Silicone Touch: an iPhone case for the visually impaired
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Dec 1st 2008 4:58PM
posted Dec 1st 2008 4:58PM
The iPhone has never seemed a likely contender as a smart phone for the blind (it's certainly not designed for touch typing), which makes this case by designer Bruno Fosi all the more impressive. The Silicone Touch covers the phone's screen and features a selection of bas-relief buttons that correspond to menu items in a custom app, allowing those with diminished sight access to all the phone's functions, including multi-touch and finger flick scrolling. Right now it's just a concept, but we're hoping to see this one become a reality sooner rather than later.
[Via Yanko Design]
[Via Yanko Design]
'i' like it, i see a dream come true
This doesn't make any sense at all. As much as I love my iPhone, I certainly would never recommend it to a visually impaired person. Even with this case the iPhone could not be anywhere near as useful as a phone with real keys on it for a visually impaired person. Why have visual internet and video capability for the visually impaired?
Put yourself in the situation. Blind people are people just like you and me and may want the same things that we have. I think think this is a great idea personally, especially if voice apps are going to be capable possibly in the future on the iphone.
The iphone is the absolute worst possible type of device for a Blind person to even consider using.
Its a FLAT SCREEN. It has NO TACTILE FEEDBACK. Its screen does not correspond to the braille pad unless you make that custom app, AND THEN WHAT? after you leave the main screen and move to a sub menu, you'd need an entirely new braille pad for it - and every subsequent screen.
do this: close your eyes and try dialing a phone number on your phone ...any number.
The only way I see blind people having access to the mobile internet is if science designed a full pad with little magnetically extended pins that could be controlled by a cpu to constantly change based on what is on screen. In fact, there would be no monitor at all...just the pin pad.
http://www.joelertola.com/tutorials/disp/pin_toy.jpg
If i could build it, I'd be a billionaire.
I'm not trying to personally attack you, Sean, at all, but you response seems a little naive. I am COMPLETELY for adapting devices for uses by the handicapped but the iPhone is largely a visual experience--hell, it's marketed as the US' first device with Visual Voicemail. I'm certainly not deprive any portion of the population to its little piece of happy, but like Flashpoint said, this is the last device I'd recommend to the visually impaired.
@derX. You're right man, i read the comment completely wrong and skipped over the word recommend.
It's spelled silicone.
They still didn't change the page header.
Why? There are much simpler phones for this task. It's like trying to get a blind person on the highway. This is an irony case for the blind.
Why? The iPhone seems as though it would function about as much for the blind as an iPod for the deaf?
"dude, i called you like 15 times last night, why didn't you pick up?"
"What? I can't hear you..."
@Sachin
what was the point of that?
Plenty of deaf people have iPods. They even have connectors that go from the iPod directly to cochlear implants.
I just think it's funny it has a hole for the camera. Kinda mocking the user.
Visually impaired doesn't mean 100% blind.
So, in other words, they just made the world's most expensive dumbphone?
This is a phone for the blind, not those who cant talk.
exactly.. you would have no use for any feature other than talking. So, it's become the most expensive dumbphone.
Why would a blind person buy an iPhone? It seems like a regular clamshell phone would be much more practical for the visually impaired.
a clamshell, but just looking at the phones at any verizon store, touch screen phones are the way the market is going - arguably sparked by Apple. And between all the touchphones out there, why not get the best*? Bravo on the concept!
*Except for android
Ah dandaman. do realize you said, "just looking" at all the other phones on the market... See, blind people can't look. They can feel. But while the iPhone im sure feels great... it really is pointless to have a touch screen. Im thinking a voice recognititon application would be more practical in many ways.
Why is this such a big deal exactly? The iPhone isn't really the second coming, it's not needed for a fulfilling life. I can't see why a blind person would want an iPhone over something that's designed for the blind. It's not like they'll be using the lighter app or playing the caveman racing game or anything that would require an iPhone. They also can't see the clever commercials that make people think they need one.
What clever commercials? I only remember seeing those extremely misleading "really fast!" commercials.
@ Gad Get- Not a problem anymore, at least not in the UK :)
Commercials? What are those? Oh, you must have one of those fancy tee vee's that lets you sit on your butt and not do anything but still costs money to run. Gotcha. I'm going to go take a nap outside now.
Hmm, I see what they did here. But does the custom app have Flash support for video? I can already see that it supports the camera feature which is something that no visually impaired person should be without. Apologies to any any visually impaired people who are reading this.
"hey, look! i got this case for my iPhone that's specially made for the visually impaired!"
"um, dude...that's not an iPhone..."
I normally like Engadget a lot, but this blog post is rather poorly written. Also, this is a really silly concept.
This could work well in conjunction with speech output. It's not inconceivable that voiceover (built in osx screen reader) for the iphone is possible. In fact a similar product for Windows mobile already exists along the same lines.
http://www.engadget.com/2004/07/01/the-maestro-visuaides-pocket-pc-for-the-blind/
How did this escape mockery? Oh! Let me guess...
Why can't it have audio-feedback? Sounds like a pretty rad idea to me. People can be quite creative when coming up with apps. I think this is a first step, but a great idea.
This is much more intriguing. Replacing the icon-based UI with just an empty (or visually interactive) screen that responds with an array or gradient of different audio cues depending on where you drag your finger would be novel at the very least, and possibly a great new feature.
Moving your finger around triggers spoken cues (e.g. "Phone"), touch-release executes?
This could also remove the inferred limitation to a blind customer base.
I think this could be a phenomenal idea, provided that it can be implemented properly. Hey, no one needs an iPhone, visually impaired or not. Some people choose iPhones because they want them for whatever reason. If such a simple concept can bring that choice to the visually impaired, who more often than not seem to be forgotten in computing, then that's great. What's the problem here?
And this whole product depends on Apple allowing the specially designed app onto the appstore in the first place...
i was saying the same thing. but it does copy the menu function in the phones OS so i guess it would get denied
Yeah...
You're pretty much a "Downvote on sight" for me...
Weren't you banned a while back?
I can't see anything innovative about this.
Get it?
"...but we're hoping to see this one become a reality sooner rather than later."
That's just cruel.
I can see the use (part of my job!). A full touch screen can be mapped to a specific control layout corresponding to the tactile sleeve. Only those button areas function. The layout can be tested, tweaked and finalized, then the sleeves produced. Even replaced as the layout improves or other applications are adjusted for. Other cell phones have only the keys they are shipped with, limiting the control customization.
So why not just get a phone with dedicated keys and skip the touch element...
Capacitive touch + silicone overlay?
You are completely right. It would have to be of a conductive material, at least where it touches the screen.
It'll still work if it's thin enough, how else do those silicone sleeves for the iPods work on the click wheels?
This whole concept is ridiculous to begin with.
Only those with slim, muscular bodies, blonde hair, blue eyes and a passion for pop music are allowed to use anything with the Apple logo on it. Sorry, if you're blind, it means no "eye"Phone for you.
Wanker.
*nods* in agreement*
oh **** sam you were being serious! Well I was being *sarcastic*, sorry that i confused you.
This doesn't even make sense in concept. Since the iPhone reacts to TOUCH rather than pressure, wouldn't the visually impaired person actually be ACTIVATING stuff as they were feeling their way around the screen searching for something?
Just get a Symbian phone with Talks, a screen reader for S60 phones. My dad is visually impaired and loves his Nokia N95. He can browse the web, listen to music, use the PDA functions, and, obviously, use the phone, because the software tells him what is on the screen.
I have a parents that is visually impaired, yeah "blind" as you can mock about.
Even if i feel delighted whenever people try to make visual impaired people life easyer i'm very perplexed about this.
What's the pourpose of a fixed relief silicon layer over a non-responsive touchscreen that may display anything? i mean, it's not like icons, functions and menus are fixed on the iphone , the author and apple should work together to make a "visual impaired mode" (which i seriously doubt)similar that the one on OSX with voice over and larger standard and fixed icons , otherwise i don't see the point of this case.
And another thing is the waste of money , what's the point to buy a pricey iphone that rely much on our view to display anything when the key point that a visually impaired people need most is a cellphone that tell him everything is on screen to make him able to write an "listen" an e-mail/sms and make a call (much more easier and faster on a cellphone with keys,and it's obvious why). For example where i live our carrier TIM offers freely tim talks a symbian application that enable a "text-to-speech" experience on s60 symbian OS.
Sure, thare are better cellphone in this sense i was told there is a customized cellphone (basically a nokia smartphone)that other than that it can also read text from photo shoots, vocal and gps guidance with feedback in and from a special walking stick but just the cellphone costs 2000€
You hit the nail on the head.
"i mean, it's not like icons, functions and menus are fixed on the iphone"
that is why this designer has created the program that is "blind friendly" no iphone-esque moving icons etc...
read the article.
it states that it would work with a custom application that would operate with the interface drawn on the silicone. "would" being the operative word.
Wow, and I thought all the rumors about Engadget having a bias towards the iPhone were rumors. Well, this just confirmed it in my book.
For some reason quote just popped up in my head from a previous engadet article "we haven't been this excieted about a device since the iPhone" They were referring to the G1 but I'm sure they were thinking about the iPhone 3G. Kinda like thinking of a hot chick while banging an ugly chick.
-G1 Owner
Nice idea, but we ideally need a way of combining the versatility of a large touch screen with tactile feedback.
A way in which the content onscreen can be represented tactily siminlar to Braille or Moon type (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_type) is on paper, whilst still allowing light to pass through.
I'm partially sighted and I know first hand how technology can be both a help and a hinderance to the visually impaired community. Manufacturers and developers often overlook the simple things they can integrate to make their products more accessible, things like the ability to alter text size, or apply high-contrast colour schemes. Computers have had screen reading and voice command/recognition for a while, but it has yet to make its way to many portable devices, devices which already have to power needed to run TTS and voice recog software.
Technology is always being hailed for uniting people and enabling them to do more, but if we're not careful, that same technology could leave those less able behind, widening the ability gap even further.
If you can't see it you don't need an iphone, get a cheap appropriate alternative.
And that's my final word.
At first I thought this was a sarcastic title for an ugly iPhone look-alike!
Looks cool, but how would you physically get the silicone case on an iPhone?
Look at the bottom of the phone in the picture where the speakers are and port connector should be. You stretch the silicone and slide the phone in thru there.
oooh......silicone!
its cuz visually impaired people want others to see them as cool. haha get it.jk, this is not a good idea at all.
and to the dude who is mad that enagdget favors the iphone, just go play with your damn g1 and shut up because the g1 as a phone will never be better then the iphone no matter how much you sit there waiting for developers to make apps for android.
- An ex g1 owner/returner now iphone owner.
@Civilian
I forgot to mention that I also own an iPhone, BB (curve), and a bunch of Windows phones. For the record I favor Windows Mobile (unrivaled versatility, even you can't argue that).
My iPhone is perfect, it keeps my 4 year old nefew busy when my family visits me. For me, I'm a systems admin, the iPhone doesen't meet my needs. BBs are simple, but limited. G1 shows a lot of promise. WM shows it's age but you can't compromise MS Office, RDP, and Packet Sniffing.
Great idea! Next we can take a hopped-up Corvette and adapt the controls for the blind! That way they can drive to the ATMs that have braille on them.
it doesnt matter mclovin, your g1 isnt going to make it anyway . The promise is fading. at least you can use it for your needs though.
This is fantastic. I'm no apple fanboy, but I just got got my iphone a couple days ago and have been setting it up with software and playing with it nonstop. I think I'm going blind looking at that tiny fucking screen. I need this.
I am partially sighted, have used a number of phones including a Blackberry, but I purchased the iPhone for the following reasons:
High contrast display
Large display area
Some applications have adjustable fixed fonts
Web browsing and supported apps have 'stretchable' fonts
The iPhone represents an opportunity for developers to produce applications with 'Universal Access' in mind
Apple has signalled its intentions to work closely in this area with the recently announced 'Voice-over" support for iTunes. More will follow soon..
So, it's not just about the iPhone as it is now, but also about what it could be with further development and OS releases.
.......find me a phone that has represented that much opportunity for partially sighted or blind people in the past
Some of you clearly have NO IDEA what it is like to be 'blind' or 'Handicapped' as a few idiots chose to put it - not everybody who has a sight impairment is 'completely blind'. Completely blind people are in the minority amongst those with sight problems. To those of you who simply say "don't get an iPhone" I ask why not???? and what sort of statement is that!! Am I not entitled to want email in my pocket, sync my calendar and address books with my Phone and browse the web for important info on the run????..........can't do any of that with a standard clamshell very easily.
...did I also mention that the iPod and the iPhone have created unparalleled opportunities for 'blind' people to have access to extensive collectioins of Audio books and learning materials such as lectures through iTunes and iTunes-U??
Full credit to the guy that is at least having a go at developing something to assist people to use technology........
Cheers
You claim to be partially sighted and buy a device with a freaking 3 inch screen for web browsing... you are either lying or a fool.
I know, harsh words, but that's the way of the internet isn't it? Sorry about that.
@Siriosys, mate, I'm in exactly the same position. I use a white cane and needed a phone with a large screen for email and I love my iPhone, indeed I got mine for EXACTLY the same reasons as you,
@Wwhat, 'the way of the internet'??? That's no excuse for ignorance and throwing insults! Who are you to tell me, a visually impaired person (or Siriosys for that matter), what kind of phone I should and should not use? The iPhone might not do everything and make tea but the multi touch lets me enlarge my email, the iPod lets me listen to music and audio-books and even enlarge websites. When I'm out of the office - I'm a journalist - it's a god-send!
Most people seem to think that blind means that literally, it doesn't. Different people have different conditions but technology has made our lives that bit easier and I will be keeping my eye on this chap as at least he's trying to adapt existing tech rather than going the normal way of creating new clunky equipment solely for use by blind or visually impaired people.
Wouldn't work. Unless you glued the silicone to the screen of the phone, the capacitive touch sensing wouldn't function. Try putting a piece of clear plastic over your iPhone and using it.
This is one reason that these "concepts" are a waste of time.