However, he also struggles to read his SMSs, emails and find his applications on his mobile phone, without his eye glasses. I can see that this is very frustrating for him and this made me think about mobile phones and how accessible they are to the visually impaired.
Nowadays, mobile phones are all about what functions you have and how many applications you can squeeze onto your mobile phone. With mobile phones you can now browse the internet, take photographs, SMS, MMS and much more. However, this can become confusing. My biggest concern was whether mobile phones, that hold multiple functions and applications, can be easily utilised by the visually impaired.
About 314 million people are visually impaired and 45 million of them are blind. This provides a substantial market for mobile applications and mobile phones for the visually impaired.
There are phones that provide screen readers. According Engadget. Vodafone Speaking Phone reads and describes the icons in the menu. It can also read text messages and it allows users to create and send their own messages. Although some phones have voice recognition systems and screen readers, these phones only provide limited functionalities.
About 314 million people are visually impaired and 45 million of them are blind. This provides a substantial market for mobile applications and mobile phones for the visually impaired.
There are phones that provide screen readers. According Engadget. Vodafone Speaking Phone reads and describes the icons in the menu. It can also read text messages and it allows users to create and send their own messages. Although some phones have voice recognition systems and screen readers, these phones only provide limited functionalities.
However, with the speedy advancement of mobile phones, they are now made to hold voiceover screen-reader functions and voice commands, including other enhanced applications and functions. According to Accessibility, the Apple Iphone 3Gs (a touch-screen), has enhanced functionalities and voiceover screen-readers and voice commands. The voice commands allow users not only to select contacts by speaking their names but also select music. This phone lets users adjust the magnification between 100% and 500%. The problem is that touch-screen phones are not practical, even with assistance from voice-over screen readers.
However, there are other solutions. Visually impaired users can download screen readers. For example, Oratio is the first screen reader software solution that allows users to access and operate BlackBerry smartphones. This would allow the user, especially the visually impaired, to manage instant messaging, emails, SMS and MMS, make and receive calls, manage contact list, schedule appointments, use alarms and set reminders, use the phone settings, access ring tones and use speed dial.
Furthermore, Naunce TALKS, runs on Symbian operating systems, can also be used in that it converts the displayed text on the mobile handset into speech which allows user to even access Nokia web browsers. Finally, Mobile Speak is software that also includes Braille support that can be used with or without speech.
However, this does not mean that the problem is solved. The mobile industry must continue to be innovative to come up with mobile phones and screen readers that can be downloaded to provide the most accessible, fastest and reliable way to use mobile phones. This will ultimately lead to enabling the visually impaired to use multiple applications and functions on their mobile phone with ease.
However, there are other solutions. Visually impaired users can download screen readers. For example, Oratio is the first screen reader software solution that allows users to access and operate BlackBerry smartphones. This would allow the user, especially the visually impaired, to manage instant messaging, emails, SMS and MMS, make and receive calls, manage contact list, schedule appointments, use alarms and set reminders, use the phone settings, access ring tones and use speed dial.
Furthermore, Naunce TALKS, runs on Symbian operating systems, can also be used in that it converts the displayed text on the mobile handset into speech which allows user to even access Nokia web browsers. Finally, Mobile Speak is software that also includes Braille support that can be used with or without speech.
However, this does not mean that the problem is solved. The mobile industry must continue to be innovative to come up with mobile phones and screen readers that can be downloaded to provide the most accessible, fastest and reliable way to use mobile phones. This will ultimately lead to enabling the visually impaired to use multiple applications and functions on their mobile phone with ease.
Thanks to Jonatas Chunha for the photograph. Follow Jonatas's photostream to view more images.
An application called Eyes-Free aims to enable fluent eyes-free use of mobile devices running Android and it is free. So, instead of the user having to hunt around on the screen to press a certain button, the software finds the user’s finger wherever said user touches.
ReplyDeleteThis mini-application announces useful information such as the battery state, signal strength and the availability of WiFi networks
This application also announces your current location in terms of a nearby address and streets found on Google Maps.
But it won't be very helpful to the visually impaired users because the application will contribute to only a few issues the visually impaired face with the use of mobile phones. The touch screen is not particularly helpful either.
There are, however, Nokia tools in the Ovi store such as the visionhunt. This tool provides vision assistance to the blind and the visually impaired. It identifies colours, paper currency, light sources etc.