Bachelor of Arts in Photography: Bachelor of Arts in Photography: Assistive TechnologyAssistive Technology
Assistive Technology for Photographers
Objectives
Define assistive technologyDiscuss issues for photographers with disabilitiesLearn about disabled photographers and how they workLearn about the technologies disabled photographers use
Assistive Technology products can enable people with disabilities to accomplish daily living tasks, assist them in communication, education, work or recreation activities, in essence, help them achieve greater independence and enhance their quality of life. Assistive Technology devices can help improve physical or mental functioning, overcome a disorder or impairment, help prevent the worsening of a condition, strengthen a physical or mental weakness, help improve a person's capacity to learn, or even replace a missing limb.
- www.rehabtool.com
Assistive Technology Definition
Discussion
In groups discuss what issues photographers with the following disabilities face?
BlindMobilityParkinson's Disease
Photographers with Mobility Disabilities
Loren WorthingtonWheelchair userCompany managerPhotographerRuns a website that photographs wheelchair athletes:
http://wheelchairphotography.com/
Loren Worthington
Loren's Photography Kit
Mount 'n Mover wheelchair mounting system
Replaces a tripodEasy to positionCustom memory locksEasily adjusts
Loren's Photography Kit
'Quad-pod'
designed for able-bodied photographersAdapted by LorenUsed as a knee podCan hold the camera with one hand
Loren's Photography Kit
Telestick
Loren uses this to pick up batteries, lenses, etc from the floor
Mobility Assistive Technology
Camera Switches
hands-free camera shutter release switchused by skydivers to disabledTongue switches are also available Developed by ConceptusOriginally marketed at skydivers, now popular with disabled and able bodied photographers
Photographers with Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's Disease can make photography a challengeThere are tools that can be used to assist the photographer
Photographers with Parkinson's Disease
But some disabled photographers don't need much assistive technology to make art. These pictures were taken by Alan Babbit who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.
Tremor Enhanced Photography
Since the late 1960’s, I’ve been doing my own brand of fine art photographyand it’s always been a great source of joy for me. Drop me almost anywhere there’s nice lightand I can happily get lost for hours in the visuals around me.
That began to change when the movement disorderknown as Parkinson's Disease (PD) arrived,like a loud, uninvited house guest who won't ever leave.
First I got a hand tremor. Oh, great. Shakiness. Just what a photographer needs.
Then, my photography muse, who’d been with me for years,took off without leaving a forwarding address. The bitch!
I soon lost interest in the whole thing. Rarely venturing out to shoot and bored with the results.Darkness filled my viewfinder.
Then one night,on the Las Vegas Strip of all places,I began to see the light!
And there, before me, appeared a new, improved muse,who leaned in and whispered,"Silly boy! Don't fight it - use it!"
Doh!
I began to let the tremor have its way as I clicked the shutter.From: http://www.abproductions.com/movement_disorder/movement_disorder_ss.html
Alan Babbitt
Assistive Technology
Many devices from the following manufacturers/researchers:ORCCA Technology, IncConceptusJOBYRERC
Visually Impaired Photographers
a large LCD screen
But can someone who is fully blind be a successful photographer?
Blind Photographers
Use four other sensesImaginationLearn photography basicsUse the heat of the sun, smells, noises to base theirshots i.e. the smell of a flowerDone to express themselves, document their livesShare memories with others
Blind Photographers
www.theblindphotographer.com
http://current.com/items/88831039_blind-photographers.htm
Watch how an award winning blind photographer manages with his disability
Blind Photographers
Blind photographers rely on their senses and experiences to take photos, but some people also use technology to help them with their art.
VoiceOver on iPhone and Mac can help with editingCameraBag does automatic editingvOICe app for phones analyses the light and plays different sounds depending on the brightness
However, most blind photographers use their brain to form a mental composite image
Disabled photographers have the ability to become award winning and professional photographers.These individuals can use existing technology and adapt it to their needsOr they can use specially made assistive technology to practice their art
Summary
