier to their adoption.