Cool...and Not-So-Cool Products for People with Disabilities

I was wandering around the Internet and came across some inventions and products that I thought were cool....and a few that weren't.

Cool

1. Credit Card for the Blind: Interactive Braille display as well as audio to tell you what's being purchased. Fingerprint I.D. instead of signature. - Good idea! Feel the braille for the purchase list and prices while scanning so no one scams you out of a purchase.

2. Subtitle Glasses for Deaf Moviegoers:The glasses projects the text onto the bottom edge of the glasses to read while watching the movie. - Wonder if these are better than the Rear Window "screens" present in some theaters now? I cannot use those for the text is too small for me.

3. kReader Mobile: The blind person can take a picture of any paper with their cell phone and the App will read it aloud to them. - Great idea, if you can understand spoken language.

4. Tank Chair: A rugged wheelchair that can go anywhere. In the field, snow, down some stairs, and rocky areas. - Great for the outdoors person!

5. Videogame Controller for Disabled: Lets you play with your eyes! LED lights reflect off your eyes and controls the game or mouse. - Great idea! Except for those with Astigmatism LOL.

Not Cool

1. Wearable Cat Ears - Cat ears react to wearer's emotions by reading brainwaves. "the mentally disabled could use these ears to communicate their feelings without facing misunderstanding". - Sorry I'd be misunderstanding you 'cuz I'd be laughing too hard.

2. Wasabi Fire Alarm - Fire alarm that sprays Wasabi "perfume" to wake people. - Sure...burn some toast and now the house stinks and your eyes are watering.

3. Voice to Text Glasses: Read what people are saying to you. Built in microphone and a speech to text program flashes text across the glasses for you to read. - Good concept....but have you SEEN speech to text programs?? (Just turn on the "transcribe video" option on any YouTube video and you'll know what I mean).

3. Honda's Walking Assist Device: For people with weak legs and have a hard time walking. Provides up to 2 hours of walking on a single battery charge. - Can just see the responses now "You want me to strap THAT on my ass?"

4.Talking Glove: An electric glove that can translate ASL gestures into spoken words or text. - For the same reason I don't like the speech to text programs. It's not going to be accurate at all.

5. Camera for Blind: Snap a "photo" and the camera records a 3 second soundbite and displays the photo on a tactile screen to feel the 3D shape of what you took. - Interesting but no...just no.

Makes me wonder if these inventors have consulted with various groups for their input on what they "really" need hmm??