Tales from the MIT Tech Review

Anyone interested in technology in general [and cutting edge stuff in particular] and who likes their news about such things nicely wrapped and visually appealing should check out the MIT Tech Review which is available as a website, eMail every couple of days, RSS feed and good old fashioned monthly magazine. Just in the past few months there have been numerous articles thathave caught my attention as they have a disability or access technology bent -- or they are just cool! -- as in today's eMail update with A Tool Worthy of Batman's Utility Belt: A small, powerful rope-climbing device that can carry 250 pounds at a top speed of 10 feet per second. That means that a rescue worker, or soldier, with gear can climb up 30 stories in 30 seconds. Gym class will never be the same.

Next up is an article about Pocket Projectors. This is microprojector technology that could let handheld gadgets like mobile phones and iPods display big pictures. We're not talking about big screen movies here, but imagine the possibilities of someone with low vision being able to project blackberry sized images onto a wall or table top for reading. Combine the visual enhancement with a pocket screenreader and you could provide amazing access.

As the gadgets get smaller and our lives more mobile, how we use the technology -- especially in areas such as communication -- changes along with it. Perhaps we got a glimpse of this with the CB shorthand of the 1970's. That was not widespread enough (or long lasting) to have much of an impact -- aside from forgettable pop culture. Much more entrenched in our society today is the use of text messaging (IM) shorthand and some scholars are worried about how it is degrading literacy among the next generation.

For those trying to get a handle on the whole Vista versus OSX debate - I recommend the review(s) available through the MIT Tech Review. If you want to read what others have to say - and perhaps chime in yourself - check out the lengthy comments on attched to this post.

An article about research into how machines hear touches upon how humans hear. This goes beyond mere speech input and perhaps involves synching computer+robot vision with the ability to interpret aural signals. Visually, the Tech Review recently had an article on how programmers are trying to keep disability access up to date with the Web's dynamic advances. What else would you expect from the good people of MIT. Of course, at athe same time the folks at the WWW3C are working ot make the web both beautiful and accessible, MIT has not forgotten that all aspects of universal design can be stylish.