It is our mission to empower every person and every organization in the world to achieve more. That’s why we’ve been working on making technologies more accessible for years – and with the Xbox Adaptive Controller and the Surface Adaptive Kit already included products on the market. As part of this year’s Microsoft Ability Summit today we introduce our expanded Inclusive Tech Lab and adaptable accessories.
Microsoft Inclusive Tech Lab
The Microsoft Inclusive Tech Lab is the successor to the original lab opened by the Xbox team in 2017. The Inclusive Tech Lab continues its purpose – to learn how technology needs to be designed to make it work for everyone. A showroom with accessible hardware, software and inclusive services from Microsoft as well as projects from our partners are part of the concept.
The lab is an integrative design incubator where we can collaborate with the disability community to develop and evaluate product design ideas. It is a place that aims to show what is possible when people with disabilities are involved in the development and design process: products that are “inclusive by design”.
New adaptable accessories
The new accessory was developed together with people with disabilities. It consists of three main components that you can put together according to your own needs and customize with the help of 3D printing – among other things, individual mouse and keyboard inputs and shortcuts can be configured.
- The first component is the Microsoft Adaptive Mouse, which consists of three parts: body, thumb rest and end piece together form a traditional mouse. The end piece can be individually adjusted using 3D printing and the thumb rest can be adjusted for left- and right-handed users.
- With the Microsoft Adaptive Hub users can replace or supplement a traditional keyboard with a central hub and wireless keys. The Microsoft Adaptive Hub can be wirelessly connected to up to four Microsoft Adaptive Buttons. It also works with standard 3.5mm auxiliary switches and offers three different profiles for use with multiple devices.
- In conjunction with the Microsoft Adaptive Hub, the Microsoft Adaptive Button be customized with different keyboard attachments. Users choose between a D-Pad, a joystick or a double button and can create their own button tops for their individual needs with a 3D printer.
The Microsoft Adaptive Accessories will be available in the Microsoft Store this fall.
More news from the Microsoft Ability Summit can be found in this one Blogpost just like here:
A post by Dave Dame
Director of Devices Accessibility