Google Developing “Eyes-Free” Android Interface – Video

During Google's I/O developer conference last week, T.V. Raman, a research scientist at Google, showcased an adaptive, circular interface for phones that provides audio and tactile feedback.

"We are building a user interface that goes over and beyond the screen," says Raman. Often, eyes-free interfaces are employed for blind users, but Raman, who himself is blind, assures that these interfaces have much broader implications. "This is not just about the blind user," he says. "This is about how to use these devices if you're not in a position to look at the machine."

Raman also noted that Android could be one of the first mobile phone platforms to support a wide range of eyes-free interfaces. Adding that thanks to the platform's vibrational and audio feedback support, an eyes-free alternative can be added to almost any Android application with just a few lines of code.

The eyes-free interface was demonstrated as a way to dial numbers and search through contacts on a phone.

[via technologyreview.com]

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