Microsoft publishes “The Ability Hacks” book that talks about the story of two hackathon teams

Microsoft today launched One Week Hackathon, the world’s most significant private hacking competition, where Microsoft employees will try to find new ideas for some of the world’s most challenging problems. Participants will receive a new book, “The Ability Hacks,” which reviews how two hacker teams created new technologies to empower new people with disabilities. “The Ability Hacks” shares the behind-the-scenes stories of the hackers who pioneered two innovative hacks-turned-solutions used today by people with disabilities around the world – the Ability EyeGaze Hack team and Learning Tools Hack team.”

As early as 2014, the Ability EyeGaze hacking team received an email from Steve Gleason, a former NFL player with the neuromuscular disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) ). Gleason wants to challenge Microsoft employees to find a way for him to control his wheelchair with his eyes. After a long and challenging journey, the Ability EyeGaze Hack team achieved success, and the accessibility project eventually entered Windows 10 last year.

The book also documents the accessibility project of the Learning Tools Hacking Team, which was initially designed to help dyslexic students learn how to read it. The plan quickly changed scope to help people with dysgraphia, ADHD, English learners and emerging readers, and learning tools have integrated into Office and Microsoft Edge.