Inclusive Technologies

AOL’s AIM is one of the most popular text messaging media.  Its latest version, 6.8, offers a new feature.  Instead of typing an entire message and hitting “Enter” to send it, every character you type is sent immediately.  This makes AIM look like a TTY: more interactive, and better support for emergencies.  Real-time text is a long-standing request from the deaf community; seeing a mainstream company respond this way is a great step forward that should soon be implemented on other platforms, including mobile messaging.
AOL — Real-time text

A team of researchers has developed a screen clarifying technique especially designed to enhance the experience of viewers with macular degeneration.  Leaving aside the quality of typical TV shows, this could really benefit a lot of folks!

Bringing American Idol to the visually impaired

There’s a new device on the market that has video clips of 4500 ASL signs.  You could use it to learn ASL on the subway, or even try brief, impressionistic ASL conversations.  Perhaps.
Krowns handheld teaches you sign language

HD radio, the new digital radio technology, can carry text as well as audio.  Although designed to tell you what song you’re listening to, it obviously has other multimedia benefits.  Well, the wizards at NPR teamed up with Harris Communications and a new research center at Towson University to give us captioned radio: a simultaneous text stream accompanying talk radio’s audio.  It will not require a separate box or any additional device, since the text stream is built into HD radio’s DNA.  A look for more accessibility innovations from Towson’s ICART — the International Center on Accessible Radio Technology.

Ces 2008: First Ever Closed-Captioned HD Radio for the Deaf Launched By NPR, Harris and Towson University