Breath Bird | Breath Controlled Twitter App

In honor of Universal Design Style joining the Twitterverse, I’m going to feature a newly developed accessible app for tweeting. For better or worse, the world is being effected by Twitter. Whether it’s keeping up with celebrity gossip, following public figures, or keeping in touch with those around us. Seems like Twitter is everywhere and unavoidable. So, might as well make Twitter available to more people. Japanese company TechFirm has done this with their Breath Bird app for the iPad. This free app can have a user send out tweets using only their breath.

When the app is opened, on the left is the user’s timeline, right top is a typing space, and bottom right is a “keypad”. The keypad area has 5 rows and 6 columns of letters and symbols. Each row is slowly highlighted in a scrolling motion. When the use wants to choose a row they blow into the microphone. Then each letter in that row is slowly highlighted and the user again blows into the microphone to choose that letter or symbol. Corrections can be done when the “delete” or” delete all” buttons are highlighted. To send the tweet out, just blow into the microphone when the “Tweet” button is highlighted.

For those with limited or no use of their hands, this app is a great way for them to join the Twitter world. Also can be used for those who cannot speak or have a voice that is not compatible with voice to text software. I would love to see this app in action and see how user friendly it is but don’t currently have an iPad. If anyone does and wants to try Breath Bird, please let me know what your opinions are. Here is the link to the Breath Bird App page on iTunes Breath Bird App.