Microsoft is expanding its line of accessible hardware products. In its annual Capability Summit—An event specifically for people with disabilities and accessibility — the company gave attendees some of the new PC hardware it has developed for users with limited mobility. Available later this year, the wireless system will include an adaptive mouse, a programmable button, and a hub to handle the connection to a Windows PC. Users set up devices to trigger different key combinations, shortcuts, and sequences. These new input devices can be used with existing accessories, and they can be further customized with 3D printed add-ons. No pricing details yet.
Homemade adaptive accessories are not new territory for Microsoft. In 2018, the company launched Xbox Adaptive Controller. Built for the disabled player, the game controller features a simple layout of buttons and various ports for plugging in assistive gadgets. Packaging also has a strategy design for easier opening of the box. Then last year, Microsoft revealed Surface Adaptation Kit, a sticker pack with 16 tactile buttons, high-contrast keycap labels for those with low vision, a lanyard tab with a loop for easier opening of the Surface laptop and port labels can be used on the cable and their respective ports.
The new line of devices launched Tuesday aim to replace traditional keyboards and mice, both of which limit the speed and accuracy of people with disabilities. Users can program the button to activate up to eight digital switches, doing anything from a simple keystroke to a lengthy input sequence. This allows users to do things like open a new tab, copy and paste text, or send an email with a few simple physical movements. Customizable 2-inch square button hardware; Microsoft offers first-party accessories including a D-pad, joystick, and overlays that can turn it into a dual button, but you can 3D print your own accessories to further expand your utility. it.
The mouse is also modular. You’ll be able to take the core of a small, square mouse — the buttons and the scroll wheel — and attach them to a more traditional mouse body. You can also swap the position of the mouse’s thumb controls depending on whether you’re right- or left-handed. The mouse and button both connect wirelessly to the hub, which then links to your PC or smartphone (also wirelessly). Each accessory comes with a rechargeable battery inside.
Cool assistant
At this week’s Summit, Microsoft also introduced some software accessibility features. These improvements to Windows 11 include a new feature called Focus to help people with ADHD avoid distractions; live captioning can automatically transcribe any audio content on the device (including live chats) for people who are deaf and hard of hearing; and voice access feature that activates commands with words rather than through a keyboard or mouse (including surfing the web, switching between applications, or creating emails).
These Windows features come shortly after the company rolled out additional accessibility improvements in the Microsoft Edge browser. People who are blind or have low vision can now read automatically generated descriptions for images with missing alt text. The Editor feature (originally available on PowerPoint and Word) is now also available on Edge, giving you access to spell checking, text prediction, and other elemental aids.
