Osaka Company Develops Smart Remote Control for People with Disabilities

By Barrier Free Japan, extract from The Mainichi Shimbiun via Yahoo! Japan

March 24 2024

OSAKA – ‘Access Yell’, a venture company based in Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture that manufactures assistive devices for people with disabilities, has developed a smart remote control for televisions that is easy to operate for people with physical disabilities, and began selling it at the end of 2023.

It is difficult to monetize products for people with disabilities because the market is small, but Mitsuharu Matsuo, the company’s representative, travels around the country responding to the requests of users, saying, “We want people with disabilities to be able to enjoy entertainment that is rare.”

In late December 2023,  ‘Access Yell’ developed the device ‘Remote Control Yell’. The ‘Remote Control Yell’ enables people with disabilities to change TV channels by touching a large button on an app that can be dowloaded onto a smartphone or tablet, or by touching an external switch using any moving part of their body..

“For able-bodied people, it’s just a TV remote control. However, it’s difficult for people with disabilities to change the channels. I hope they can enjoy watching TV freely,” says Matsuo.

Remote control Yell is 19,800 yen including tax. Now on sale at Access Yell’s online shop. The app is only compatible with iPhone and iPad. For inquiries, please contact the company (072-646-7260)