HOW TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTIONIZES LIVES FOR PERSONS WITH VISION LOSS

Owing to rapid technological advancement, new opportunities are continuously emerging for people with sight loss and visual impairments. “Instead of relying on traditional computers and bulky equipment, people with vision loss are now able to walk into a store and purchase a smartphone or tablet and use it right out of the box. Accessibility features are built right into these new revolutionary devices,” says Chris Judge, assistive technology specialist for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Nova Scotia-Prince Edward Island division.

“Smartphones and tablets are becoming increasingly popular,” says Judge. “The Apple iPhone is by far the most accessible. It has a built-in voice over feature, which means that what is seen on the screen is read aloud to the blind. It is also equipped with built-in magnification for people who have trouble reading small print.” How technology is changing lives for the blind and visually impaired is phenomenal. In the past, we only had JAWS, Kurzweil, ZoomText, CCTVs, hand-held magnifiers, talking watches and BrailleNotes. Judge says that “smartphones and tablets now have all features built into one unit.”

“What exists today is technology that can assist in accomplishing almost any task,” he says. “There is even an app for iPhone called ‘be my eyes’ where your surroundings will be identified to you, such as reading a can of chicken noodle soup to someone who is blind. Another app is ‘voice dream scanner’ which is similar to Kurzweil except you take a photo of your printed page and it reads the document to you as opposed to feeding it through a traditional scanner.”

Judge states that smartphones and tablets do not replace computers but are catching up. JAWS, Kurzweil and ZoomText are still used in the workplace and by academic institutions. Besides these devices also exist smart speakers such as the amazon echo and google home. Each can give you, for instance, a chocolate chip cookie recipe by using your voice. Judge also identified a service known as AIRA used by the blind. It is a paid subscription service that puts you in contact with professionally trained agents who have access to your current location and GPS. If the person without sight needs help finding where he or she is, AIRA can be contacted. “It is an excellent service for busy airports,” says Judge. “You can use it on a phone or purchase a set of glasses with a camera so the agent can guide you around.” Technology allows people with limited or no vision to partake in ordinary life activities at work, in school and in society.

“The blind and visually impaired can do more now than ever before,” says Judge. “There is nothing more intrusive than having to rely on others to read to us or to navigate for us. Now, we can do it ourselves.”

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