Cell Phone Adaptability

Often, when people think about cell phone accessibility, they think that if the phone has voice activation or recognition features, then its accessible.  Unfortunately, often a small button is required to initiate these voice features.  What is the user to do if they cannot access this button?


Switch Accessibility:

Through various hardware options, a switch can be added to a bluetooth for access.

The picture above shows an example of a switch adapted bluetooth.  Any ability switch can be plugged into the switch port.  The user would then access the switch (with the strongest area of their body) to answer a call, hang up a call, or dial (using the voice commands).  This eliminates the need to hit the small bluetooth button for voice command use.  It can also work fairly well with the Siri features of the iPhone 4S, for writing text messages and emails.

Voice Activation:

There are options with hardware that will enable full voice activation, without the requirement of pressing buttons.  

Through the use of voice commands, the user can dial and answer calls.  This device is a speakerphone which would limit the privacy for the user but still can enable independence.  The original intent for this device was for hands free calling when in a car but it can be adaptable for many individuals.

The thing to remember about all voice activated devices that they can never be 100% accurate.  These are devices, not people.  They cannot interpret what the user means if they say the wrong word or name.  Furthermore, if there is background noise it can affect the accuracy of the device.  

These devices can be very important to facilitate independence for individuals with varying disabilities.