With the July 4th holiday weekend fast approaching, one's mind almost can't help but turn to the issue of independence.  Of course, Americans celebrate Independence Day as an homage to our forefathers who fought for freedom from what they deemed an oppressive government.  But when talking about what we do in the assistive technology realm, the term independence takes on an entirely new meaning.  For a person with a disability, he or she isn't fighting against an unfair political system, but rather overcoming his or her personal physical or mental challenges.

Independence in this context represents the ability to be self-reliant, to have the freedom to do everything and anything you please.  You are the controller of your own destiny.  You may succeed.  You may fail.  But the point is you have the ability to live your life on your own terms.

Independence and the ability to communicate is at the center of why we do what we do.  We live in a digital age where if you aren’t online, you can’t join the conversation.  You feel isolated, frustrated, and alone.  Other people can communicate, share thoughts and feelings, and build connections.  For example, if I am a wounded veteran with a permanent hand injury who has just returned from Afghanistan, and I want to connect with old friends and family members, I can't because my disability precludes me from doing so.  I can't use all of these platforms (social media, email, etc.) that are highly integrated into how people nowadays communicate with one another. If quality of life is determined by the strength of your social connections, then the inability to connect with others is devastating.

This is why we designed an alternative to the standard keyboard.  If normal keyboard use is not an option for you because you have limited mobility in your hands, orbiTouch could be a great alternative for you.  It gives you the chance to communicate using a computer.  And in the digital age, almost nothing is as important as the ability to share ideas.

We recently came up with a new slogan for our orbiTouch Keyless Keyboard.  It is:  “Two domes.  One mission.  Independence.” We hope this communicates how this product works and the power this it has to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

We’re not saying to give orbiTouch a try because it’s different or it will increase your typing speed, but because it represents the ability to express your personal thoughts and opinions, whatever they may be, despite physical and mental challenges.  You have the unalienable right to be your own person, and if we can give you the tools to do so, then we’ve done our job right.