Courtney Meyer
Forget to take your daily medication? Want to record a lecture in class? Want to learn sign language or Braille? There's an app for that. All of that.
But not all of the people who design apps could anticipate how a little creativity has led them to be used. In many ways, applications and assistive technology have maximized the opportunities of individuals with a variety of disabilities, whether the user experiences generalized anxiety disorder or is hard of hearing.
Individuals who are blind or visually impaired applaud that screen readers are increasingly being built into Apple and Android phones. Those keen to know the latest economic or political developments around the world may benefit from apps that allow them to listen to news online (in many languages) using an app from Radio France Internationale or by downloading a podcast from BBC News.
The FourSquare app could even tell you what types of stores and restaurants are around your current location. Should you need to purchase something, you might scan and read which bills in your wallet. There are even apps to magnify items using your phone's camera or interpret colors for those with fading eyesight or color blindness.
Those who are deaf or hard of hearing could use the mobile version of Skype, or Purple Communications to make phone or video phone calls. Or you might use a sound amplification app to amplify lectures, conversations, and television shows.
Whether the concern is not being able to interpret what you picked off of the shelf, or ensuring you eat as healthily as possible, trips to the grocery store may be eased by using the Fooducate app to scan the barcode of the food to identify how many calories the item has, and whether there are healthy alternatives. Need to count calories, lose weight, or pay attention to the nutrients you take in? There are apps for that, too.
Smartphones even deliver apps to help individuals organize their time, with the most recognizable likely being the personal assistant Siri for the iPhone. But there are also apps to keep you on task, or remind you of deadlines and scheduled classes. Evernote can help you take notes, stay organized, and improve your productivity.
Anyone battling stress or anxiety might benefit from exercise or yoga; a plethora of apps that allow the exercise to be focused on particular aspects of one's body. If anxiety keeps you up at night, try using an app to help you sleep better.
Those with mobility disabilities aiming to find a parking spot can use an app to find spaces, or if their dexterity is limited, they can pre-program a phone so that it can be shaken a given number of times to reach specified individuals.
If a learning disability makes it difficult for you to spell words accurately, use an app to check your spelling, or an electronic reader app like Kindle, AudioBooks, or Blio or access an online library via Go Read that has a text-to-speech capability.
Technology has made the world seem smaller and more connected. But increasingly, technology reduces obstacles and made adaptability for individuals with disabilities easier.
Although there is a robust list of technologies available, they are ever-changing. To better serve the MSU community on an individualized basis, the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities' Assistive Technology Center has staff ready to help. Visit them to learn more about the most recent technologies and apps that may assist you.