Device makes tablets accessible for the less dexterous

Access4Kids is opening up touchscreen technology to those who have found it previously difficult to use.

Just as the Splash range of games employs special controllers to make play easier for young people with disabilities, our latest spotting – Access4Kids – is opening up touchscreen technology to those who have found it previously difficult to use. Developed by researchers at Georgia Tech, the kit consists of three touch-sensitive panels that can either be worn around the forearm or attached to a wheelchair. The device is connected to a touchscreen and takes control of the built-in gestures. Users can then hit the sensors or swipe across the sensors with their fist. Combinations of these gestures are translated into pinches and double-tapping that are becoming widely adopted across the industry. The following video shows the kit in action: Although currently only a prototype, lead researcher Ayanna Howard said: “The real goal is to make it safe and efficient so someone can make it into a commercial product.” One to get in on early?