Accessibility technology

This weekend in Toronto, over 50 companies are displaying the technology they’ve created to help people with disabilities.

The showcase is part of the Parapan Am games and many of the inventions on display are made to help people with physical disabilities. We checked out some of the highlights to see how technology can improve independence.

For the next three days, the mars discovery district in Toronto will house Ontario’s most cutting edge accessibility technology.

For example, tecla: a piece of high tech hardware that allows users to operate their smartphone or tablet, literally with the blink of an eye.

It automatically scrolls through options and users make selections with their prefered trigger, be it tapping, blinking or blowing.

Anyone who manages at least one consistent movement can use the device to take selfies, text, and even play angry birds.

Speaking of video games, Irex, or interactive rehabilitation and exercise system, places patients in a virtual world to make rehab exercises more enjoyable.

“The patients are highly engaged and experiencing the game and they forget that they’re rehabilitation and they’ll do it two to three times longer.” says Vincent John Vincent, CEO of GestureTrek Systems.

The video technology tracks their movement, helping doctors to monitor progress and set new goals.

Then there’s esight eyewear, a headset that allows people who are legally blind to see. without it. Yvonne Felix has lost 98% of her field vision. She can’t read or make out faces but with the device she can see clearly.

“So i get the whole picture and i have details within that central picture.”

It records her surroundings and feeds them back to her on two screens inside the goggles.

For her, and many people with disabilities, the technology on showcase this weekend is life changing.