Painting the world for people who don't see color

The World Health Organization estimates that $200 billion worth of productivity is lost every year due to untreated poor eyesight. Several organizations, such as EYElliance and Aravind Eye Hospital, are working to combat this problem by administering free vision tests and helping people who need glasses get them at an affordable rate.

A new tablet, called the Feelif multimedia device, allows blind children to learn braille and geometry and play interactive learning games with their fingers. The device allows children to create drawings and write on a tablet and then feel what they've created in a 3 dimensional way.

MoGo, a bike-sharing program in Detroit, listened to user feedback and launched an adaptive bicycle pilot program. Though only 13 bikes are part of the program, they will make urban biking accessible to people with limited mobility. If the pilot is deemed a success, Detroit will be a leader in the inclusive bike space in Michigan.

Companies like Good Karma allow people with autism to use apps to communicate through pictures and icons. Yet, the apps require users to do a lot of complicated movements, some of who may not have that mobility. However, brain interference technology, could be the answer. Through the technology “a mere thought can get a computer to speak a word or phrase .”

Using audio descriptions of a movie’s action, the XL Cinema app increases the accessibility of movies to a vision impaired audience. The free app has been used thousands of times and production studios are interested in working with XL Cinema to expand its offerings.

The intensive, alert care low weight infants need is often complicated by overstressed parents and overstretched hospital workers. A bracelet that monitors an infants temperature--and gives an alert when the temperature falls to unsafe levels--provides valuable support to ensuring the safety of these vulnerable young lives.

At least five people who were paralyzed are walking, thanks to a pain stimulator and physical therapy. The stimulator, which is implanted in the body, sends electricity to the spine, and combined with therapy, can retrain the body to walk again. “The first day I took steps on my own was an emotional milestone in my recovery that I’ll never forget, as one minute I was walking with the trainer’s assistance and, while they stopped, I continued walking on my own.”

With little progress made on a successful treatment for Alzheimer's and prices for monitored care and medications rising, several technology companies are focusing on better ways to manage care. Through tactics such as virtual reality, robotic animals and facial analyzation, these companies are trying to both better serve the patient as well as support the families.

An ophthalmologist has created a smartphone application that allows not just doctors, but also non-specialists such as teachers, to conduct eye tests. The application helps those living in remote areas to access a service they otherwise may not be able to get and also allows for the few ophthalmologists who live in the area to only see the cases that are deemed necessary.

An app called Visis translates text and photos to speech to help Nigerian people with visual impairments to live their lives independently.