5 Inventions You Didn't Know Started as Assistive Technology
Assistive technology has played a vital role in society for centuries. In fact, many things we view today as ubiquitous have origins as pieces of assistive technology. With this in mind, we thought we'd take a look back at 5 notable pieces of assistive tech you might not know are assistive tech.
#1: The Typewriter
According to some recounts, the first ever typewriter was a piece of assistive technology. Pellegrino Turri, an Italian nobleman and skilled inventor, was trying to find a means for his blind friend, the Countess Carolina Fantoni da Fivizzano, to write with ease. After some ideation, he settled on a design close in line to the typewriters we use today.
It's unlikely that Mr. Turri knew the impact the device he made for the Countess would have on our day-to-day lives. In the moment, he just wanted to help his friend. In practice, he may have changed the flow of history.
#2: Audiobooks
In 1931, The American Foundation for the Blind and the Library of Congress Book for the Blind Project came together to establish a "talking book" program. The goal was to make books accessible for readers with blindness. After multiple years of tests, the first audiobooks were made and released, helping bring the joy of literacy to a wider audience.
The concept developed from there, with several manufacturers and major publishers jumping on board. Today, audiobooks play a part in many of our morning commutes and late-night relaxation sessions. Programs such as Audible have carved out a successful niche selling audiobook subscriptions.
#3: Word Prediction Software
While commonplace in many phone keyboards today, word prediction software was initially created to help users with disabilities type faster. Our team at Quillsoft developed the possibilities of word prediction software further with our first WordQ offering. WordQ today still retains word prediction but further innovations including ThoughtQ topic predictions, abbreviation expansion, topic lists and speech-to-text functionality have been added over the years.
Want to see all of the newest features for yourself? Visit quillsoft.ca for more information and a free trial!
#4: The Electric Toothbrush
In the late 1930s, Tomlinson Moseley filed a patent for the original electric toothbrush. His reasoning for creating the product: to help individuals who may not enjoy brushing due to their motor skill levels as well as those with braces. Yes, the first electric toothbrush was designed as a piece of assistive technology first and foremost.
The product was successful and grew in notoriety from there. Today, the electric toothbrush is a ubiquitous part of many mornings.
#5: Fidget Spinners
2017's hottest toy was designed to be anything but. Initially designed to help individuals with autism and anxiety, the fidget spinner is to be used to help reduce stress. A simple but elegant design, the fidget spinner is designed to spin along its axis when pressure is applied.
Although its time in the mainstream limelight was short lived, many people within the intended target audience and beyond enjoy the device, including the author of this article.