Israel based firm launches Sesame, a touch-free smartphone for the disabled

An Israeli company has developed the first completely hands-free Android smartphone for disabled users. The 'Sesame' smartphone allows users to control the device with head movements.

Developed by Sesame Enable, the smartphone is meant for people with spinal cord injuries, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cerebral palsy or other disabilities that affects the use of hands and arms. It comes with proprietary head-tracking technology that allows the user to control the device.

Sesame has an advanced computer vision algorithm and a front-facing camera that can track the user's head movements and lets them control a cursor on screen. The feature works as a virtual finger, allowing disabled users to do what others can with a regular smartphone.

The smartphone's developer Giora Livne, who himself is disabled, got the idea to develop the phone after watching a TV demonstration for a game that can be controlled by head movements. Livne who has a background in electrical engineering, recognized the technology’s potential to help him and others.

Sesame recently won a “Verizon Powerful Answers’ Award” with $1 million in prize money. Livne is now planning to give about 30 Sesame smartphones to people with disabilities nominated by their peers. “My life quality jumped from the Stone Age to the smartphone age,” Livne was quoted as saying.

Recently, Samsung launched an eye tracking mouse for the disabled. Eyecan+ allows users to browse the web as well as a compose and edit documents through simple eye movements. The advanced eye care technology allows users to simply point with a look and then click with a deliberate blink to perform functions including drag and drop.

Source: Sesame-enable

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Silky Malhotra

Silky Malhotra loves learning about new technology, gadgets, and more. When she isn’t writing, she is usually found reading, watching Netflix, gardening, travelling, or trying out new cuisines. View Full Profile