Feb 19
No braille? No problem! This FingerReader by the Fluid Interfaces Group at the MIT Media Lab is a high-tech way to help visually impaired people read; it actually scans printed text and narrates it aloud.
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May 01
Kindle iOS app gets a slew of new features for the blind and visually impaired
Posted in: Today's Chili
The latest upgrade to the iPhone and iPad version of Amazon’s Kindle reading app brings a bunch of new features aimed at blind and visually impaired users. At the top of the list is the ability to read aloud 1.8 million Kindle Store titles, with help from Apple’s VoiceOver technology. The update also brings better library and book navigation and search, as well as features like notes, highlights, bookmarks, font size, background color and brightness. Standard Kindle features like X-Ray, End Actions and sharing via Facebook and Twitter are also made more accessible through the update. Amazon’s promised a similar update for non-iOS versions of the app at some point in the future — in the meantime, a full list of new features can be found in a press release after the break.
Filed under: Amazon
Oct 23
Qualcomm develops eyes-free smartphone for the blind and visually impaired, calls it Ray
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Smartphones have made juggling multiple single-purpose gadgets a thing of the past for many, but the blind and visually impaired often use a raft of devices built with eyes-free use in mind. Qualcomm and Project Ray, however, are aiming to consolidate phone calls, text messaging with voice read-out, navigation, object recognition, audio book reading and more for the visually impaired in a system built on an off-the-shelf Android phone. To navigate the smartphone, users leverage a handful of simple finger movements that can be started at any point on the handset’s touch screen. Voice prompts and vibration provide feedback to users, and the UI adapts to usage patterns and preferences. Currently, Ray devices have access to Israel’s Central Library for the Blind and are being tested by 100 folks in the country. For the full lowdown, head past the break for the press release.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Qualcomm develops eyes-free smartphone for the blind and visually impaired, calls it Ray originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 03:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 19
Despite the fact that there are people (and robots) out there who can solve a Rubik’s Cube in about 5 seconds, my tiny brain stills need at least 20 minutes to solve one. But imagine if you were blind (or even color blind). How could you solve this classic toy, which relies on matching up its colored faces? Well, here’s how:
I spotted this image over on Reddit today, but it actually originated from Brian Doom, who created this “accessible” version of the puzzle by adding tactile elements to the outside of the cube back in 2010. The colored sides have been augmented with screws, felt furniture pads, two textures of rubber dots, DYMO labels, and wooden furniture to provide tactile feedback when using the cube.
Of course, he could have just gone with DYMO labels on each side, with different letters to indicate each color – but this looks so much more awesome.
Jul 16
Georgie app offers up Android features and voice-guided menus for the blind: we go hands-on (video)
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Phone options for the blind previously been pricey hardware based solutions — or feature-light (physically-heavy) handsets. While the functional abilities of smartphones have expanded out wildly from the mobile devices we used to use, accessibility options have remained firmly in the past. Enter Georgie, an Android app that offers up a blind-friendly interface to open up the likes of maps, Twitter and email. It also includes an OCR function that can both re-display text in larger fonts and offer an audio version for listening. You can even store these photos for listening to later. Navigation through the app is steered by holding your finger to the screen, hearing the menu described and giving haptic feedback to confirm your choice. Keep reading to see how the app developed and our impressions on how it all works. You can also check out our hands-on video, which includes a glimpse at the app’s OCR read-out feature and a quick demonstration from its co-creator Roger.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software
Georgie app offers up Android features and voice-guided menus for the blind: we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Sight and Sound, Georgie (Google Play) | Email this | Comments
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