Is Amazon Going to Announce a HIPAA-compliant Echo Device Soon?
/There is a rumor out there that Amazon is about to launch a HIPAA-compliant Echo device, which is expected to drive greater adoption of voice in healthcare. But what does it mean for a smart speaker to become HIPAA compliant and what can voice do today?
Read MoreNIH Integrates Fitbit Data into “All of Us” Research Program
/Participants in the All of Us research program can now add their Fitbit data to their health data profiles.
Read MoreSmart glasses for the hard of hearing are changing theater in London
/When my Aunt Nicki visits me in London, we avoid musical theater and the cinema.
Aunt Nicki is hard of hearing. Although there are many enhanced listening devices available to help her, such as an Assistive Living amplifier or a closed captioning screen that sits in a cup holder, she tells me they don't work well enough.
Read MoreTechnology: unlocking opportunities for disabled people in 2019
/Technology has presented us with the power to transform the way we live and work, particularly providing life-changing opportunities for disabled people.
Read MoreSmart cities could be lousy to live in if you have a disability
/Cities sometimes fail to make sure the technologies they adopt are accessible to everyone. Activists and startups are working to change that.
Read MoreHey Bixby, control my new Samsung TV, fridge -- and robot from CES 2019
/Pretty soon, you won't be able to avoid Samsung's digital assistant when you use one of its devices.
Read MoreOmron's smartwatch blood pressure monitor cleared by FDA, launches in January
/The HeartGuide watch uses a flexible synthetic band to inflate and maintain its shape to comfortably take an oscillometric wrist blood pressure on the fly.
Microsoft adds a digital health feature to its Android launcher
/Microsoft is adding its own digital health feature to its Android launcher app. While Google has added a similar feature to Android Pie, Microsoft’s Launcher will let any Android users access the ability to track how long apps are being used for. You can track screen time, app usage, and even the amount of times you’ve unlocked your phone. Microsoft Launcher is supported on Android 4.2 and above, so it opens the digital health feature up to a lot of Android users.
Read MoreWhy did it take Instagram so long to add features for visually impaired people?
/Instagram announced on Wednesday, in a short company blog post, that it would make the app more accessible to the visually impaired.
Read MoreInstagram is now using AI to describe photos for users with visual impairments
/Instagram announced today that it’s rolling out new features that will make the app easier to use for people with visual impairments. The changes will allow screen readers to describe photos, either automatically using AI or by reading custom descriptions added by users.
Read MoreAlphabet's Verily Halts Diabetes-Detecting Contact Lens Project
/Alphabet Inc.’s experimental medical technology unit Verily halted one of its longest-running projects on Friday: the development of a contact lens that measures glucose levels of people with diabetes.
Read MoreApple Watch Heart Study With Stanford Signs Up 400,000 People
/More than 400,000 people have signed up for a Stanford University study being sponsored by Apple Inc. to examine whether Apple Watch can detect patients with undiagnosed heart rhythm problems, one of the largest heart screening studies ever to be conducted.
Read MoreStarship’s robots can now deliver packages, too
/Starship Technologies, the maker of autonomous six-wheeled robots that carry groceries or even a hot meal straight to your home, is expanding into the world of package delivery.
Read MoreMicrosoft's Nadella Says AI Can make the World More Inclusive
/Talk of articial intelligence often leads to speculation about how machines may displace workers. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella thinks we should talk more about how AI algorithms can expand the workforce now—by helping people with disabilities.
Read MoreAlexa is a terrible doctor
/We become accustomed to technology so quickly, it’s easy to forget that Amazon’s Alexa was a pioneer just six years ago.
Read MoreHow to Find Google's New Built-In Breathing Exercise
/The TechWatch editors have selected this news item because it is analogous to our LiveWell development project BreatheWell Wear. We hope you can try out both BreatheWell Wear and Google's web-based breathing exercise.
Read MoreThe Eye Doctor Who Could Not See the Stars
/For many years, Dr Andrew Bastawrous could not see clearly enough to spot the leaves on trees or the stars in the sky.
Xbox Adaptive Controller to Improve the Gaming Experience for People with Disabilities
/This September, Xbox will release a new video game controller that has been developed intentionally for people with limited mobility. For those with physical impairments, the standard controllers that come with an Xbox can be impossible to use. Because of this, Xbox has designed a controller that includes ports for a multitude of other devices such as switches, specially made joy sticks, and foot controllers. They advertise that the adaptive controller will include “"Nineteen 3.5mm ports and two USB 2.0 ports for external inputs. One 3.5mm stereo headset jack for audio." Xbox is also selling other accessories such as wheelchair mounts and leg mounts.
Read MoreCongressional Record Announcement regarding the NIDILRR 40th Anniversary
/Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, on behalf of millions of people with disabilities, today I wish to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, NIDILRR, and its 40 years of accomplishments and contributions to the lives of people with disabilities.
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