Latest news with #assistivetechnology
Wall Street Journal
13 hours ago
- Wall Street Journal
Eyeglasses With Built-In Hearing Aids: This Just Makes Sense
These aren't just any specs. They're eyeglasses with hearing aids built in, designed for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. Look closely and you'll see tiny speakers in the arms and microphones around the front. The $1,200 Nuance Audio frames, which launched in the U.S. in April, join Apple's AirPods Pro 2 as an auditory option for people who don't want traditional hearing aids. Some find hearing aids uncomfortable, or even stigmatizing. In this eyewear, made by Ray-Ban parent EssilorLuxottica EL 0.21%increase; green up pointing triangle, the tech is practically invisible.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
How Assistive Technologies Are Transforming The Workplace
Adding to that focus is the range of programs and incentives designed to help recipients of Social ... More Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) reenter the workforce. The Social Security Administration's (SSA) Ticket to Work Program, along with SSA-authorized Employment Networks (EN) and state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies, provides support; empowering individuals to return to work while protecting their benefits. The number of people with disabilities returning to the workplace has been steadily increasing over the last 10 years. This has brought greater focus to both job seeking and maintaining employment, with great strides made in both areas. Adding to that focus is the range of programs and incentives designed to help recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) reenter the workforce. The Social Security Administration's (SSA) Ticket to Work Program, along with SSA-authorized Employment Networks (EN) and state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies, provides support; empowering individuals to return to work while protecting their benefits. This increase has also brought greater focus to assistive technology. As demand has grown, a wider range of equipment and software has become available to maintain or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities. Advancements in technology have changed what is possible, supporting individuals as they reestablish themselves, thrive in the workplace, participate more fully in the economy and work toward greater financial stability. Increasing Potential By Meeting Needs Beyond mobility assistance, assistive technology has evolved to address sensory, cognitive and neurodiverse needs. A wider range of purpose-built tools is now available for individuals with visual and hearing impairments, such as screen magnifiers, screen readers or real-time captioning. Additionally, applications designed for dyslexia or reading/writing disabilities help bridge the gaps in expression, communication and interacting with information. These technologies offer alternative ways for individuals to engage with tasks and environments that might otherwise present barriers. By minimizing barriers related to traditional productivity standards, assistive tools can empower people to perform at their full potential. More Tools For More Tasks Assistive technology has expanded significantly into the software space, with many systems designed specifically for users with disabilities, such as speech-to-text programs, screen readers and accessible apps. Even mainstream technologies are being adapted for assistive use; for example, noise-canceling headphones can help individuals with sensory sensitivities improve focus, and adjustable lighting can reduce sensory overload. Ergonomics have grown in popularity, with an increased focus on meeting physical needs evident in the rise of ergonomic desks, chairs and workstation accessories. The availability and variety of adaptive keyboards, trackballs, joystick mice and touchpads have increased significantly compared to a decade ago. Growth That Benefits Everyone The benefits of assistive technology used to be understood as solely realized by the individual using them. In fact, their value extends to businesses, consumers and the greater workforce. The benefits for businesses are substantial when investment is made in assistive technology. Productivity rises when focused attention on business needs replaces distraction, limitations and reduced participation. Additionally, assistive technology can lead to lower absenteeism and higher employee retention, both major points of cost for most companies. Workplace culture benefits as well. People with disabilities are generally regarded to be more productive, possess higher creativity and problem solving skills (tied to meeting the challenges of living with a disability) and have less turnover. Adding more of these traits into the work environment increases their representation, raising standards throughout the working population. Co-workers benefit directly from that influence, elevating their own performance while businesses realize stronger, more dynamic teams. The growth of assistive technology has contributed to creating more inclusive and user-friendly workspaces for everyone, not just people with disabilities. There are workplaces that view assistive technology not just as a tool for people with disabilities, but as a resource that can benefit anyone seeking to improve their work performance. Engaging With More Opportunity The rise of assistive technology has widened the playing field, creating more ways for people to engage, participate, contribute – and grow. Combined with programs like Ticket to Work and the support of ENs and VR agencies, individuals with disabilities have more opportunities than ever, and the economy at large continues to realize gains across the board.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Robotic Pet Company Tombot Secures $6.1M Series A Funding to Support Groundbreaking Health and Senior Care Product Line
LOS ANGELES, June 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tombot, the robotics company that earned widespread acclaim at CES earlier this year for its lifelike robotic puppy, Jennie, announced today the successful close—and oversubscription—of its $6.1 million Series A funding round. "Tombot is entering a high-demand, underserved market at the intersection of mental health and assistive technology," said Tombot CEO and Co-Founder Tom Stevens. "Over 300 million seniors around the world with dementia and mild cognitive impairment are unable to care for a live animal at a time when they need the companionship of a pet more than ever. Millions of other individuals suffering from mental health adversities are in a similar predicament." With artistic design by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, and developed with the guidance of clinical experts, patients, and their families, Jennie provides many of the health benefits associated with live animal ownership, such as reduced stress and loneliness. Jennie will be used in private homes, assisted living and memory care communities, and other settings where live animals are not always safe or practical. Covered with sensors to respond to touch, voice commands, movement, and other sensory inputs, Jennie is rechargeable, fully cleanable, and comes with an optional caregiver app to customize behaviors and ease the burden of caregiving. With participation from both new and existing investors, the funding round was led by Caduceus Capital Partners, a Nashville-based team of veteran healthcare investors with a primary emphasis on accelerating growth of early-stage digital health startups. "We identified the growing need for robotic companions several years ago and believe the market is now on the brink of exponential expansion," said Dave Vreeland, senior managing partner, Caduceus Capital Partners. "By 2030, the U.S. is projected to have 73 million seniors – an aging population that will increasingly face challenges related to loneliness, companionship, and chronic disease management. These issues are rapidly surpassing the capacity of human caregivers alone. Tombot is uniquely positioned to lead this emerging sector and drive widespread adoption of robotic companions." "This investment will be rocket fuel for Tombot," said Stevens. "We are most appreciative of our company's Board of Directors for their ongoing guidance, and are especially grateful to Caduceus for recognizing and supporting Tombot's mission of creating robotic animals that transform the daily lives of individuals, families, and communities facing health adversities." According to Stevens, this milestone investment will be used to expand Tombot's team, finalize engineering, complete regulatory and safety certifications, and prepare its first robotic pet for customer shipments to its more than 16,000 pre-order and waitlist customers. About Tombot Tombot, Inc., established in 2017, designs realistic robotic companion animals for individuals unable to safely or practically care for a live animal. After Tom Stevens' own mother's progressive dementia necessitated the rehoming of her beloved pet dog for safety reasons, Tom launched Tombot. Tombot's flagship product, Jennie, was designed specifically to treat the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD). The Tombot founding team built a prior startup into one of the world's largest legal automation companies and was successfully acquired. View source version on Contacts Media Contacts: Brotman•Winter•Fried Consulting Laura Runcielaura@ (201)707-9372 Steve Winterswinter@ (202) 468-8100
CBS News
12-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
UC Davis breakthrough lets ALS patient speak using only his thoughts
Allowing people with disabilities to talk by just thinking about a word, that's what UC Davis researchers hope to accomplish with new cutting-edge technology. It can be a breakthrough for people with ALS and other nonverbal conditions. One UC Davis Health patient has been diagnosed with ALS, a neurological disease that makes it impossible to speak out loud. Scientists have now directly wired his brain into a computer, allowing him to speak through it using only his thoughts. "It has been very exciting to see the system work," said Maitreyee Wairagkar, a UC Davis neuroprosthetics lab project scientist. The technology involves surgically implanting small electrodes. Artificial intelligence can then translate the neural activity into words. UC Davis researchers say it took the patient, who's not being publicly named, very little time to learn the technology. "Within 30 minutes, he was able to use this system to speak with a restricted vocabulary," Wairagkar said. It takes just milliseconds for brain waves to be interpreted by the computer, making it possible to hold a real-time conversation. "[The patient] has said that the voice that is synthesized with the system sounds like his own voice and that makes him happy," Wairagkar said. And it's not just words. The technology can even be used to sing. "These are just very simple melodies that we designed to see whether the system can capture his intention to change the pitch," Wairagkar said. Previously, ALS patients would use muscle or eye movements to type on a computer and generate a synthesized voice. That's how physicist Stephen Hawking, who also had ALS, was able to slowly speak. This new technology is faster but has only been used on one patient so far. Now, there's hope that these microchip implants could one day help other people with spinal cord and brain stem injuries. "There are millions of people around the world who live with speech disabilities," Wairagkar said. The UC Davis scientific study was just published in the journal "Nature," and researchers are looking for other volunteers to participate in the program.
Irish Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
How an Irish firm is using AI to make websites accessible to people with a disability
Kyran O'Mahoney comes from a computer science background and, during a career spanning 20 years, he has held senior technical roles with some of the biggest names in Irish business including Ryanair, Dunnes Stores and AIB. In 2024, O'Mahoney took the plunge into entrepreneurship and, with €2 million in private backing, set up software company Nexus Inclusion to improve digital world accessibility for people of all abilities. Those without a disability take the navigation of digital tools, such as websites, for granted. But for those with visual or motor impairment, for example, it can be quite a challenge if the selection tabs are not in the right order, there are glitches with the payment process or a site requires a mouse to operate the controls. O'Mahoney completely understands the frustration and exclusion this causes. He is significantly visually impaired and has negotiated an often unfriendly digital world with less than 17 per cent vision. READ MORE As things stand, he says fewer than 5 per cent of the top million websites globally are accessible to people with disabilities. 'Learning to use technology transformed my world as a young person. Technology was an enabler and a game-changer but most people with a disability are not afforded the same opportunity,' he says. 'I want technology to transform lives and AI is taking the possibilities to a new level. 'People with disabilities don't want to be accommodated. They want to be included,' he says. In a nutshell Nexus Inclusion's technology can identify anomalies, missing tabs and other accessibility glitches across the digital product spectrum. However, unlike existing systems that only identify the problem and recommend remediation, the Co-Pilot tool will analyse the issue, show a business exactly where it is exposed and spell out the best solution – for example, adding an extra line of code to ensure sizing and colour choices flow smoothly. Problems with digital channels are not isolated. O'Mahoney says they affect up to 80 per cent of ecommerce sites in Ireland. 'AI has allowed us to develop a ground-breaking solution to make the world more digitally inclusive and our first-of-its-kind SaaS platform – powered by GenAI (generative artificial intelligence) – can analyse digital accessibility across websites, images, videos, audio, social media channels and content on any digital platform,' he says. 'The Nexus Inclusion tools are built to cover the full product development life cycle, supporting designs, developers, content managers and executives.' As things stand, fewer than 5 per cent of the top million websites globally are accessible to people with disabilities — Kyran O'Mahoney The company's B2B solution is aimed at organisations of all sizes that want to build digital inclusion into their products or services from the get-go and comply with upcoming legislation. 'The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines compliance standards are a set of guidelines established by the World Wide Web Consortium to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities. In practice, this means that all businesses trading in Europe are required to have a digitally accessible product from this month,' O'Mahoney explains. [ Businesses run risk of legal action under new digital accessibility rules Opens in new window ] His prime commitment is to inclusivity and this extends to the company's pricing, which starts at €49 a month for small enterprises. The Co-Pilot tool will be officially launched later this month and the company's team of seven (which includes seasoned IT executive Eric Neville and Jonathan Sinden, the former head of user experience at Bank of Ireland) is set to grow to 30 by the end of 2026. Unusually, Nexus didn't have a MPV (minimum viable product) when it went looking for investment. Despite this, the money flowed in 'largely because everyone knows someone who struggles with technology for whatever reason and the concept resonated with them', O'Mahoney says. Dublin LEO got things going with a feasibility grant and once O'Mahoney pushed the 'go' button, the launch product was developed in a rapid five months. 'This is only the beginning,' he says. 'It will take us about three years to build out the complete vision for Nexus Inclusion.'
