He then lowered his fists, extended his thumbs and little fingers, and moved them up and down by his chest, as though milking a cow. Finally, he laid the fingers of one hand flat on his chin and flexed his wrist forward. Hartwell, who has no hearing problems, had just used BSL, British Sign Language, to order his morning latte with normal milk at the deaf-run Dialogue Cafe, based at the University of East London.
We're living through a strange moment where our refrigerators are smarter than ever, our thermostats learn our habits, and now, apparently, dogs can control household appliances. The Dogosophy Button, developed by researchers at The Open University's Animal-Computer Interaction Laboratory, is a wireless switch designed specifically for canine use. Think of it as a smart home device, but instead of asking Alexa, you're teaching your golden retriever.
Some blind and low-vision fans will have unprecedented access to the Super Bowl thanks to a tactile device that tracks the ball, vibrates on key plays and provides real-time audio. The NFL teamed up with OneCourt and Ticketmaster to pilot the game-enhancing experience 15 times during the regular-season during games hosted by the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings.
Without the motorized assistive device, an electronic wheel that attaches to the back of her chair, Berg says she has trouble maneuvering up hills or on uneven terrain, meaning the 55-year-old has been virtually housebound for months. "I'm ecstatic to get it back, but I also feel kind of battle-weary," Berg told CBC Toronto. "Why did it have to be like this? I'm exhausted by this three-month process."
I was able to take the Sidekick for a spin around the CES showfloor and it was a truly surprising sensation. The best way I can describe walking with the Sidekick powered on is that with every step forward there's a noticeable upward push from under your heel. It wasn't enough to throw me off balance, but it did feel a bit strange.
French startup WheelMove demonstrated a compact motorized wheelchair add-on at CES 2026 that not only acts as a power-assist device, but can also lift up a chair's small front wheels so it can ride over rough terrain. The accessory upgrades a manual wheelchair with a 10-inch extra wheel and a 250W motor that can drive at up to six miles per hour (10 kilometers per hour) and handle slopes up to 10 percent, with a range of 15.5 miles (25km).
Digital equity in education ensures every student has access to the same digital resources and opportunities. Inclusive smart classroom technology embodies this principle by accommodating diverse learning needs. These tools enable all students, regardless of ability or background, to benefit from technology. Smart boards, for instance, can serve as assistive classroom technology, allowing students with disabilities to engage more fully.
Mobile shopping has been growing steadily for years, but this season marks a significant shift: For many shoppers, especially younger consumers, the phone is now the primary way they browse, compare prices, and make purchases. Retailers that rely heavily on desktop experiences or assume customers will switch devices to complete a purchase may find themselves falling behind. Yet, even as mobile traffic rises, many mobile websites and apps still present barriers that prevent people from completing a purchase.
Essesi Design Studio designs Nimble, a concept have lost. It uses a modular 3D printed prosthetic fin that can help athletic amputees swim again. An attachable technology, the assistive object replaces the foot and lower leg that userscarbon fiber for the shell, and inside this main body sits a lattice structure made of rubber material. This part bends during movement, so in this case, when the swimmer kicks, the lattice structure flexes, creating thrust that moves them forward through water.
In Australia, the federal government currently commits around about a $100 billion per year to disability and aging. And we know that we're only just scratching the surface of what is way in excess of a $13 trillion global opportunity around innovation in this space,
Nike reinvents movement with powered footwear, aiming to do for running what e-bikes did for urban mobility. The sports giant unveiled Project Amplify, the world's first powered footwear system designed to make running and walking accessible to millions who previously found sustained movement intimidating or physically out of reach. Unlike elite performance gear designed to shave seconds off race times, Project Amplify targets everyday athletes who want to move more, go farther, and actually enjoy the experience.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and Khanmigo are rapidly proliferating and becoming integrated into nearly every aspect of life, including education. Although critics argue that these tools may replace traditional education, when used appropriately, they can complement teachers by serving as powerful educational partners. The diversity among learners often necessitates levels of support that a teacher alone cannot provide, underscoring the potential role of Gen AI in offering such assistance.
For decades, walking frames have been a case study in stagnation. They've remained almost unchanged since their invention, functional, yes, but limited in how they adapt to real-world conditions. Traditional frames can be awkward to maneuver on slopes, unstable on rough terrain, and visually uninspiring. More importantly, they often carry a stigma, subtly signaling frailty rather than empowerment. US-based startup Mobilate saw this as a glaring opportunity.
The onset of motor neurone disease (MND) left Sarah without a voice and the use of her hands at the age of 34. It was within months of her becoming a mum for the second time. As they were growing up, her children Aviva and Eric only ever heard her speak through a machine with an emotionless robotic voice. But 25 years on, artificial intelligence (AI) has recreated their mum's real voice from just eight seconds of audio on a scratchy VHS tape.
"Our main goal is creating a flexible speech neuroprosthesis that enables a patient with paralysis to speak as fluently as possible, managing their own cadence, and be more expressive by letting them modulate their intonation," says Maitreyee Wairagkar, a neuroprosthetics researcher at UC Davis who led the study.
"In the wake of a long-haul injury, the importance of outside design perspectives cannot be overstated, as they may highlight overlooked problems and reveal useful solutions."
