As great as all of the advances in touch screens technology and mobile devices have been for the spinal cord injury community, they’re not that helpful if you can’t hold the devices or easily touch the screens.
I’m fortunate as a C5 quad that I can tap touch screens and grab devices when I want to use them. But even I don’t have the dexterity to pick up a cell phone or tablet and snap good photos or use it if it’s not resting on something.
Enter the Sospendo.
Sospendo is a new adjustable device holder that advertises itself as the “best wearable support for all mobile devices.” I can’t speak to the veracity of that claim, but from the pics and video it does look like a cool, useful option for wheelers of all types. All you have to do is bend the aluminum frame so it cradles your neck (or you could use it as a stand) and slide your mobile device in and hang the Sospendo around your head. Voila, the screen is right in front of you and, look ma, no hands! This would be great for watching videos and Skyping and would surely empower many mouthstick users. I could see it helping me take better photos and videos.
The Sospendo inventors have run multiple crowdfunding campaigns, with a recent Kickstarter raising more than $40,000. On June 28, they launched an InDemand campaign on Indiegogo to collect pre-orders. Visit the page to see more testimonials and demonstrations by people with disabilities.
If you’re looking to get more out of your mobile devices, or if you’ve spent the last 10 years jealously watching people stumble into things as they walk and text, saying to yourself, “Man I wish I could roll and text and bump into things!” the Sospendo could be the answer to your prayers.
