An Israeli company has come up with a hands-free smartphone which functions by tracking the head movements of users, thus coming in handy for people with disabilities.
Sesame Enable has designed the phone for people with spinal cord injuries, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebral palsy and other conditions that hamper the use of hands. The Android smartphone is equipped with a proprietary head-tracking technology, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported.
Tracks head movements The phone comes with an advanced computer vision algorithm and a front-facing camera that tracks user’s head movements and allows them to control a cursor on screen. The cursor is essentially a virtual finger, letting users do what others can with a regular smartphone.
The $1,000 phone recently won the Verizon Powerful Answers’ Award with $1 million in prize money.
Its developer, Giora Livne, who is physically challenged, now plans to give away 30 phones to people with disabilities nominated by their peers.
Mr. Livne came up with the idea after seeing a TV demonstration for a game controlled with head movements. With a background in electrical engineering, he recognised the technology’s potential to help him and others.
He now regularly texts and sends WhatsApp messages to his friends and three children, and the phone has helped ease some of the social isolation experienced by many disabled people, especially the young.
