We are living in a world where most utilities are created to help people see, hear, move, and communicate more easily.
Common Inventions for People with Disabilities in Daily Life
According to World Bank statistics, there are about 1 billion people worldwide with some form of disability, and 1 in 5 of those (110 to 190 million people) have severe disabilities.
As a result, many products have been created with a priority for use by people with disabilities. Interestingly, products originally invented for individuals with disabilities have become popular with the general public over time. Here are some examples.
1. Typewriter/Keyboard
Today, everyone uses a keyboard—the precursor to the typewriter—to type text. Originally, the typewriter was the brainchild of an Italian inventor named Pellegrino Turri.
His friend, Countess Carolina Fantoni da Fivizzano, was unable to write by hand due to blindness. Therefore, in 1608, he developed the first version of the typewriter. The typewriter became popular and was widely used before evolving into the keyboard, which is now applied in many modern devices.
The typewriter is the intellectual property of inventor Pellegrino Turri.
2. Electric Toothbrush
Oral hygiene is important for everyone, but for those with limited mobility, it can be a challenging task. In 1954, the Broxodent electric toothbrush was created to help individuals with disabilities brush their teeth more easily.
Clearly, the electric toothbrush outperforms traditional brushes, and today most dentists encourage everyone to switch to using them. In fact, a 2019 study showed that people who use electric toothbrushes tend to have stronger teeth, fewer cavities, and healthier gums.
3. Potato Peeler
Today, kitchen tools from potato peelers to can openers almost always feature large, soft handles that are comfortable to grip compared to traditional types.
However, this was not the standard in 1990. Inventor Sam Farber witnessed his wife, who suffered from arthritis, struggle to use a potato peeler, so he founded the OXO brand and the Good Grips product line.
Each kitchen tool produced by the company features a wide, oval handle that is easy to maneuver and requires less effort.
The items also provide a good grip thanks to the type of soft rubber used in automotive products. The Good Grips design became so popular that many other brands had to replicate it.
4. Speech-to-Text and Voice Recognition
If you have ever used a smart assistant like Alexa or followed voice instructions on a GPS app, you have utilized speech-to-text technology (or voice recognition).
This technology is available on the vast majority of phones, not to mention military aircraft, in-car navigation/entertainment systems, and smart home products.
However, this invention was not aimed at any grand purpose but simply intended to help those who cannot write express their thoughts in another way.
The software was invented in the 1990s, allowing users to create text documents and save/open them simply with their voice. Later versions were created for those working in courtrooms or medical transcriptionists.
5. Fidget Spinner
In the early 2000s, fidget spinners were marketed as tools to help those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or autism calm down and increase focus.
Although studies have not confirmed whether they help individuals with these conditions, by 2017, many people—from stressed business executives to bored students—became obsessed with them.
The toy became a craze and was even banned in some places for distracting work and study.
6. Curb Ramps
This curb ramp was originally designed for wheelchair users.
Curb ramps were originally designed for wheelchair users. However, later, parents with strollers, travelers pulling luggage, and delivery personnel found them very useful.
Curb ramps first appeared in 1945 and became popular in the U.S. after the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 mandated that these ramps must be present on all sidewalks.
7. Straws
While straight straws were considered a marvel when created in 1888, in the 1930s, a man named Joseph Friedman modified the design to create a straw that bends in the middle.
He came up with the idea when he noticed his young daughter struggling to drink a milkshake using a straight straw.
The man placed a screw inside the straight straw and wrapped some dental floss around it to create a wave effect.
Although the original invention was not created for people with disabilities, hospitals were the first to adopt the new straw design because they were very useful for bedridden patients wanting to enjoy something.
And now, as we know, everyone loves bendy straws.
8. Audiobooks
Originally a useful tool for visually impaired readers, audiobooks have now become a much more enjoyable way to experience books.
The idea began in 1932 thanks to the American Foundation for the Blind. The group recorded books on vinyl records with an initial storage capacity of only 15 minutes in the 1930s.
Later, as technology advanced, the storage capacity of audiobooks increased to two hours with Amazon’s Audible player in 2007 and to hundreds of hours of content on smartphones today.
Now, everyone enjoys the convenience and ease of audiobooks. In fact, this industry generated $1.3 billion in revenue in 2020.
