Tag Archives: universal design

Xbox One and Kinect 2 Possibilities

Posted on 22 May, 2013 by UniversalDesignStyle| Comments Off

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Over the past year I’ve featured a few stories about how researchers, developers, and designers are utilizing the abilities of Kinect to help people with disabilities. Some have used the motion capture technology to allow people to control devices and play games with mere eye movement and facial expressions. Others have concepts of interpreting sign language. This week Microsoft announced and showed off the next generation Xbox One and a second generation Kinect. The improved power and innovation of these devices opens up a whole new world of possibilities.

Posted in Hearing Impairments, Mobility, New Tech, Visual Impairments

Tagged Blind, Deaf, disabilities, elderly, handicapped, Hard of Hearing, inclusive design, kinect, kinect 2, universal design, Visually Impaired, xbox one

Roll-Under Sinks by Trueform Concrete

Posted on 21 May, 2013 by UniversalDesignStyle| Comments Off

Image: Trueform Concrete

Even though the material is thousands of years old, in the past few years concrete has learned new tricks. Today it can be found being used as countertops and is flexible in its look. Colored dyes and stamped forms can make concrete look like tile, brick, and other materials. What was a very utilitarian material has turned chic. An example of this is in the making of bathroom sinks. A couple of nice looking examples of roll-under sinks are these by Trueform Concrete.

Posted in Bathroom, Stylish Products

Tagged ada compliance, ada compliant, contempo concrete sink, disabilities, handicapped, inclusive design, roll under sink, trueform concrete, universal design, wheelchair accessible bathroom

Orlando Brown House Wheelchair Ramp

Posted on 20 May, 2013 by UniversalDesignStyle| Comments Off

Image: Hawkins Construction

When it comes to restoring and modifying historic sites, there is a lot to take into consideration. Improvements need to be done while also keeping the architectural integrity of the building. Making the historic site wheelchair accessible can prove an even bigger challenge. Adding an accessible entrance to the outside without taking away from the site’s character can be difficult. But when done right, a place of history can be made accessible for all while maintaining its historic look. In Frankfort, Kentucky this has been done with the addition of a wheelchair ramp at the Orlando Brown House.

Posted in Architecture+Design, Commercial

Tagged ada compliance, ada compliant, disabilities, handicapped, inclusive design, liberty hall historic site, orlando brown house, universal design, Wheelchair Accessible, wheelchair ramp

ADA Focus: Play Areas (Scoping Requirements)

Posted on 19 May, 2013 by UniversalDesignStyle| Comments Off

240 Play Areas

240.1 General. Play areas for children ages 2 and over shall comply with 240. Where separate play areas are provided within a site for specific age groups, each play area shall comply with 240.

Posted in ADA Focus

Tagged accessible playground, ada compliance, ada compliant, ada playground, disabilities, handicapped, inclusive design, play areas, playgrounds, universal design, Wheelchair Accessible

Bad Design Style: Case #63

Posted on 17 May, 2013 by UniversalDesignStyle| Comments Off

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Alright we got a couple of problems here with this ramp. But really it’s not the ramp itself that’s the problem, it’s where it is and what’s around it. Sure there could be some improvements to the ramp but the slope looks alright, there’s a landing, and the concrete work looks good. However using it to get inside the gas station could prove challenging.

Posted in Bad Design Style

Tagged ada compliance, ada compliant, bad design, disabilities, handicapped, inaccessible ramp, inclusive design, poorly designed, universal design, wheelchair inaccessible

Wheelchair Basketball Concept for Class 1-2 Players

Posted on 16 May, 2013 by UniversalDesignStyle| Comments Off

Image: Shane Gross

For years now wheelchair basketball has been around as a sport that has grown in popularity. In fact years ago I remember watching an episode if Saved By The Bell that featured a wheelchair basketball game and a wheelchair using girl who dated Zack Morris. But I’m getting a little off subject here. Like any other sport, new and improved equipment can make the game better, safer, and more enjoyable. Designer Shane Gross of Detroit has proposed a wheelchair concept to improve the performance of Class 1-2 wheelchair basketball players.

Posted in Concept Designs, Mobility

Tagged amputee, class 1, class 2, concept wheelchair, disabilities, handicapped, inclusive design, paralyzed, paraplegic, shane gross, universal design, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair concept

3D Printed ‘Bionic’ Ear

Posted on 15 May, 2013 by UniversalDesignStyle| Comments Off

Photo by Frank Wojciechowski

Within the next few years the 3D printing revolution will be upon us. Soon business and private citizens will have 3D printers where they can print and make whatever their imagination can think of. Hopefully mostly for good and not malicious intentions. Although I’m pretty sure TLC will eventually have a show called Hoarders: 3D Printing Edition. But anyway the 3D printing era is upon us and some amazing things are being done with the technology. Things that were previously impossible to make are now being done. One thing that is being currently experimented on is a 3D printed ‘bionic’ ear by Princeton University.

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged 3d printing, bionic ear, Deaf, disabilities, handicapped, Hard of Hearing, inclusive design, new technology, princeton, universal design

Panda Mobility’s Wheelchair Accessible Trike

Posted on 14 May, 2013 by UniversalDesignStyle| Comments Off

Image: Panda Mobility

Where I live spring and warm weather has finally arrived. Which means the motorcycle owners are pulling their bikes out of storage and hitting the road. I have a few friends that are motorcycle riders and they love the freedom and open air. For wheelchair users, the options are much more limited. You can find people with custom made motorcycles and trikes but there’s not much in the way of factory made ones. But now a company out of Costa Rica named Panda Mobility is making a wheelchair accessible trike.

Posted in Assistive Technology, Stylish Products

Tagged disabilities, handicapped, inclusive design, panda mobility, universal design, Wheelchair Accessible, wheelchair accessible motorcycle, wheelchair accessible trike