Silicone Touch: an iPhone case for the visually impaired
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted December 1st 2008 4:58PM
posted December 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]
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.