New Delhi: An Israeli company has developed a hands-free smartphone which would be very useful for users with disabilities. The device can be controlled with head movements.
Sesame Enable has been especially designed this phone for people with spinal cord injuries, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebral palsy and other conditions that restrict the use of hands.
The Android smartphone is enabled with a proprietary head-tracking technology, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported.
The phone is equipped 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 acts as a virtual finger, that let 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.
The developer of the phone Giora Livne himself, is physically challenged. He is planning to dole out 30 phones to people with disabilities nominated by their peers.
With a background in electrical engineering, he recognised the technology's potential to help him and others.
Livne came up with the idea while watching a TV demonstration for a game controlled with head movements
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.
