The Newest AT Goes Mainstream Innovative Access for All Courtesy of IBM From: AT Journal, April 1, 2003 By: Julie West Featured technology and technological applications included: accessible technology that empowers and inspires. For people with mild to moderate motor control problems or limited coordination, using a keyboard and mouse to access information can be difficult. IBM is now developing research technologies to help these people access information more readily - technologies that can empower them, make them more included in the workplace. The result could be more productive employees, inspired by their company's commitment to improved access for everyone. Specific products include: ATOMIK optimizes positions of keys on a virtual keyboard according to frequency of use. It increases efficiency and productivity for one-handed typists and those not QWERTY skilled. Mouse Smoother smoothes tremor - laden mouse movements and removes many of them from cursor motion. It allows users with tremors to position cursors on smaller objects than were possible before. Keyboard Optimizer assesses the typing pattern of users. It will adjust appropriately to keyboard settings to match user's typing pattern. Self-Calibrating Head Tracker translates head movements into cursor movements through a facial movement video image. Head motions navigate the screen without requiring manually adjusted accessories. For those with dyslexia, learning disabilities and other cognitive impairments, reading and writing can often be daunting and intimidating. IBM is developing research technologies to help interpret language and make it easier to read and comprehend. These tools can reduce hurdles to writing, reading and comprehension. They can help employees perform better in their jobs, with increased confidence in their communication. The IBM Easy English Analyzer is one such product delivering this service. Other products are innovatively designed to access web information, the spoken language, personal information management, and display information for individuals seeking additional comfort and convenience options or who require adaptations because of a disability. These products include higher resolution display information called T221 Flat Panel Display. This display system provides critical visualization applications with astounding clarity and approaches photographic-quality realism. Future applications will allow users to display two images side-by-side one at an extremely high resolution - to compare a magnified version with the original for the visually impaired. This virtual process assists individuals with focusing issues. Another IBM asset is e-PIM (e-Personal Information Management) hands free access for a remote office and for individuals with mobility issues. It gives users access to e-mail, voice-mail, address book and calendar via a telephone from almost anywhere at anytime. It utilizes a natural language interface with speech recognition and speech synthesis. Read the entire story at: http://www.atnet.org/news/apr03/040102.htm Contributed by Marsha Allen