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Mechanical 'Thumbs'

Former Member

How about a pair of clip-on mechanical 'thumbs' to be used to flip the pages on a touch screen e-reader? It would be useful for folk like me who have arthritis in their hands.

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  • I don't think I fully understand how they would work or what the problem is. Could you elaborate further?

  • in reply to makerkaren

    Thank you for the opportunity to elaborate further.

     

    Imagine you are holding an iPad with both hands in portrait mode and using a reader application. To turn a page it is natural to give a little ‘flick’ with your thumb…something you don’t even normally think about.

     

    Now consider trying to make that same movement if you have severe arthritis and your joints feel as if they are full of broken glass - it’s enough to put you off reading for life (or turn to audio books)! The ‘Mechanical Thumbs’ would be clipped to the bezel of the iPad (or Kobo, Kindle etc) and slide across the screen at a given signal (footswitch? voice command?) just enough to let the device know a page needs turning.

     

    It would need to be light and small enough so as not to obscure any of the screen.

     

    The idea came to me when I was using my eReader…I have severe psoriatic arthritis in my hands and several other places and while not quite at the stage where I can’t use my thumbs I can see it being an issue one day. I know you can get devices to flip the pages of traditional books, but nothing (as far as I know) for tablets / eReaders.

     

    Yours

     

    Paul S. Mabley B.Sc.(Hons), M.Sc., MA

    South Shields

    Tyne and Wear

    UK

  • in reply to Former Member

    I'm trying to fully understand the problem so that I can mentally visualize a potential design solution. What stops you from using your other fingers? Is it because then you would only be holding the tablet with one hand?

    I've never had a tablet, only a smartphone, so I'm not used to how they are held when in use.

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