‘Camera for K’ is a photographic interface that maximizes independency of a physically handicapped person who uses a wheelchair and cannot operate the interface of a camera. Any switches used by disabled people can be attached to the interface so that they easily start to use the system.

One of the field trips of this semester, I visited the Henry Viscardi School at Long Island. I met a high school boy who was using an electric power wheelchair, had a speech impairment and showed cerebral palsy with athetoid movements. In spite of these disabilities, he had a passion of photography. He brought me to the computer and typed a digital camera on the internet image search engine to show me images of digital cameras. He was extremely excited whenever he heard words related to photography such as flash, album, year book, Canon and Sony. If I make an camera interface for him, he will have a chance to be a professional photographer or, at least, will have a good hobby for his life.

Maximizing independency is the one of the most important key of assistive technology. There is a need to operate existing electronic objects such as digital camera to express creativity, however, the interface is impossible for many disabilities. Since each person is already using specific body parts to operate personal switches, it will be a good way to use their familiar interface to attach the new system.

1. wheelchaired people who want to take a picture.
2. people who want to experience of being disabilities
3. teachers and therapists who want to make an adaptive photography system

disabilities:
1. camera and remote controller of it are attached to their wheelchairs.
2. take a picture using their familiar switches.

Audience
1. wear special objects which give them constraints of moving.
2. experience of a disability and follow above user scenario.

- wheelchair
- flexible tripod to attach a camera to a wheelchair
- digital camera
- remote controller. hack and make an interface to connect various switches
- manual of making the same sytem

Knowledge and experience of technology can make disabilities happy. Using the prototype, one of the kids moved his left hand to make a posture and took a picture with right hand. Moving both hands simultaneously is hard to disabilities and usually takes 6 month periods to teach, but he did it by himself. In addition, the further study of exploring what kind of switches are available for disabilities will be a great approach.