A new free app makes using iPads easier for people with hand tremors

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

A new free app called Staybl uses existing technologies in the iPad to make it easier to use for people with Parkinson's disease.

Two years of work with experts from the German Parkinson's Association and Parkinson's patients in the US led to the creation of the app.

They want to improve access to technology for people with Parkinson's disease and other health issues that cause tremors. The creators of the app want to bring it to other digital devices and platforms in the future.

Eric Schoeffler, the chief creative officer of Havas in Germany, said that they don't include everyone in the benefits of technology. It is a technological solution that can provide easier access to the digital world for people with Parkinson's and tremors.

One of the earliest symptoms of Parkinson's disease is trembling. These tremors can make it difficult to perform simple tasks, like putting on clothes or using a mobile device, and can impact a person's overall quality of life over time.

Staybl uses the iPad's accelerometer to detect when the device is shaking and then immediately respond by moving its on-screen web browser in the opposite direction. The user can easily view the web page if the screen is stable.

Image: Staybl

The app's browser has other features that make it easier for people with hand tremors to use the iPad. It gets rid of slide gestures for navigation, provides larger buttons that are easier to press, and has settings to accommodate tremor symptoms that may vary throughout the day.

The free app is only compatible with iPadOS 14 or later, but you can download it through the App Store.

Staybl is a solution developed by tech companies to help those with Parkinson's related hand tremors. Liftware created an electric spoon to help those with the condition feed themselves. The spoon moves in the opposite direction when it senses tremors, thanks to its chip and sensors.

A patent application published by the US Patent and Trademark Office shows that Apple may be looking into how to steady the display of its mobile device. It appears the tech giant was considering using dynamic image stabilization circuity and motion sensors to counteract sudden movements, so the system can shift on-screen content back to the display's center whenever there are tremors.

Some of the accessibility features Apple has listed on its website could make it easier for people with hand tremors to use their mobile devices. There is a Hold direction setting on the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and iPod Touch. It is possible for users to set the length of time they need to touch the screen with their fingerprints.

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