SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAKING AN ELECTRONIC HANDHELD DEVICE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO A DISABLED PERSON

• US 20090007026A1
• Filed: 09/04/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine
• Granted Patent: US 8,428,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/865
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/02 Methods for producing synthetic speech; Speech synthesisers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72475 specially adapted for disabled users

Abstract

An electronic handheld device is described having an options module for providing a user with at least one option in the handheld device, each option associated with an enabling mode of operation of the handheld device. The device also includes an enabling module for implementing, in response to a particular option being selected by a user, an associated enabling mode of operation. Each enabling mode of operation makes the handheld device more accessible to a person having a corresponding disability.

Claims

1. A method for making an electronic handheld device more accessible to a disabled person, the method comprising:

providing a visual impairment option in a user interface of the handheld device, said visual impairment option associated with an enabling mode of operation of the handheld device, said enabling mode having an enlarged visual information feature wherein visual information within a field of a display of the handheld device is enlarged.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the field comprises an enlarged field that is movable within the display.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the enlarged field is movable within the display in response to user scrolling over visual information displayed in said display.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user scrolling is performed using a trackwheel.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the visual information within the enlarged field is also shown with at least one of an increase in font size and an increase in contrast.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the field comprises a user-selected line of text.

7. A method for making an electronic handheld device more accessible to a disabled person, the method comprising:

providing a visual impairment option in a user interface of the handheld device, said visual impairment option associated with an enabling mode of operation of the handheld device;

wherein if said enabling mode is implemented, user-selected text displayed in a display of the handheld device is translated into speech output.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said user-selected text is selected based on user scrolling performed over said user-selected text on said display.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the user scrolling is performed using a trackwheel.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein if said enabling mode is implemented, at least one option associated with the user-selected text is articulated audibly by the handheld device, in addition to the speech output.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the user-selected text is a contact name, and wherein the at least one option comprises at least one option relating to a mode of communication selected from a group consisting of:

telephone calling, emailing, short message servicing, and instant messaging.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the user-selected text is a contact name, and wherein the at least one option comprises an option to provide information about a contact associated with the contact name.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the user-selected text is a contact name, and wherein the at least one option comprises an option to delete a contact associated with the contact name.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the user-selected text is a contact name, and wherein the at least one option comprises an option to associate a ringtone with the contact name.

15. An electronic handheld device comprising:

an options module for providing a visual impairment option in a user interface of the handheld device, said visual impairment option associated with an enabling mode of operation of the handheld device; and

an enabling module for implementing, in response to the visual impairment option when selected, an associated enabling mode of operation, said enabling mode having an enlarged visual information feature wherein visual information within a field of a display of the handheld device is enlarged.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the field comprises an enlarged field that is movable within the display.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the enlarged field is movable within the display in response to user scrolling over visual information displayed in said display.

18. An electronic handheld device comprising:

an options module for providing a visual impairment option in a user interface of the handheld device, said visual impairment option associated with an enabling mode of operation of the handheld device; and

an enabling module for implementing, in response to the visual impairment option when selected, an associated enabling mode of operation, so that user-selected text displayed in a display of the handheld device is translated into speech output.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said user-selected text is selected based on user scrolling performed over said user-selected text on said display.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein if said enabling mode is implemented, at least one option associated with the user-selected text is articulated audibly by the handheld device, in addition to the speech output.