Small recorder... big questions The latest addition to the Olympus range of hand-sized portable recorders leaves Ian Macrae mostly wondering and dissatisfied

Making the move to Mac It seems that increasing numbers of disabled people are making the move over to Mac. Having just done so himself, Ian Macrae looks at why this might be

Slicing and grating on the red button When it comes to handling some of the trickier aspects of food preparation, Ian Macrae finds a product that fills the gap in the market between large, more expensive food processors and simple, cheap graters

New twist on old problem When it comes to opening jars, are you a wedger in the door hinge, a not-to-be-beaten twister, straining and going red, or a curser who passes it to someone else? As Annie Makoff discovers, it could be time to try something new as, once again, it’s low tech (and at £4.99, low cost) that solves the darndest problems

Sock-it-to-me time Our lifestyle guardian Mik Scarlet has really put his foot in it this time, but it’s all in the good cause of consumer testing

About getting out and about Typical, says Lucy Howard. You wait ages for an accessible travel guide and then two come along at once

First bite of the apple Making the switch from a PC to an Apple Mac computer seems to be a bit of a trend among disabled people. Sunil Peck was a cynic; now he’s seen the light

Papa Sangre: don't look, just touch It’s an audio game for smartphones: no pictures, no flashy CGI graphics. So novice gamers Paul Carter and Sunil Peck set out to discover whether the pictures really are better in sound

Hope Kindled in your hand There are many reasons why disabled people can find books inaccessible. But Amazon’s e-book reader has found several solutions and put them in one slim package, Ian Macrae says

Glove story How easily is technology rendered useless? Put on a pair of gloves, for instance, and bang goes the possibility of using your iPhone. But Ian Macrae's got his hands on (or in) something that claims to change all that

Wheelchairs with Knobz on How can an electric wheelchair say something about your personality? Power-chair user Martyn Sibley checks out one possible solution

Capturing a good read In this, the age of the Amazon Kindle and the Sony E-Reader, Ian Macrae discovers that there's also an electronic reading solution for print-disabled people

Seeing the bigger picture If you're finding it a little harder to read the phone book or can't thread a needle first go, Ian Macrae has been looking at a couple of small devices that may help

Fitness and the fun factor Keeping, getting or staying fit can sometimes be a grind. But Gill Hamper has found a way of turning that whole business into a game

Keys to the lost and found Ever played that cold, warm, hot, hotter hunting game? Ian Macrae has found an electronic equivalent which might take the luck out of looking for things

Monster mashing Taking the mashing out of mash, Ian Macrae checks out a new potato ricer

Waking up to the vibe If you’re a deaf or hard of hearing person looking for a decent new alarm clock with a vibrating pad, the HearPlus 333cl from Doro electronics could be for you says Jamie Trounce

You too can YouTube Content-sharing site YouTube has enabled people to share magic moments, material from entertainment archives and more informative video. But it’s a part of the internet that’s remained closed to some people. Until now. Edmund West reports

Gimme FIVE The Disabled Living Foundation is well known for recommending daily living equipment, based on independent evaluation of individuals’ needs. It recently launched a new kitchen and household products section on its living made easy website and highlighted a selection of products to give a flavour of the wide range of gadgets available to help people in the kitchen. Ian Macrae checks some of them out

Blocking out the background If you ever travel by train, bus or plane, then you’ve probably already discovered how much more pleasant journeys can be if you can listen to something while on the move. But how do you deal with roar, rattle and background babble? Sound engineer Peter Bosher has some ideas

Help me, information Most mobile phones seem like futuristic toys for hyperactive children and most landline phones seem like relics of a past age. Ray Bellisario finds two new models that buck both trends

Windows exploring Our technology wiz Léonie Watson took yet another step into the unknown on her continuing journey to seek out new computer solutions. This one followed the launch by Microsoft of their new Windows 7 operating system. Would she boldly go where everyone else was heading

Photo opportunities Digital technology can make a positive difference to the ways in which we view our snaps. Ian Macrae takes a look at some interesting developments

Apple's forbidden fruit Apple’s new iPhone 3GS should be a pip when it comes to access. But Geoff Adams Spink, who has a range of access needs, found it less than tasty

Peeler appeal If you think a peeler is a peeler is a peeler, think again says Ian Macrae as he checks out the variety against a range of access needs

Getting in the swing Summer’s here and the time is right for heading to the park. Sunil Peck checks out a new bit of kit for kids for whom a trip to the local swings isn’t an option

Something missing in Life While his eight-year-old son revelled in a family day out at the Life exhibition centre in Newcastle, Ian Macrae came away ultimately disappointed by what it left out

Eye in the sky Publicity for the London Eye and river Thames cruises makes great claims for accessibility. Sunil Peck checks out whether they stand up

Theatre ahead of the Curve Leicester’s new £61 million state-of-the-art Curve Theatre recently hosted a visit by the Queen. But how well would it host visits by disabled people? Sarabjit Parma has been taking a look

Showing signs of stress Living in the fast-paced world of publishing can have its effects on the most assured of hacks. Our laid-back design editor, Jamie Trounce, has been watching a stress-busting DVD in British Sign Language to see if it could zen him out

Give the dog a bowl Since we featured Natalie Ellis and her no-spills dog bowl, Sunil Peck has been panting to find out whether his guide dog, Bosley, would lap it up

Your sat-nav has now reached its desination Paul Carter checks out a satellite navigation unit that does more than simply tell you where to go

Uphill struggle Self-propulsion by levers means you no longer have to grip your wheelchair’s wheels. That’s cleaner – but does it work? David Bourroughs finds out

When size matters The new BT Freestyle digital cordless telephone and answerphone system is being directly pitched at older and disabled people. Ian Macrae finds out whether it rings his bell

Velvet underground London’s new underground trains boast more space, improved features and better access. Cathy Reay visited a mock-up to see how accessible they really are

Hush a buy baby Stephanie Wigglesworth became disabled while pregnant with her first child. But when she and her husband decided to have a second child, they became frustrated at how few firms sold equipment suitable for disabled parents. So they set up Mumability to do just that. Here are some of her favourite products

A Sideways slide to web action The new Motorola Sidekick Slide is said to be ideal for deaf users. Jamie Trounce tried it out

Putting access to Britain in your pocket If you’re looking for somewhere to chill out or take the children this summer, a new pocket guide has a host of accessible suggestions. Ian Macrae has looked through it and visited one of its recommendations

The long and winding road from A to B With satellite navigation devices becoming more accurate and accessible, Sunil Peck and Paul Carter set out to give two of the top models a test-drive – one on foot and one by car

Whatever pops your cork Whether the long warm summer nights tempt you to a glass of something dry and white or the butler’s away on an early holiday, Ian Macrae thought it was time to give wine an extra twist with a look at corkscrews

Digital switch: the user's tale Following last month’s article on the choices we face after analogue switch-off, Ian Macrae now looks at what lessons can be learned from the experience of disabled people in Whitehaven, which went digital last year

Analogue switch-off, digital choices Between now and 2012 we’ll all have to go digital with our televisions. Ian Macrae asks what choices are available to us once analogue switch-off happens

Moving to the music With podcasts, music and audiobooks, listening on the move has never been more popular. Ian Macrae tries out three portable media players

DAB – radio with knobs on It’s now possible to pause and rewind live radio, so you no longer have to miss a second of your favourite show. Ian Macrae checks out two sets. Did they press his buttons?

It's not a lawn mower Rowena Gausden has discovered a handy device that opens up new horizons for wheelchair-users