iPad
Apple Computer
['leica', 'codename nx', 'tiger telematics', 'jet propulsion laboratory', 'commodore 64', 'northrop', 'auto union', 'ford motor company', 'general motors corporation', 'gec', 'ford', 'international business machines corporation', 'alfa romeo', 'bath iron works', 'two stroke international', 'walther', 'porsche', 'hp', 'land rover', 'mauser', 'kia motors', 'vickers', 'eastleigh', 'whirlpool', 'sony computer entertainment japan', 'woolwich dockyard', 'canadair', 'brewster', 'leica camera ag', 'remington arms', 'ag weser', 'htc corporation', 'cadillac', 'acorn computers', 'lamborghini', 'hitachi', 'honda clio', 'ferrari', 'british leyland', 'eads astrium', 'general dynamics land systems', 'lotus engineering', 'stx europe', 'chevy', 'dr pepper', 'magnavox', 'coleco', 'robert stephenson', 'boeing', 'intel', 'north american aviation', 'honda motor company', 'mercedes benz', 'gaz', 'kentron', 'austin', 'mitsubishi', 'rovio entertainment', 'pullman', 'gamepark holdings', 'aero spacelines', 'dec', 'general motors diesel', 'bristol', 'sigma', 'mig', 'ag vulcan', 'vulcan foundry', 'winton', 'mattel', 'commodore international', 'ikco', 'scaled composites', 'the lego group', 'moskvitch', 'google', 'usmc', 'heineken international', 'rootes group', 'fairchild semiconductor', 'snk', 'scea', 'dell', 'east japan railway company', 'bmw', 'renault samsung', 'ford v8', 'hawker aircraft', 'yamaha', 'chatham', 'hyundai', 'american motors', 'car plaza', 'wolfgang von kempelen', 'intamin', 'bugatti', 'nissan', 'snk corporation', 'mauser rifle']
Imean
iMean is a computer program—an "app"—created for Apple Computer's iPad tablet computer. It transforms the entire screen of the iPad into a large-font letterboard so that autistic people and others who use facilitated communication can benefit from an augmentative communications device. iMean allows the user to point to letters and numbers with a finger. The app collects the words on its text display as they’re spelled out. iMean offers word suggestions to complete partly spelled words, speeding up the conversation. A facilitator can participate, as is usually done with a paper letterboard, but iMean encourages greater communication independence. iMean was developed by Michael Bergmann, a New York-based filmmaker whose son is autistic, and Richard Meade-Miller, an 18-year-old first-time programmer from Los Angeles. Bergmann’s son, Daniel Bergmann, 14, was not only the inspiration for the app, but provided significant input on the app’s design and feature-set. It also includes word-prediction features developed by Aram Julhakyan of ZenBrains, Barcelona, Spain. It was one of the select group of apps that was available on the Appstore when the iPad launched on April 3, 2010. Unlike the costly software and hardware devices often targeted at those with disabilities, iMean was introduced at a modest $4.99US to encourage users to try it with little risk. This is often an important issue, since the compatibility of a particular assistive technology is very variable from one user to another, depending on the user's individual skills and limitations; testing several high-priced solutions can become a severe financial burden.