After researching accessibility issues for
technology, I was inspired to learn about apps for people with vision
impairments. Since apps are visually rich I was curious about adaptations. What
follows is my Tech Tester feedback for some of the latest and greatest apps I
could find.
Top on my list of cool is the Le Chal app used
with a special shoe and accompanying app. It was designed by a Hewlett Packard
researcher Anirudh Sharma, and uses proximity sensors, small circuitry for
vibration guidance and runs via a blue tooth between the shoe and Google Maps
on an Android Phone. Sorry for the Apple fans, but the app does not work for
the iPhone yet. This is the closest to go-go gadget shoes that I am aware of!
The person enters their destination in Google maps then starts walking, while
the proximity sensor in the shoe detects objects in the walking path. If there
is an obstacle a signal is sent to the circuit board, which triggers vibrations
on either the left or right side of the shoe. Vibrations will continue until
the person is clear of the obstacle or has turned the direction needed based on
directions programmed into Google Maps.
The only down side I could see to this app would
be that although you are being alerted to something in front of you, you don’t
know what it is you are trying to avoid.
I would personally use it with a cane until the technology gets more
sophisticated. What would be cool is if a small camera could be installed next
to the motion sensor. The camera could
relay the signal to the phone to identify the word for the object the person is
trying to avoid using photo recognition technology. Simple words like person,
dog, tree, car, would all be useful for the person in determining a possible
size and radius for the object they are trying to avoid.
Next on my list is SayText, similar to
Dragon Dictation, which I have used often except the person uses the app to scan
text instead of speaking it. This app is useful for everyday forms like fliers
or restaurant menus. The person presses the app, scans the document and the app
beeps when the information is collected. Swipe the phone screen to the right
and voila, it speaks the text out loud!
LookTel is another cool app that uses recognition
technology to identify US currency for $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 bills, and
even Franklins if you roll with a lot of those in your wallet! The person holds
the phone camera up to the money and the app uses voice response to tell her
what denomination she is holding. I went to purchase it for fun, but at $9.99 I
decided to pass. Talking Calculator is another app that is functional in the
math/money category. The app reads the numbers, signs and buttons out loud as
you slide your finger over them. Double tap a key to enter numbers and signs
into equations and the app will read the answer out loud. The developer made a
scientific calculator version as well and both are under $2 dollars.
Learning Ally app is the largest library of audio
books for K-12 and college text. Books can be downloaded and played on all iOS devices.
For a price of $19.99 this app is quite affordable for the quantity of learning
materials available.
I love Pandora, and the coolest app I could find
similar for blind and visually impaired people was iBlink radio. The app is
more advanced than Pandora as it provides access to web radio stations in a
multitude of genres and it gives the listener access to community focused web
stations and pod casts as well. The app also offers a reading service for
numerous publications.
Learn about the Le Chal Haptic Shoe App: http://www.healio.com/ophthalmology/neurosciences/news/print/ocular-surgery-news-europe-edition/%7B8bbadef6-a081-4609-963c-afc8071e4fdc%7D/haptic-shoe-provides-gps-directions-for-independent-motion-of-blind-visually-impaired
Thank you for posting this, all too often the sighted seem to forget about all the wonderful possibilities these technical devices can offer hearing or vision impaired persons. Just today I read a patient referral note from Boston Children's Hospital where the patient had his helmet fitted to work with some kind of custom iPad app that would assist in communication. I am certainly intrigued by the GPS shoes, using Google Maps is a genius way to provide guidance for someone who has limited sight or no vision. I would liken this to driving in a heavy snow or foggy night and the curves of the road on the GPS are your safety net. I look forward to reading more about these and other technologies. --Charlie
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