Among other things, a received inbound message is presented to a person wearing a wearable device. The inbound message is presented to the person as tactile stimulation of skin of the person. Monitoring is done for presence of an outbound message derived from biopotential signals sensed at the skin of the person after the receipt of the inbound message.

A communication assistive device and a communication assistive method for people with language disorder are provided. The communication assistive method comprises the steps of: receiving user touch screen input selecting one of images representing sentence components displayed on a screen, the sentence components such as words and postpositions constituting a sentence to be outputted; combining the received sentence components to generate a sentence; and outputting the generated sentence by voice, wherein input for at least one of the sentence components is performed by selection of an image coding a shape or meaning of a character, wherein a widget is created for the generated sentence.

Systems and processes for scanning a user interface are disclosed. One process can include scanning multiple elements within a user interface by highlighting the elements. The process can further include receiving a selection while one of the elements is highlighted and performing an action on the element that was highlighted when the selection was received. The action can include scanning the contents of the selected element or performing an action associated with the selected element. The process can be used to navigate an array of application icons, a menu of options, a standard desktop or laptop operating system interface, or the like. The process can also be used to perform gestures on a touch-sensitive device or mouse and track pad gestures (e.g., flick, tap, or freehand gestures).

In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at a first device with one or more processors, non-transitory memory, and a display. The method includes displaying, on the display, a device control transfer affordance while operating the first device based on user input from an input device that is in communication with the first device. The method includes receiving a device control transfer user input from the input device selecting the device control transfer affordance that is displayed on the display of the first device. In response to receiving the device control transfer user input, the method includes configuring a second device to be operated based on user input from the input device and ceasing to operate the first device based on user input from the input device.

Provided is an information output apparatus and method. The information output apparatus includes a plurality of expression members configured to protrude or retract by moving in at least one direction and being sensed by a user when protruding or retracting; an activation area calculator configured to calculate a series of braille letters as an activation area on the plurality of expression members; a non-activation area calculator configured to calculate a space between the braille letters as a non-activation area in the activation area; and a plurality of actuation controllers configured to actuate expression members corresponding to the activation area to protrude or retract and configured to actuate expression members corresponding to the non-activation area to retract.

Systems and processes for scanning a user interface are disclosed. One process can include scanning multiple elements within a user interface by highlighting the elements. The process can further include receiving a selection while one of the elements is highlighted and performing an action on the element that was highlighted when the selection was received. The action can include scanning the contents of the selected element or performing an action associated with the selected element. The process can be used to navigate an array of application icons, a menu of options, a standard desktop or laptop operating system interface, or the like. The process can also be used to perform gestures on a touch-sensitive device or mouse and track pad gestures (e.g., flick, tap, or freehand gestures).

A communication device for users with limited physical dexterity. More specifically, the presently disclosed technology relates to a communication device, such as a cellular phone, that allows a user having limited physical dexterity to more effectively and accurately provide input into the device. The presently disclosed technology teaches a communication device with at least a touchscreen input device and a physical keyboard, wherein the control capabilities of the touchscreen input device may be disabled and/or re-enabled. The disabling and/or re-enabling may occur based on an input received into an input device or may occur automatically based on the contextual usage of the communication device. Still further, the electronic device may include a touchpad that may comprise a non-slip surface and may be sized and/or shaped such that users with limited physical dexterity may more efficiently navigate the interface of the communication device using the touchpad.

A method may include obtaining a first audio signal including first speech originating at a remote device during a communication session between the remote device and a communication device and obtaining a second audio signal including second speech originating at the communication device during the communication session between the remote device and the communication device. The method may also include obtaining a characteristic of the communication session from one or more of: the first audio signal, the second audio signal, and settings of the communication device and determining a hearing level of a user of the communication device using the characteristic of the communication session.

A method may include obtaining a first audio signal including first speech originating at a remote device during a communication session between the remote device and a communication device and obtaining a second audio signal including second speech originating at the communication device during the communication session between the remote device and the communication device. The method may also include obtaining a characteristic of the communication session from one or more of: the first audio signal, the second audio signal, and settings of the communication device and determining a hearing level of a user of the communication device using the characteristic of the communication session.

Systems and methods herein improve management of voice and text communications to enhance accessibility. A calling preference configuration of a user device serves as the basis for processing communications that are incoming to, or outgoing from, the user device. The communications can be processed according to the configuration of the calling preference before the communications are received by a user of the user device or transmitted to another user device. The calling preference configuration may be configured by the user and include a sending preference, a receiving preference, and/or a language preference.