The day that my work computer crashed, I almost cried. Everything I had done for the past few weeks was gone (because I had become slack in burning the backups of my documents) and every email correspondence I had made was floating somewhere out in the ether world. I was lost. And when my husband's new cellphone died, for one of those completely unexplainable technological reasons, he wasn't able to even give out his home phone number (of course, he had never needed to memorize it because it was safely stored in the little data wires of cellular memory). Every phone and email connection that he needed was stored in the memory of something smaller than my hand, and without it he was non-telefunctional. He was completely lost.

Technology, in all its forms, has improved (and at times complicated) our lives. From cellular phones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's) to MP3 players and digital cameras, technology has allowed us to increase communications, increase information intake, and experience the word from a digitized perspective. It has given us memory power previously unconceivable, it has given us a sense of security and connection in the midst of emergency, and it has provided us with streaming audio and video to fully connect every moment of our waking lives, just to name a few. But imagine what life would be like, what obstacles you would face if you could not access the same technologies that many take for granted. For those with disabilities, this is often a problem, and it is often the barrier that keeps individuals from enjoying the benefits of technological freedom.

There are many assistive technologies that have improved access to school, work, and daily functions for people with disabilities. Accessible software and hardware has made it possible for people to use the computer and Internet in ways previously thought impossible; Augmentative communication devices have provided a voice to those unable to speak; and enhancements to phones have made it possible for people who are deaf to access telecommunications, just to name a few. This article will look at the accessibility and non-accessibility features of both cellular phones and PDA's and how through some new innovations, these technology tools will soon be accessible to those with disabilities.

Cellphones, like stated above, can make or break someone's telecommunication life. For individuals who are blind or who have visual impairments, the use of cellphones has been primarily impossible because of the reliance on visual displays. Of course visual displays in and of themselves are not bad, but for individuals who are blind, the sole reliance on visual displays without an equivalent audio or speech synthesizer would ultimately prevent someone with a visual impairment use of the cellular phone. However, a Spanish company called Owasys (pronounces oasis) has recently come out with an invention to remedy this problem.

Owasys, hoping to have their product available in the UK in the next few months, has created a phone, the 22C, with no visual display at all, but rather a phone that relies on a speech synthesizer to read everything that would normally be displayed on the traditional cellphone screen. The phone also provides audio feedback from button presses, and can send and receive text messages and will speak the name or number of incoming callers. The phone lends itself not just to those who are blind or who have visual impairments, but also to those who are easily confused by screen-based technology, or who would rather use audio feedback to maneuver through cellular communications. Owasys will also be making this phone available in Spain, and depending on the outcome, it may be made available elsewhere.

PDA's too offer advantages and disadvantages in the accessibility arena. For many, the appeal of the PDA overrides the cost (generally a few hundred dollars) and the small size, portability, and lightweight advantages make it easier than a laptop to carry around. And for many with mobility impairments, just those features alone make PDA's the portable technology of choice. PDA's also offer organizational and task management features that are extremely useful to those with learning disabilities and cognitive impairments. However, the PDA also has many inaccessible features that can hinder use by many individuals with disabilities.

Users generally interface with a PDA using a small stylus for input in a small screen for output. For those who cannot use a stylus, have limited finger or dexterity movement, have tremors, or who cannot see or access the screen, the use of a PDA becomes a challenge.

For those who cannot use the stylus, PDA's can attach small portable keyboards, including one-handed keyboards, but operating systems for keyboard-only access vary between PDA's.

PDA's can also vary in brightness, though with little operating system support for high-contrast or enlarged font sizes, for those with visual impairments. And some PDA's can also use speech input and output for those who are unable to view the screen or use the keyboard or stylus.

It is important to stay informed of all these technology changes and to support the accessibility endeavors of technology companies to more fully support a world that can be fully accessed by all people of all abilities.