Other developers have now started using the SiriProxy to do other weird and wonderful things and we now have example videos of two. The first video below shows a developer using the SiriProxy to work alongside his car Viper system.

The second video shows how Siri can be used with third party apps. Using Siri the developer is able to control a PDF application in the same way.

via Siri can now control third party apps and even start your car via SiriProxy [video] | TiPb.

Apple’s AssistiveTouch Helps the Disabled Use a Smartphone – NYTimes.com.

This is a paradigm shift. Gone are the days when a visually impaired person has to pay more for the screenreader than for the computer. The out of box experience that these devices provide has no comparison. However, we still need to learn how to take advantage of the dHome of the blind Mac user community devices.

The change in technology also brings about a change in the way we provide supports. Here is a brief list of some supports for iOS devices:

• Apple: iOS: Getting started with VoiceOver for accessibility
• VIPhone: Google Group The Apple IPhone 3GS is not only the first blind / VI-accessible off-the-shelf cell phone, but also the first accessible touch-screen device without adaptive software. This group is for the discussion of the new Apple IPhone as it relates to access in the Visually Impaired community.
• MacVisionaries: Google Group  Home of the blind Mac user community. More focussed on general issues involving the Macintosh, but support for iOS devices is quite common.

Remember, user driven support is not just about providing/getting support it also about identifying issues and helping to influence how a vendor addresses the needs.

I’m excited about the potential of new health apps like Bant and Proloquo2go. Tools that improve doctor patient communication and empower patients are fantastic. But I’m a little wary of the robo-doc reference programs that are bringing us to a Star Trek-like present. Machines help, but humans think. The most valuable tools for any doctor are education, clinical experience and good old rational human judgment.

via Dr. Smartphone: How medical apps are changing diagnoses and treatments | Life | National Post.

As a parent of a child with special needs, I understand firsthand the financial struggles that come with the job.  When I discovered the iPad and the benefits it could have for my son, it became my mission to find a way to provide one for him.  This is a simplified version of the steps I took in getting my iPad covered by insurance, and it is my hope that others can benefit from this information.

via autism, iPads Autism Grants Nonprofit Foundation Medical Insurance Coverage.

“If you’re blind or have low vision, you can enjoy the simplicity, security, and reliability of the Mac using VoiceOver. It’s built into the Mac OS X operating system that comes with every new Mac and sets a new standard for screen readers. VoiceOver also includes support for many Braille displays for those who are both blind and deaf. In addition, VoiceOver includes features for those that cannot use the mouse, such as keyboard based navigation.”

VoiceOver Compatible Apps for iPhone and Mac.

“Stevie Wonder made a special appearance at a nightclub in Los Angeles, ad-libbing to his songs, playing some other tracks but also taking some time to stop the music to give a speech on helping others with disabilities.”

via Stevie Wonder sings Steve Jobs praises for iOS accessibility – TNW Apple.

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“Dyslexie is not a cure, but I see the font as something like a wheelchair,” Boer said, who also has the reading disorder.

Dyslexics view letters as 3D objects as they appear jumbled and rotated. The font has thicker lines at the bottom of the letters to help dyslexics pin down which part of the letter belongs to the baseline of the sentence.

Click here to read more on the subject at Fastcodesign.com or check out Boer’s Web site here.