“What would you do if you had to live without your smartphone?”.
Think about it.
This question asks one to step outside ones’ comfort zone, as many people will confess that the first thing they do in the morning is to check their social media – before they even brush their teeth.
Sesame Enable, which is an Israeli startup, aims to bring touch-free technology to smart devices, to give people with disabilities the opportunity to read, play games, search the web and make calls without the need for touch.
According to Sesame Enable, “touchscreens have changed the way we interact with technology, but for a wide number of people with disabilities, such as those suffering from paralysis, they are still inaccessible.”
Lowvelder’s much loved inspirational speaker and blogger, Tracy Todd, features in a video compliation where the team at Indiegogo interview various able-bodied individuals if they could live without their smartphone. They then ask disabled persons what they would do if they could use a smartphone.
Tracy is quadriplegic. She was involved in a horrific accident in 1998, which left her paralysed from the neck down. In a series of blogs posted on this website, she documents her life as a quadriplegic, who is in need of constant assistance from a dedicated care-assistant.
She was approached by CEO of Sesame Enable, Oded Bendov, who propositioned her in making an appearance in the video.
Speaking to Lowvelder, an excited Tracy relates her anticipation for the new touch-free phone. “I can’t wait to be able to make a phonecall independently and privately. People take for granted those little things, such as being able to use your phone, so I’m very excited about this idea”.
As we all know, 2014 has been hailed as the year of the selfie. As millions of social media ”addicts” take to posting their faces on various social media platforms; the “duck-lips pouting selfie”, the “bathroom selfie”, the ‘”what-I-wore-today” selfie, the “I ordered-expensive-food-selfie”, the “humble-brag selfie”.
We have seen them all.
As much as this “fad” has seemingly forced its way into every crevice of our social media lives, not eveyone has been able to join in the tom-foolery. Well, it seems all that is about to change with the new, revolutionary touch-free technology device.
When asked: “What is the one other thing you can’t wait to do on your own with this new ‘no-touch’ device”, her excitement is infectious; “I can’t wait to take my own selfie!”, she says laughing.
Although the Sesame Enable no-touch technology device is yet to be launched, and is still in its trial phase, one of the many things which can be applauded with this project is the development teams’ recognition of breaking into a niche market which is otherwised usually overlooked.
Rumoured to retail at approximately $499,00 once launched, that amounts to R 5 590,00 in South African currency – the Sesame no-touch phone can be said to be reasonably priced in comparison to other mobile devices competing in a similar smartphone market.
The disabled community will be able to use the phone, which offers them a long-awaited independence and freedom.
Read more about this new technology here.
Watch the video below to see how this device works:
Click here to listen to a podcast of Tracy Todd speaking about her condition on RSG:
Jacqui January gesels met Tracy Todd, n vrou wat gestremd is, maar voorwaar ‘n rolmodel vir almal kan wees.
Audio clip supplied by RSG.
