Apple has finally revealed the iPad, its long-awaited tablet/e-reader device. And, guess what? It's a lot like a very large iPod Touch.

Not a bad thing, because the Touch is quite a nice device for certain functions and activities. It's a good music and video player. It's a good platform for mobile gaming. And, like the iPhone, it has proven to be quite an adaptable device for all sorts of downloadable productivity and social networking applications.

Additionally, research we conducted here at the Wireless RERC indicates that the Touch's touchscreen and overall user interface design are intuitive and visually accessible. The much larger screen on the iPad (9.7 inches versus the Touch's 3.5 inches, measured diagonally) should improve accessibility for people with low vision and other partial vision impairment.

Furthermore, Apple has helped make the capacitive touchscreen more accessible to those with dexterity limitations by introducing an electronic stylus. Our research has shown that those with limited finger movement and/or sensation in their fingertips had greater success using resistive touchscreen devices because of the ability to use a stylus. But, the electronic stylus for the capacitive touchscreen interfaces levels the playing field.

But, the iPad reproduces some of the same limitations of the iPod Touch in terms of usefulness for people with certain disabilities. One critically important limitation is the absence of a camera. Cameras are increasingly used in conjunction with GPS functionality by software applications for augmented reality, mixed reality, and location-based services.

Additionally, cameras will be an essential feature for devices used in the growing area of remote health monitoring. Being able to take a picture of a wound, infection or other visible condition will enhance the ability of people (with or without disabilities) to avoid the disruption and considerable effort of going to the doctor's office.

We've also seen applications that use the camera on other devices for magnification and color recognition. The iPad's large screen would have made for a great magnifier.

Yes, things like a camera add cost. Apple has done an impressive job of offering the basic device at just $499. And, we've seen the creativity for application development unleashed by the iPhone and complex mobile devices. So, for the moment, I'll choose to focus on the possibilities presented by devices like the iPad, instead of the temporary limitations.

- John "Giovanni" Morris