A Market for Multimodal Devices
New technologies and innovations are emerging all the time. The new aural, visual, and even tactile communication affordances of the multimodal devices in use today continue to gain popularity and widespread integration. Users create a demand that fuels an expectation; we expect our tools to make our lives easier and open new possibilities—in our work and play. With this consumer market for multimodality, the mainstream public are not the only ones to benefit from these advances.
Google Glass: A Tool for the Blind
Audio and tactile multimodal devices and technologies act as a gateway to greater independence for the blind and visually impaired community, a community that currently stands over 25 million Americans strong. While Google Glass has been met with enthusiasm by this community, the beta version is meant to be an initial building block on which additional hardwares, softwares, and applications can be developed. In this short book, I would like to explore the concept of multimodality, its impact society, and how Google Glass, as a multimodal device, might be developed to further benefit the blind and visually impaired community. Google Glass creates a unique market opportunity for the development of these new softwares, hardwares, and applications that stand to significantly improve the lives of many individuals.
"You see more blind persons today walking alone, not because there are more of us, but because we have learned to make our own way."
-National Federation of the Blind
New technologies and innovations are emerging all the time. The new aural, visual, and even tactile communication affordances of the multimodal devices in use today continue to gain popularity and widespread integration. Users create a demand that fuels an expectation; we expect our tools to make our lives easier and open new possibilities—in our work and play. With this consumer market for multimodality, the mainstream public are not the only ones to benefit from these advances.
Google Glass: A Tool for the Blind
Audio and tactile multimodal devices and technologies act as a gateway to greater independence for the blind and visually impaired community, a community that currently stands over 25 million Americans strong. While Google Glass has been met with enthusiasm by this community, the beta version is meant to be an initial building block on which additional hardwares, softwares, and applications can be developed. In this short book, I would like to explore the concept of multimodality, its impact society, and how Google Glass, as a multimodal device, might be developed to further benefit the blind and visually impaired community. Google Glass creates a unique market opportunity for the development of these new softwares, hardwares, and applications that stand to significantly improve the lives of many individuals.
"You see more blind persons today walking alone, not because there are more of us, but because we have learned to make our own way."
-National Federation of the Blind