Mean was developed by Michael Bergmann, a New York-based filmmaker whose son is autistic, and Richard Meade-Miller, an 18-year-old first-time programmer from Los Angeles. Bergmann's son, Daniel Bergmann, 14, was not only the inspiration for the app, but provided significant input on the app's design.
"This is something the iPad delivers that few other devices could," explains Bergmann. "It cannot be done on a phone-sized device because many users cannot operate a small keyboard. But the iPad, with its unique combination of large size, touch display, and extreme portability, is perfect." More information on iMean is available at www.iMean.mobi
Autism often includes physical limitations, such as motor-control difficulty, that make actions like speech or typing impossible. Some autistic people communicate using a card with a large alphabet on it, which they point to with a pencil to spell out words. This process often includes active participation by a facilitator who encourages the user and says the words as they are being spelled.
| | Daniel Bergmann, the first user of iMean, talking to his father by tapping the app. He was comfortable enough with the iPad to hold it himself the very first day. Photo by Meredith Bergmann |
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