DeafBlind Communicator - A good design for an urgent need...

There are certain niche users in the world who, while not great in number, have a great need for real and usable design solutions to their problems. The DeafBlind Communicator is an excellent example - it's a well-designed tool that makes communication possible for those who are both deaf and blind. The system splits into two parts, one of which is handed to the person with whom the owner wants to communicate; that person uses a standard qwerty keyboard, visual display, and audio output, while the deaf-blind user has a specialized keyboard and Braille display. The two parts of the system communicate with each other via Bluetooth. It's a simple and effective way to give each party the communication tools they need, quickly and easily - and with this good design, deafblind users can enjoy a little more freedom in life.
[via Engadget]