Staybl - An app made for people with Parkinson or hand tremors

Havas Creative, a global advertising company, developed Staybl after two years of research and work. Staybl is an app utilizing existing iPad technologies to make it easier to use by people afflicted with hand tremors. Havas offices in Germany and New York recruited experts from the German Parkinson's Association to create the app. In addition, the company also worked with Parkinson's patients from Germany and the US for the app.  Moreover, Havas aims to enhance people with Parkinson's and other conditions causing hand tremors to access technology easily. The chief creative officer of Havas, Eric Schoeffler, remarked how people forget to include everyone when discussing how technology should improve our lives. He insisted, "Staybl is not a medicine, nor a cure. It's a technological solution to provide easier access to the digital world for all people with Parkinson's and tremors." [caption id="attachment_45743" align="aligncenter" width="1753"] Staybl provides those suffering from tremors to enriched access to smart devices.[/caption]

What are hand tremors?

Tremors are one of the early symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's is a neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system that has no cure. The tremors become more severe as the disease progresses, affecting an individual's lifestyle. As a result, even simple tasks become difficult to perform, and the patient's standard of living becomes worse. Besides Parkinson's, other disorders like Mulitple Sclerosis, stroke, or traumatic brain injury also cause hand tremors. Thus, people with hand tremors cannot adequately put on clothes or operate a mobile device. 

Introducing Staybl

Therefore, Staybl will aid people with hand tremors to overcome such hurdles and easily access technology. However, the free app is only accessible to iPad users (running iPadOS 14 or later). But Havas is planning to bring Staybl to other devices and platforms too.  Furthermore, the app will detect when the device shakes due to tremors through the iPad's accelerometer. Consequently, it will stabilize the screen by moving its on-screen web browser in the opposite direction. The app also possesses other features to further help patients with hand tremors. First, there are no swipe and slide gestures for navigation, and the app offers large buttons in its browser. Secondly, the app provides customizable settings to accommodate tremor symptoms that vary throughout the day. Additionally, the US Patent and Trademark Office divulged in 2019 that Apple might also be working to steady an iPhone's display when users' hands are shaking. Plus, Apple already offers features that make it easy for people with hand tremors to use mobile devices. These features are present in the accessibility portion of Apple's website.