Over the past seven years as my limb girdle muscular dystrophy has progressed, I’ve become completely reliant on technology. I use Alexa to control everything in my home, from the TV to the heating to opening the blinds in my room. I can even turn on the kettle using just my voice.
The latest piece of technology that’s revolutionised my independence are the Ray Ban Meta Smart Glasses. Their built-in camera and voice control features have allowed me to take my own photos and videos for the first time ever. I also use them to play music, message people, and make phone calls.
Launched in the last decade or so, voice control smart-speaker technology was tailor-made for people like me who can’t use their arms because of weak muscles. But it hasn’t always been this way.
Technology helped me to continue my career
I was a BBC radio producer and TV journalist for over 15 years from the 1990s. I was one of the first employees to be trained on a computer digital editing system. This replaced physical tape editing, which was done with a razor blade − something I struggled to do due to weakness in my arms. Through securing access to this type of technology, I was able to continue my career.
I was a broadcast journalist on two BBC election night programmes and created and produced a four-part series on film directors that I made with filmmaker Alex Cox, to name a few. Accessible tech even got me onto Top Gear. In 1993, I presented and featured in an episode about new adaptive controllers that could help disabled people drive.
Working with tech companies
In my late 40s, I started to struggle using a keyboard to type and used voice dictation for the first time. When I began to use voice technology on my iPhone and other mainstream products, I noticed areas that could be made more accessible.
I wrote articles about what I thought needed to change and was able to work with tech companies to highlight areas of improvement. I’m the guy who helped persuade Apple to introduce auto answer calls on the iPhone and Apple watch, face ID recognition for people using ventilators, and being able to use Siri through AirPods more accessibly. It gives me such joy knowing what I do helps make the world’s highest selling smart phone easier for disabled people to use.
Making technology more accessible
The quality of hardware devices such as microphones, is just as important as software advances. Using programs like Dragon Dictation is great, but I don’t want to spend half the time going back through what I’ve ‘written’ to correct words that the microphone has misheard.
I approached a tech company with an idea for a microphone that I thought would make dictation easier for people. I worked with the company, SpeechWare, to produce KeyboardMike. I’ve been using this product for over two years now and I feel more energised, make fewer mistakes, and am able to be more productive because of it. It was such a breath of fresh air to have a company listen to the needs of the consumer and create a product that will help people who use voice dictation for their computer.
Making assistive tech financially accessible
I’m lucky that I have been able to afford the technology I need to be independent, but I know this is impossible for many people. Technology gave me my chances in life and allowed me to follow my dreams, so I now campaign for better affordability and access to technology for disabled people.
I can spend months at a time unable to leave my house because of the severity of my condition. Technology is all that keeps me connected to the world and independent. I’ve set up a campaign calling on the government to introduce a programme, like the Motability scheme, for smart technology. It would be responsible for the finance, installation and maintenance of technological devices that would increase a disabled person’s independence and productivity. Customers would be able to use a percentage of their disability benefits to lease devices that would help them, in the same way these benefits can be used to lease a car.
I would encourage people with muscular dystrophy to embrace the power of technology and the independence it can give you.
Products mentioned and helpful links:
- KeyboardMike
- Dragon Dictation
- Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses
- Colin’s voice controlled smart-home - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9P7rp-6pSg&t=36s
- Colin four-part series for BBC Radio In the Director’s Chair - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0376pcr?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
- Colin’s website - https/www.aestumanda.com/
- Remap are a UK charity of volunteers who make custom equipment for disabled people