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Blind user-friendly mobile phones: Part I
Written by Claire
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Quite a few readers told me that they were very interested in the topic of user friendly technology and devices for blind people after reading my last post about the Motorola Z6. So I went to Ken to get more information about cell phones and smart phones suitable for blind users, plus some research on my own, I came up with a lot of even more interesting information.
First of all, I have to apologize to iPhone and its lovers, for saying that it’s the extreme case for key problems for blind users. Well, it might be when it first came out of the market, but it’s making improvements towards being blind-user friendly now. The first move for iPhone is a silicon iPhone case and application which goes with it. It has the moon type tactile alphabet keyboard which covers the iPhone head to toe, front to back and Bruno Fosi's tactile keyboard covers every function which iPhone offers to regular users.
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Apple App Store
The second thing I found which would be another great accessibility plus for iPhone users is the software available at Apple App Store for download. First of all, the idea and effort made for creating an Accessibility home page on App Store proves that Apple does consider new ways to make life better and more convenient for people with special needs as well. I found a lot of useful information about how iPhone can become more blind-user friendly on this website, including voice interacting software available on the market. You can also find software like VoiceOver and hardware like the versatile Braille panel which enables blind users to use a Mac.
Here is where the ‘how to be mobile’ tip comes in:
“Your preferences — to go: Once you’ve customized your own Mac, you can take all your VoiceOver settings with you on the road. To do so, connect a USB flash drive to your Mac and choose ‘Create Portable Preferences’ from the File menu in VoiceOver Utility.”
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Google Mobile App
Google’s Voice Search and My Location are impressive designs for mainstream iPhone users but also a clever design and a great help for blind users. Since it’s a voice command enabling software for Google search on iPhone and shows result by your location, I am sure it’s a great for finding places, stores or instant help and answers. Check out the video below to see what Gooble Mobile App is capable.
Virtual Tactile Objects
A new technology is being developed by Japanese researchers which uses focused ultrasonic waves to produce the illusion of solid objects in mid-air to the sense of touch. While still in its infancy, the researchers believe the technique could be used in video games to provide a more immersive experience. Audio and visual sensory input has been a major part of gaming for years, but the sense of touch has been hard to fully tap into. This technology could provide a way to more fully realized virtual experience.
However, to the blind users, this technology could mean more. As the technology matures, it is easy to envision ways in which it may be used to provide tactile cues and a less expensive and more easily maintained alternative to current Braille display technologies.
Slide Rule
This is another powerful software designed by the DUB Group over at the University of Washington for touch screen mobile devices like iPhone. It is a set of interaction techniques that allow blind users to interact with touch screen devices by sound. See this amazing technology for yourself:
Now if all the applications and technology mentioned above become available (which I imagine, will not take long) the iPhone could make the leap from being the most extreme blind-user unfriendly mobile phone to the most helpful and advance technology provider of mobile devices. I really hope this day will come quickly, as blind users do have craves for an iPhone as well.
For more blind-user friendly cell phones, please stay tuned for my next article (as this one is getting too long and I do not have speech-to-text software yet…)
To be continued.
Read about Talking Email Keyboard for iPhone
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