14 winners announced at the CES 2023 Innovation Awards in the accessibility category

A helpful toilet lifter, stabilising smart makeup applicator, wearable navigation system for visually impaired individuals, and self-driving powerchair service have all been recognised at the prestigious CES 2023 Innovation Awards.

Taking place annually, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is one of the largest global stages for companies to showcase their latest and greatest technology innovations. The show covers a wide variety of sectors including automotive, robotics, gaming, wearables, sports technology, and accessibility. CES is organised by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).

CES Innovation Awards is an influential annual competition honouring outstanding design and engineering in technology products across a broad range of categories.

There are two levels of honourees among the product categories:

• Honoree: The top-scoring products in each category
• Best of Innovation: The highest-rated products across all categories

Below, AT Today has rounded up all 14 Honorees and Best of Innovation award winners in the accessibility category at the CES 2023 Innovation Awards.

1. Ashirase by Ashirase

Honoree

Ashirase is a wearable navigation system that assists visually impaired individuals with walking. The system consists of a smartphone app and an in-shoe vibration device including a motion sensor.

The app receives data from the sensor and puts it together with map and satellite positioning information to generate navigational instructions, which the foot device communicates to the user through vibrations.

Ashirase’s intuitive instructions via vibration can guide users to their destinations more safely without obstructing their hearing. Based on the route set within the app, when the user should go straight, the vibrator positioned on the front part of the foot vibrates, and when the user is approaching a right or left turn, the vibrator on the right or left side vibrates to notify the user.

2. Bedsore-M by BlissTech

Honoree

Bedsore-M is a pressure ulcer management device that applies machines vision and AI technology to track a patient’s lying posture to accurately measure and analyse for pressure ulcer prevention.

It was developed to provide pressure ulcer treatment through machine-learned pressure ulcer analysis and a customised anti-ageing skin and sleeping posture solution.

Bedsore-M’s pressure ulcer piezoelectric sensors have 98 percent accuracy, according to BlissTech.

3. WL1 Bidet Toilet Lift by Dignity Lifts

Honoree

The WL1 Bidet Toilet Lift allows people with very little strength and/or freedom of movement to use the toilet independently. It gives disabled or mobility-impaired users dignity and privacy, as it means they do not have to rely on a family member or a carer to help them with toileting.

This assistive toilet lift sets users down on the toilet, and cleanses and dries them. Finally, the lift raises them easily back to their feet.

4. Dot Pad by Dot

Best of Innovation

Dot Pad is the “world’s first” tactile graphic device for people who are blind or have vision impairments, according to the manufacturer.

It has a total of 320 8-pin cells where 300 cells (2400-pins) are for the tactile display and 20 cells are for the braille-text display. It displays images, graphics, and charts in tactile form.

The assistive device gives the low-vision community access to maps, diagrams, charts, and other illustrations, allowing easy access to content on the internet.

Users can feel their handwriting, sketches, signature, and more. Dot Pad can convert any input on the connected device into a tactile graphic instantly. With the smartphone camera, users can also turn their surroundings into tactile graphics in real time.

Additionally, Dot Pad’s innovative processor uses AI to analyse and segment images to produce tactile graphics best suited for visually impaired users.

The assistive device offers easy connection with devices via Bluetooth. Dot Pad is portable, lightweight, and slim with a battery life that lasts up to 11 hours once fully charged.

5. HAPTA by L’Oreal

Honoree

HAPTA is a handheld, ultra-precise smart makeup applicator for disabled users, giving them the ability to apply mascara or lipstick easily.

The stabilising handle contains motion sensors that detect hand motion and a small onboard computer that distinguishes unwanted hand tremor(s) from the intended movement of the hand.

To counteract hand tremors and to stabilise the tool, the onboard computer directs two motors in the handle to move the attached lipstick in the opposite direction of any detected tremor.

Furthermore, customisable attachments further give the user an improved range of motion, increased ease of use for difficult-to-open packaging, and precision application.

6. E-Digestion by Lux Lab and Hayang University Erica

Honoree

E-Digestion is a digital system that monitors and manages digestive disorders for those with mobility issues or who cannot rely on physical exercise. E-Digestion consists of a controller with an intestinal health sensor and a digestive therapy mat that stimulates digestive muscles in real-time with electro-physical stimulation.

The controller analyses the user’s intestinal health with micro-vibration sensors placed on the abdomen. Then, a deep-learning algorithm analyses digestive health and provides user-customised specific vibration patterns that promote digestion.

7. Microsoft Adaptive Accessories by Microsoft

Honoree

Microsoft Adaptive Accessories are easy-to-use accessories designed for people with reduced mobility that let them configure and customise their own mouse, keyboard inputs, and shortcut.

The highly customisable range is designed to help disabled people create their ideal setup, increase productivity, and use their favourite apps more effectively.

The core pieces of the accessories, which form an ecosystem, consist of the Microsoft Adaptive Mouse, Microsoft Adaptive Hub, and the Microsoft Adaptive Buttons. As the ecosystem is highly adaptable, users can simply change their inputs, mouse, and shortcuts as and when required. This is particularly helpful for people whose conditions are likely to change, as the adaptive ecosystem can continue to meet their needs in the future.

8. Self-dispensing refillable toothbrush by Nest Care

Honoree

Nest Care’s built-in toothpaste dispensing technology enables elderly and disabled people to easily brush their teeth using one hand with a touch of a button. There are manual and electric toothbrush version available. Magnets inside the toothbrush enable the user to put it on a stand easily.

9. HP Hearing PRO by Nuheara

Honoree

These self-fitting hearing aids were developed to provide affordable and accessible hearing solutions for those with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.

According to Nuheara, the self-fitting hearing aids offer 30 percent better speech understanding in noise.

HP Hearing PRO is adjusted by the user to meet their hearing needs. HP Hearing PRO mobile software application for iOS and Android allows control of the hearing aid volume and Focus feature.

10. BrailleWear by ORama AI

Honoree

BrailleWear is a smart glove that helps visually impaired people learn braille faster, independently, and at a lower price than alternative learning methods.

The smart glove can convert any type of braille to speech in real time which, aids the braille learning process. While wearing the assistive glove, a user can feel braille dots with their exposed fingers and hear their audio translation simultaneously, thus helping them associate the feel to each character directly.

11. KeyinL by Raonark

Honoree

KeyinL is an upgradable smart lock that offers immediate locking and unlocking for people with reduced mobility.

KeyinL has a patented fully automatic mortise, which ensures users can unlock the door without any physical handle operation upon authentication. Users only need to lightly use their finger to pull at a small latch that opens the door.

The lock gives users scalability through the PLUS LINK platform that can connect various devices and authentication modules. Users can upgrade the lock by adding PLUS LINK modules, which can be installed anywhere easily by sticking it wherever they want!

12. Relumino by Samsung

Honoree

Samsung’s new visual assistance technology is a “light of hope” for visually impaired users who cannot clearly see televised content.

Relumino empowers people with low vision to enjoy their favourite TV shows, movies, and games without the need for wearable hardware.

With the click of a remote, Relumino for TV uses Samsung-developed AI to dynamically outline the edges of on-screen elements and rebalance colours, enabling individuals to better see people, objects, and text.

13. Evolv AI by Starkey

Honoree

In August 2022, Starkey launched a new iteration of Evolv AI hearing aids. Now with clearer sound quality, more background noise reduction, improved two-way audio capabilities, and a simplified remote fitting portal, users can easily experience Starkey Sound wherever they are.

The new assistive technology offers improvements that result in a 40 percent reduction in noise energy from the previous version, according to Starkey, making a huge difference in comfort and clarity. Additionally, updates to the on-demand feature, Edge Mode, make it clearer in noisy environments like cars and other vehicles.

14. WHILL Autonomous Model A by WHILL

Best of Innovation

Featuring advanced mapping technologies combined with the latest in sensors and collision avoidance, WHILL Autonomous Model A is designed to significantly change how individuals with limited mobility and reduced sensory or fine motor skills navigate large venues, such as airports, theme parks, and hospitals.

By transporting passengers to their gates, the powerchair relieves demands on the airline of providing manual wheelchair push services, while helping passengers with mobility issues to explore the airport with greater freedom.

The user selects their destination on a touch screen and then hits start. WHILL Autonomous Model A does the rest. The service is safe and reliable, thanks to the powerchair’s ability to independently detect and avoid obstacles in the airport using sensors and automatic brakes.