'Orbital Phone' supports single hand use for people with disabilities

Most cell phone concepts that we see out there these days are born out of the need to provide a new stylistic innovation in technology and function. But few of these concepts ever address the need to make existing technologies more accessible for people with disabilities. The Orbital Phone is one such concept that derives its form and function from the problems of a real life user who had lost the function of his dominant hand and was hence forced to use his other hand to operate his smartphone.

Orbital Phone

Conceptualized as a collaborative effort by Patricia Tait, Mario Garza, Richard Williams III and Mary-Anna Bowen, the Orbital Phone comes with special design features that create the necessary balance and equilibrium that is required to operate a smartphone using the non-dominant hand.

The ergonomic design features an hourglass frame that makes it easier to hold on to and work with using a single hand. The design allows users to be able to use it from either end so that they don’t have to change its orientation before making or receiving calls. This makes it easier for users to use it with just one hand even when they need to access advanced two-hand features that most contemporary smartphone have.

The design comes with dual microphone and speakers, one on each end that make calling easier while a flexible finger loop at the back of the phone eliminates the possibility of the phone being dropped when being used with a single hand. It also allows the phone to be rotated while in hand via a sliding track that supports the loop.

The designer does not specify whether the phone will retain any touch-specific functionality or whether it would feature other special function buttons to enable users to access commonly used applications, but the concept itself makes a great start in the right direction to make common technologies more compatible with the needs of people with disabilities.

[Thanks Patricia]